Ohabolana 4
1 Ry zanaka, henoy ny anatry ny ray, Ary tandremo mba hahazoanareo ny fahalalana tsara.
My children, listen to what I am teaching you. If you pay attention, you will understand what is wise.
2 Fa anatra tsara no omeko anareo; Aza mahafoy ny lalàko.
What I am teaching you is good, so do not turn away from it.
3 Fa zanak’ ikaky aho, Sady tiana no hany malala teo imason’ ineny.
When I was a young boy, loved by my mother,
4 Ary nampianatra ahy izy ka nanao tamiko hoe: Aoka ny fonao hitana ny teniko; Tandremo ny didiko, dia ho velona ianao.
my father told me, “Remember my words; if you obey my commandments, you will live [a long time].
5 Mahazoa fahendrena, mahazoa fahalalana; Fa aza hadinoina na ihemorana ny teny aloaky ny vavako.
Obtain wisdom and understanding, and (do not abandon/hold fast to) [LIT] what I have taught you.
6 Aza mahafoy azy, fa hiaro anao izy; Tiavo izy, dia hitandrina anao.
Do not turn away from wisdom, because if you are wise, you will be protected [from all evil/danger]. If you love wisdom, wisdom [PRS] will guard you.
7 Ny voaloham-pahendrena dia izao: Mahazoa fahendrena; Eny, lanio ny fanananao rehetra hamidy fahalalana tsara.
The most important thing that you can do is to get wisdom. Even if you obtain many other things, the best thing is to know what things are wise.
8 Asandrato izy, dia hanandratra anao kosa Eny, hanome voninahitra anao izy, raha tananao.
If you consider being wise to be very valuable, [people] will think very highly of you. If you cling to wisdom [like you would cling to a woman you love], [many people] will honor you.
9 Dia hasiany fehiloha mahafinaritra ny lohanao; Eny, satro-boninahitra tsara tarehy no homeny anao.
If you become wise, that will for you be [like] a beautiful wreath that is put {someone puts} on your head; it will be [like] a king’s glorious crown.” [That is what my father told me].
10 Anaka, mihainoa, ka raiso ny teniko; Dia hihamaro ny taona hiainanao.
[So now I say], “My son, heed what I say. If you do that, you will live a [good] long life.
11 Làlam-pahendrena no atoroko anao: Eny, mitarika anao amin’ ny lalana mahitsy aho.
I am teaching you the way to live wisely; I am showing you how to act justly [toward others].
12 Raha mandeha ianao, dia tsy ho etỳ ny lalanao; Ary raha mihazakazaka ianao, dia tsy ho tafintohina.
If you live wisely, when you decide to do something, you will succeed [LIT].
13 Tano mafy ny fananarana, ka aza avela hiala; Hazony izy, fa ainao.
Hold fast to the things I have taught you to do, and do not let them go. Guard them, because they [will be the source of a good] life.
14 Aza mankany amin’ ny alehan’ ny ratsy fanahy, Ary aza mizotra amin’ ny lalan’ ny ratsy.
Do not do the things that wicked people do; [do not behave like they do]; do not even walk on the roads that evil [people] walk on [MET].
15 Manalavira azy; aza mandalo eo akory; Mivilia azy, ka mizora.
Stay away from those roads; turn aside and walk on other roads;
16 Fa tsy matory ireny, raha tsy efa nanao ratsy; Ary tsy mahita torimaso izy, raha tsy efa nanafintohina ny sasany.
because evil people cannot sleep if they have not done some evil deed [on that day]. They cannot rest if they have not harmed someone.
17 Fa mihinana ny mofon’ ny faharatsiana izy, Sy misotro ny divain’ ny fahalozàna.
What they eat and what they drink are things that they have obtained by acting wickedly and violently.”
18 Fa ny lalan’ ny marina dia toy ny fipoak’ andro maraina, Izay mihamazava mandra-pitataovovonan’ ny andro.
The behavior of good/righteous [people] is like the light [that begins to shine] at dawn and then [continues to] shine brighter until the brightest time of day.
19 Ny alehan’ ny ratsy fanahy dia toy ny aizim-pito; Tsy fantany akory izay manafintohina azy.
[But] the behavior of wicked [people] is like deep/thick darkness. [Because it is very dark], they cannot see the things that cause them to stumble.
20 Anaka, tandremo ny teniko; Atongilano ny sofinao hihaino ny filazako.
My son, pay attention to what I am saying. Listen to my words carefully.
21 Aza avela hiala eo imasonao izy, Fa raketo ao am-ponao.
Keep them close to you; let them penetrate your inner being,
22 Fa aina ho an’ ny mahazo azy izy Ary fahasalamana ho an’ ny nofony rehetra.
because you will have [PRS] [a good] life and [good] health if you [search for them and] find them.
23 Tandremo ny fonao mihoatra noho izay rehetra tokony hotandremana; Fa avy ao aminy no ihavian’ ny aina.
It is very important that you be careful about what you think, because what you think controls [MET] the things that you do.
24 Esory aminao ny vava mandainga, Ary ampanalaviro anao ny molotra mamitaka.
Do not say anything that deceives [others] and never say what is not true.
25 Aoka ny masonao hijery mahitsy, Ary ny hodimasonao hibanjina eo anoloanao.
Keep looking straight ahead toward the events that are before you, and do not turn aside.
26 Ataovy marina ny alehan’ ny tongotrao, Dia ho voalamina ny alehanao rehetra;
Plan carefully where you will go and what you will do, and then stay on that road. Then what you do will be right.
27 Aza mivily, na ho amin’ ny ankavanana, na ho amin’ ny ankavia; Esory amin’ ny ratsy ny tongotrao.
Do not leave the straight road by turning to the left or to the right. [Do only what is right] and keep yourself from [doing what is] evil.
