Ohabolana 4
1 Ry zanaka, henoy ny anatry ny ray, Ary tandremo mba hahazoanareo ny fahalalana tsara.
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 Fa anatra tsara no omeko anareo; Aza mahafoy ny lalàko.
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 Fa zanak’ ikaky aho, Sady tiana no hany malala teo imason’ ineny.
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 Ary nampianatra ahy izy ka nanao tamiko hoe: Aoka ny fonao hitana ny teniko; Tandremo ny didiko, dia ho velona ianao.
he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
5 Mahazoa fahendrena, mahazoa fahalalana; Fa aza hadinoina na ihemorana ny teny aloaky ny vavako.
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 Aza mahafoy azy, fa hiaro anao izy; Tiavo izy, dia hitandrina anao.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 Ny voaloham-pahendrena dia izao: Mahazoa fahendrena; Eny, lanio ny fanananao rehetra hamidy fahalalana tsara.
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Asandrato izy, dia hanandratra anao kosa Eny, hanome voninahitra anao izy, raha tananao.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 Dia hasiany fehiloha mahafinaritra ny lohanao; Eny, satro-boninahitra tsara tarehy no homeny anao.
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 Anaka, mihainoa, ka raiso ny teniko; Dia hihamaro ny taona hiainanao.
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 Làlam-pahendrena no atoroko anao: Eny, mitarika anao amin’ ny lalana mahitsy aho.
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 Raha mandeha ianao, dia tsy ho etỳ ny lalanao; Ary raha mihazakazaka ianao, dia tsy ho tafintohina.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 Tano mafy ny fananarana, ka aza avela hiala; Hazony izy, fa ainao.
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 Aza mankany amin’ ny alehan’ ny ratsy fanahy, Ary aza mizotra amin’ ny lalan’ ny ratsy.
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Manalavira azy; aza mandalo eo akory; Mivilia azy, ka mizora.
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 Fa tsy matory ireny, raha tsy efa nanao ratsy; Ary tsy mahita torimaso izy, raha tsy efa nanafintohina ny sasany.
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
17 Fa mihinana ny mofon’ ny faharatsiana izy, Sy misotro ny divain’ ny fahalozàna.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Fa ny lalan’ ny marina dia toy ny fipoak’ andro maraina, Izay mihamazava mandra-pitataovovonan’ ny andro.
The way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
19 Ny alehan’ ny ratsy fanahy dia toy ny aizim-pito; Tsy fantany akory izay manafintohina azy.
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
20 Anaka, tandremo ny teniko; Atongilano ny sofinao hihaino ny filazako.
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 Aza avela hiala eo imasonao izy, Fa raketo ao am-ponao.
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 Fa aina ho an’ ny mahazo azy izy Ary fahasalamana ho an’ ny nofony rehetra.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 Tandremo ny fonao mihoatra noho izay rehetra tokony hotandremana; Fa avy ao aminy no ihavian’ ny aina.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Esory aminao ny vava mandainga, Ary ampanalaviro anao ny molotra mamitaka.
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Aoka ny masonao hijery mahitsy, Ary ny hodimasonao hibanjina eo anoloanao.
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Ataovy marina ny alehan’ ny tongotrao, Dia ho voalamina ny alehanao rehetra;
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 Aza mivily, na ho amin’ ny ankavanana, na ho amin’ ny ankavia; Esory amin’ ny ratsy ny tongotrao.
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
