Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
Yaa ilmaan ko, mee gorsa abbaan namaaf kennu dhagaʼaa; qalbeeffadhaatii hubannaa argadhaa.
2 For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
Ani barumsa gaarii isinii nan kenna; kanaafuu barsiisa koo hin dhiisinaa.
3 For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
Yeroo ani mucaa xinnaa taʼee mana abbaa koo turetti, yeroo ani daaʼima dhiiga taʼee haadha kootiif ilma tokkicha turetti,
4 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
inni akkana jedhee na barsiise; “Garaa kee guutuudhaan dubbii koo jabeessii qabadhu; seera koo eegi; ati ni jiraattaatii.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
Ogummaa argadhu; hubannaas argadhu; dubbii koo hin dagatin yookaan irraa hin jalʼatin.
6 Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
Ogummaa hin dhiisin; isheen si eegdii; ishee jaalladhu; isheenis si tiksitii.
7 The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
Ogummaan waan hunda caalti; kanaafuu ogummaa argadhu. Yoo isheen waan ati qabdu hunda si baasifte illee hubannaa argadhu.
8 Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
Ogummaa kabaji; inni ol si guddisaatii; isa hammadhu; innis si kabajaatii.
9 She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
Isheen kallacha bareedaa mataa kee irra siif keessi; gonfoo miidhagaa illee siif kenniti.”
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
Yaa ilma ko dhagaʼi; waan ani jedhu illee fudhadhu; barri jireenya keetiis ni baayʼataa.
11 In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
Ani karaa ogummaa irra sin qajeelcha; daandii qajeelaa irras sin buusa.
12 In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
Yeroo ati deemtu, tarkaanfiin kee hin ittifamu; yoo fiigdu illee ati hin gufattu.
13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
Qajeelfama jabeessii qabadhu; gad hin dhiisin; waan inni jireenya kee taʼeef jabeessii eeggadhu.
14 Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
Daandii hamootaa irra miilla kee hin dhaabin yookaan karaa jalʼootaa irra hin deemin.
15 Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
Irraa fagaadhu; irras hin deemin; irraa goriitii karaa kee irra qajeeli.
16 For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
Isaan waan hamaa hojjetan malee rafuu hin dandaʼaniitii; isaan hamma nama gufachiisanitti hirriba hin argatan.
17 For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
Isaan buddeena hamminaa nyaatu; daadhii wayinii kan dabaan argame dhugu.
18 And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
Karaan qajeeltotaa akkuma ifa barii barraaqaa kan hamma saafaatti ittuma fufee ifaa deemuu ti.
19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
Karaan hamootaa garuu akkuma dukkana guddaa ti; isaan waan isaan gufachiisu hin beekan.
20 My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
Yaa ilma ko, waan ani jedhu qalbeeffadhu; dubbii kootiifis gurra kenni.
21 Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
Akka inni fuula kee duraa dhabamu hin godhin; garaa kee keessa ol kaaʼadhu;
22 For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
inni warra isa argatuuf jireenya, dhagna namaa guutuufis fayyinaatii.
23 Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
Waan hunda caalaa qalbii kee eeggadhu; burqaan jireenyaa achii baʼaatii.
24 Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
Dubbii jalʼinaa afaan kee keessaa balleessi; haasaa hamaas arraba kee irraa fageessi.
25 Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Iji kee kallattiidhaan qajeelchee haa ilaalu; atis xiyyeeffadhuu fuula kee dura ilaali.
26 Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
Miilla keetiif daandii wal qixxeeffadhu; karaan kee hundinuu haa jabaatu.
27 Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
Gara mirgaatti yookaan gara bitaatti hin gorin; miilla kee hammina irraa eeggadhu.
