Ohabolana 18
1 Mañean-drao ty mirery, tsambolitio’e ze atao vere-to.
A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses; but at all times he will be liable to reproach.
2 Tsy no’ i dagolay ty faharendrehañe, fa ty mampiboake ty heve’e avao.
A senseless man feels no need of wisdom, for he is rather led by folly.
3 Ie pok’eo ty tsivokatse, mipotìtse eo ka ty teratera, vaho indrezan-kasalarañe ty inje.
When an ungodly man comes into a depth of evils, he despises [them]; but dishonour and reproach come upon him.
4 Rano laleke ty fisaontsim-palie’ ondaty, torahañe mibobobobo ty figoangoañan-kihitse.
A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.
5 Tsy mahasoa te osiheñe ty raty, hikihoañe ty vañoñe an-jaka.
[It is] not good to accept the person of the ungodly, nor [is it] holy to pervert justice in judgement.
6 Mikaidraha o soñi’ i dagolao, naho mikai-tampify ty vava’e.
The lips of a fool bring [him] into troubles, and his bold mouth calls for death.
7 Fiantoa’ i seretsey ty vava’e, vaho mpamandrike ty fiai’e o soñi’eo.
A fool's mouth is ruin to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Kenoke mafiry ty fivolam-pitolom-boetse, migodoñe mb’añ’ova’ ondaty ao.
Fear casts down the slothful; and the souls of the effeminate shall hunger.
9 Rahalahi’ ty mpijoy, ty mpilesa am-pitoloña’e.
A man who helps not himself by his labour is brother of him that ruins himself.
10 Fitalakesañ’abo fatratse ty tahina’ Iehovà, milay mb’ama’e ao ty vantañe vaho onjoneñe tsy takatse.
The name of the Lord is of great strength; and the righteous running to it are exalted.
11 Rova fatratse ty varam-pañaleale, naho hoe kijoly abo añ’ereñere’e ao.
The wealth of a rich man is a strong city; and its glory casts a broad shadow.
12 Aolo’ ty ikorovoha’ ondaty ty fiebotseboran-tro’e, fe miaolo’ ty hasiñe ty firehañe.
Before ruin a man's heart is exalted, and before honour it is humble.
13 Ie manoiñe aolo’ t’ie mitsanoñe: le hagegea’e naho hasalara’e.
Whoso answers a word before he hears [a cause], it is folly and reproach to him.
14 Mahafeake hasilofañe ty tro’ ondaty, fa ia ka ty mahaleo ty fikoretan’ arofo.
A wise servant calms a man's anger; but who can endure a faint-hearted man?
15 Mitoha hilala ty tro’ i mahatsikarake, vaho mañotsohotso hihitse an-dravembia’e ty mahilala.
The heart of the sensible [man] purchases discretion; and the ears of the wise seek understanding.
16 Anokafan-dalañe ty ravoravo’ ondaty, manese aze hiatreke ty bey.
A man's gift enlarges him, and seats him amongst princes.
17 Heveren-ko to ty mitalily valoha’e, ampara’ te pok’eo ty mañody aze.
A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.
18 Abala’ ty tora-tsato-piso ty fifandierañe, ie mampivike ty mpifanjomotse.
A silent [man] quells strifes, and determines between great powers.
19 Mora ty mandreketse rova fatratse, ta ty rañetse torifike, vaho hoe tsotso-bim-pitilik’abo ty fifanjomorañe.
A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city; and is [as] strong as a [well]-founded palace.
20 Ty havokaram-palie’ ondaty ro mahaenem-pisafoa, o vokam-pivimbi’eo ro maha-anjañe.
A man fills his belly with the fruits of his mouth; and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.
21 Manandily ami’ ty haveloñe naho ami’ty havilasy ty fameleke, hikama amo vokare’eo ze mikoko aze.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue; and they that rule it shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 Mahaonin-kasoa ty tendreke valy, vaho isohe’ Iehovà.
He that has found a good wife has found favours, and has received gladness from God. [He that puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.]
23 Mihalaly tretrè ty rarake, fe sotrafe’ ty mpitsikafo.
24 Mianto t’indaty lako rañetse, fe ao ty ate-hena mipiteke soa te ami’ty rahalahy.
