Ohabolana 23
1 Raha mipetraka hiara-komana amin’ ny mpanapaka ianao, Dia hevero tsara izay eo anatrehanao,
When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 Ka andraso antsy ny tendanao, Raha dia liana loatra ianao.
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 Aza mitsiriritra ny hanim-piny, Fa hani-mamitaka izany.
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 Aza manasa-tena hanan-karena, Aza entina amin’ izany ny fahendrenao.
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5 Moa hampanarahinao azy va ny masonao, nefa tsy ao intsony izy? Fa maniry elatra tokoa izy Ka manidina toy ny voromahery ho eny amin’ ny lanitra.
It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6 Aza homana ny mofon’ izay ratsy fijery, Ary aza mitsiriritra ny hanim-piny;
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
7 Fa tahaka ny heviny ao am-pony ihany no toetrany: Hoy izy aminao: Mihinàna, misotroa; Kanjo tsy sitrany ianao.
for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
8 Izay sombiny kely voatelinao aza dia mbola haloanao, Ka ho very foana ny teny mahafinaritra nataonao.
You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 Aza miteny amin’ny adala; Fa hohamavoiny foana ny fahendren’ ny teninao.
Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10 Aza manakisaka ny fari-tany ela, Ary aza manitatra mankamin’ ny sahan’ ny kamboty;
Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
11 Fa mahery ny Mpanavotra azy, Izy no hisolo vava azy amin’ ny adiny aminao.
for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12 Ampiekeo famaizana ny fonao, Sy tenim-pahalalana ny sofinao.
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 Aza tsy manafay zanaka, Fa tsy dia ho faty izy tsy akory na dia asianao ny hazo aza;
Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
14 Raha mamely azy amin’ ny hazo ianao, Dia ho voavonjinao tsy ho any amin’ ny fiainan-tsi-hita ny fanahiny. (Sheol h7585)
If you use physical correction you can save them from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Anaka, raha hendry ny fonao, Dia ho faly koa ny foko, dia ny foko;
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 Eny, ho ravoravo ny fanahiko, Raha miteny marina ny molotrao.
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17 Aoka tsy hialona ny mpanota ny fonao; Fa matahora an’ i Jehovah mandritra ny andro;
Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18 Fa raha mbola hisy koa ny farany, Dia tsy ho foana ny fanantenanao.
for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19 Mihainoa ianao, anaka, ka hendre, Ary ampizory amin’ ny lalana ny fonao.
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 Aza misakaiza amin’ izay mpiboboka divay Sy izay fatra-pitia hena;
Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
21 Fa halahelo izay mpiboboka sy izay fatra-pitia hena; Ary ny fitiavan-torimaso mampitafy voro-damba.
For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22 Maneke ny rainao izay niteraka anao. Ary aza manamavo ny reninao, saingy efa antitra izy.
Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23 Vidio ny marina, ka aza amidy, Dia ny fahendrena sy ny fananarana ary ny fahazavan-tsaina.
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 Hifaly dia hifaly ny rain’ ny marina, Ary izay miteraka zaza hendry hanampifaliana aminy.
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 Aoka ho faly ny rainao sy ny reninao, Eny, aoka ho ravoravo ny reninao izay niteraka anao.
Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26 Anaka, atolory ahy ny fonao, Ary aoka ny masonao ho faly mijery ny lalako;
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 Fa ny vehivavy jejo dia hady lalina, Ary ny vahiny janga lavaka etỳ;
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28 Eny, manotrika toy ny jiolahy ireny Ary mahamaro ny olona mpivadika.
Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
29 An’ iza ny Indrisy? An’ iza ny Endrey? An’ iza ny fifandirana? An’ iza ny fitolokoana? An’ iza ny ratra tsy ahoan-tsy ahoana? An’ iza ny maso mivoara-mena?
Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30 An’ izay mikikitra amin’ ny divay, Eny, an’ izay mandeha hanandrana divay voaharoharo zavatra.
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
31 Aza mijery ny divay noho ny hamenany Sy ny fanganohanony eo anaty gilasy Ary ny fikoriany mahafinaritra;
Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
32 Fa amin’ ny farany dia hanaikitra toy ny bibilava izy Ary hanindrona toy ny menarana.
In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33 Koa ny masonao dia hijery vehivavy jejo, Ary ny fonao hieritreri-dratsy.
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 Eny, ho sahala amin’ izay mandry ao amin’ ny ranomasina ianao Sady ho tahaka izay mandry eo an-tendron’ ny andrin-tsambo.
You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 Nokapohiny aho, hoy ianao, fa tsy reko naharary ahy, Nandalasiny aho, fa tsy tsaroako; Rahoviana ange aho no hifoha mba hitadiavako azy indray?
“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
