Ohabolana 17
1 Tsara ny sombi-mofo maina misy fiadanana Noho ny trano feno hena misy fifandirana.
Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
2 Ny mpanompo hendry dia hanapaka ny zanaka manao izay mahamenatra Sady hizara lova amin’ ny mpirahalahy.
An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
3 Ny memy ho an’ ny volafotsy, ary ny fatana fandrendrehana ho an’ ny volamena; Fa Jehovah ihany no Mpamantatra ny fo.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
4 Ny mpanao ratsy mampandry sofina amin’ ny molotra mandainga; Ary ny mpandainga mihaino ny lela mampidi-doza.
An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
5 Izay mihomehy ny malahelo manala baraka ny Mpanao azy; Ary izay faly amin’ ny fahorian’ ny sasany dia tsy maintsy hampijalina.
Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
6 Satroboninahitry ny antitra ny zafiny; Ary voninahitry ny zanaka ny rainy.
The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
7 Ny teny jadona tsy tandrifiny halahatry ny adala, Koa mainka fa tsy tokony ho an’ ny zanak’ andriana ny molotra mandainga.
High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
8 Ny kolikoly dia toy ny vato soa eo imason’ izay mahazo azy, Ka na aiza na aiza alehany dia ambinina ihany.
As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Izay te-ho be fitiavana dia manaron-keloka; Fa izay mamohafoha teny mampisaraka ny tena mpisakaiza.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
10 Ny anatra dia manan-kery kokoa amin’ ny hendry Noho ny kapoka injato amin’ ny adala.
A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Ny maditra dia fatra-pitady ny ratsy, Ka dia iraka lozabe no irahina hamely azy.
Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
12 Aleo mifanena amin’ ny bera very anaka Toy izay amin’ ny adala feno hadalana.
A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
13 Izay mamaly ratsy ny soa, Ny ratsy tsy hiala ao an-tranony.
Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Ny fiandohan’ ny ady dia toy ny manata-drano, Koa ilaozy ny fifandirana, dieny tsy mbola mifandramatra.
As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
15 Izay manamarina ny meloka, na izay manameloka ny marina, Dia samy fahavetavetana eo imason’ i Jehovah.
He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
16 Hatao inona re ity vola an-tànan’ ny adala? Hamidy fahendrena va? tsy manan-tsaina izy.
Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 Izay tena sakaiza tokoa dia tia amin’ ny andro rehetra, Sady miseho ho rahalahy hamonjy amin’ ny fahoriana.
A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
18 Olona tsy ampy saina izay mifandray tanana Hiantoka eo anatrehan’ ny sakaizany.
A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
19 Izay tia ady dia tia heloka; Ary izay manao vavahady avo mitady fahasimbana.
He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
20 Izay madi-po tsy hahita soa; Ary izay manana lela mandainga hivarina any amin’ ny loza.
He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
21 Izay miteraka adala hahazo alahelo; Ary ny rain’ ny adala tsy ho faly.
He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
22 Ny fo ravoravo mahasalama tsara; Fa ny fanahy kivy mahamaina ny taolana.
A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Ny ratsy fanahy mandray kolikoly avy any anaty lamba Ho entiny mamadika ny rariny.
A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
24 Eo anoloan’ ny manan-tsaina ny fahendrena; Fa ny mason’ ny adala dia mibirioka any amin’ ny faran’ ny tany.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.
25 Ny zanaka adala mampalahelo ny rainy Sady fahoriana mangidy amin’ ny reniny niteraka azy.
A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
26 Tsy mety raha mampijaly ny marina, Na mamely ny manan-kaja noho ny fahamarinany.
To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
27 Izay mahafihim-bava no manam-pahalalana; Ary izay mahatsindry fo no manan-tsaina.
He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Na ny adala aza, raha tsy miteny, dia atao ho hendry, Ary izay mahafihim-bava dia toa manan-tsaina.
Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
