Ohabolana 23
1 Raha mipetraka hiara-komana amin’ ny mpanapaka ianao, Dia hevero tsara izay eo anatrehanao,
When you sit down to eat a meal with a (government official/king), think carefully about what (OR, who) is in front of you.
2 Ka andraso antsy ny tendanao, Raha dia liana loatra ianao.
[Even] if you (have a big appetite/want to eat a lot of food), restrain yourself.
3 Aza mitsiriritra ny hanim-piny, Fa hani-mamitaka izany.
Do not want to eat [a lot of] his fine food, because he may be trying to trick you.
4 Aza manasa-tena hanan-karena, Aza entina amin’ izany ny fahendrenao.
Do not [cause yourself to become very tired by] working very hard to become rich; be wise and stop doing that,
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.
because as soon as you look [MTY] at [all the money that you have acquired], it will be gone; it will [disappear as if it] suddenly grew wings [SIM] and flew up into the sky like an eagle.
6 Aza homana ny mofon’ izay ratsy fijery, Ary aza mitsiriritra ny hanim-piny;
[If] someone who is stingy [invites you to a meal], do not eat [a lot of] his fine food,
7 Fa tahaka ny heviny ao am-pony ihany no toetrany: Hoy izy aminao: Mihinàna, misotroa; Kanjo tsy sitrany ianao.
because he will be thinking about how much [the food cost that you are eating]. He [will] say to you, “Eat and drink all that you want!”, but that is not what he [will] really be thinking.
8 Izay sombiny kely voatelinao aza dia mbola haloanao, Ka ho very foana ny teny mahafinaritra nataonao.
[When you realize what he is really thinking, it will cause you to want to] vomit what you have eaten; and your kind words [telling him that you are enjoying the meal] will be wasted.
9 Aza miteny amin’ny adala; Fa hohamavoiny foana ny fahendren’ ny teninao.
(Do not [waste time by]/It is useless) talking to foolish people; they will [only] despise the wise things that you say.
10 Aza manakisaka ny fari-tany ela, Ary aza manitatra mankamin’ ny sahan’ ny kamboty;
Do not [steal someone’s property by] removing a boundary marker that has been there for a long time, and do not take for yourself the land that belongs to orphans,
11 Fa mahery ny Mpanavotra azy, Izy no hisolo vava azy amin’ ny adiny aminao.
because Yahweh is strong, and he is [like] a relative that has the responsibility to defend them, he will [stand up in court and] argue for them and against you.
12 Ampiekeo famaizana ny fonao, Sy tenim-pahalalana ny sofinao.
Pay attention to what [your teachers] teach you, and try to learn from the wise things that they say.
13 Aza tsy manafay zanaka, Fa tsy dia ho faty izy tsy akory na dia asianao ny hazo aza;
Do not refuse to discipline your children; if you punish/spank them, it will not cause them to die,
14 Raha mamely azy amin’ ny hazo ianao, Dia ho voavonjinao tsy ho any amin’ ny fiainan-tsi-hita ny fanahiny. (Sheol h7585)
and it may save them from [going to] the place where dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
15 Anaka, raha hendry ny fonao, Dia ho faly koa ny foko, dia ny foko;
My son/child, if you [SYN] become wise, I [SYN] will be very happy.
16 Eny, ho ravoravo ny fanahiko, Raha miteny marina ny molotrao.
I [SYN] will rejoice when I hear you [SYN] say what is right/wise.
17 Aoka tsy hialona ny mpanota ny fonao; Fa matahora an’ i Jehovah mandritra ny andro;
Do not envy sinful people; instead, revere Yahweh all of your life.
18 Fa raha mbola hisy koa ny farany, Dia tsy ho foana ny fanantenanao.
[If you do that], you will be happy in the future, and [God] will certainly [do for you what you are] confidently expecting him to do.
19 Mihainoa ianao, anaka, ka hendre, Ary ampizory amin’ ny lalana ny fonao.
My son/child, listen carefully to me and become wise, and think about (all that you do/your behavior).
20 Aza misakaiza amin’ izay mpiboboka divay Sy izay fatra-pitia hena;
Do not associate with those who drink a lot of (wine/strong drink) or with those who (are gluttons/eat more than they should),
21 Fa halahelo izay mpiboboka sy izay fatra-pitia hena; Ary ny fitiavan-torimaso mampitafy voro-damba.
because drunkards and gluttons will become poor; and if all that you do is eat and sleep, you will [soon] (be wearing rags/not have any money to buy clothes).
22 Maneke ny rainao izay niteraka anao. Ary aza manamavo ny reninao, saingy efa antitra izy.
Pay attention to what your father tells you, and (do not neglect/take care of) [LIT] your mother when she is old.
23 Vidio ny marina, ka aza amidy, Dia ny fahendrena sy ny fananarana ary ny fahazavan-tsaina.
Try to know/learn what is wise, and get good instruction and understanding; and do not throw those things away.
24 Hifaly dia hifaly ny rain’ ny marina, Ary izay miteraka zaza hendry hanampifaliana aminy.
Righteous [children] will cause their parents to be very happy; those whose children are wise are proud of them.
25 Aoka ho faly ny rainao sy ny reninao, Eny, aoka ho ravoravo ny reninao izay niteraka anao.
[Do what will] cause your father to be glad and enable your mother [also] to be happy.
26 Anaka, atolory ahy ny fonao, Ary aoka ny masonao ho faly mijery ny lalako;
My son, heed what I say to you, and allow what I do to be an example for you.
27 Fa ny vehivavy jejo dia hady lalina, Ary ny vahiny janga lavaka etỳ;
Prostitutes and immoral women [DOU] are [like] [MET] a deep pit or a well [that you may fall into].
28 Eny, manotrika toy ny jiolahy ireny Ary mahamaro ny olona mpivadika.
They wait [for you] like robbers [SIM], and they cause many men to (be unfaithful to/have sex with women who are not) 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?
I will tell you [RHQ] what kind of people are always miserable and sad. I will tell you [RHQ] which people are always causing arguments/quarrels and who are always complaining. I will tell you [RHQ] who are injured in fights and whose eyes are always red/bloodshot.
30 An’ izay mikikitra amin’ ny divay, Eny, an’ izay mandeha hanandrana divay voaharoharo zavatra.
[It is] those who drink a lot of wine, who try drinking other kinds of strong drinks.
31 Aza mijery ny divay noho ny hamenany Sy ny fanganohanony eo anaty gilasy Ary ny fikoriany mahafinaritra;
Do not look with pleasure at red wine that looks nice, and which sparkles when it is [poured out] into cups, and which tastes good as you drink it,
32 Fa amin’ ny farany dia hanaikitra toy ny bibilava izy Ary hanindrona toy ny menarana.
because the next morning [you will feel like] you have been bitten by a poisonous snake [DOU].
33 Koa ny masonao dia hijery vehivavy jejo, Ary ny fonao hieritreri-dratsy.
You [SYN] will [think that you are] seeing strange/weird things, and you [SYN] will not be able to think clearly or speak clearly.
34 Eny, ho sahala amin’ izay mandry ao amin’ ny ranomasina ianao Sady ho tahaka izay mandry eo an-tendron’ ny andrin-tsambo.
You will think you are in a ship that is tossing on the sea; you be like [SIM] someone who is trying to sleep when the ship is rolling from one side to the other.
35 Nokapohiny aho, hoy ianao, fa tsy reko naharary ahy, Nandalasiny aho, fa tsy tsaroako; Rahoviana ange aho no hifoha mba hitadiavako azy indray?
You will say, “[I think that] someone struck me, but he did not hurt me; he hit me, but I did not feel it. When will I (wake up/feel normal again) in order that I can drink some more wine?”
