Ohabolana 4
1 Tsanoño ry anake, ty fanoroan-drae, itsendreño hahazoa’ areo hilala;
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 fa nanolorako fiohan-tsoa: aa le ko apo’ areo ty Fañòhako
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 Izaho anadahin-draeko, nitrotrotrotro, bako tokañe ampahaisahan-dreneko,
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 le nanareñe ahy ty hoe: ampifaharo an-tro’o ao o entakoo; tambozoro o lilikoo hiveloma’o
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 Manaña hihitse; mitohà hilala: ko mañaliño, vaho ko miamboho amo volam-bavakoo;
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 Ko apo’o, le harova’e; ikokò, le hambena’e.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 Hihitse ty lohà’e, aa le manàña hihitse, eka, mangalà hilala amy ze hene famoria’o.
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Onjono re le honjone’e irehe; hiasia’e te fihine’o.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 Hampihamine’e voñe vinanditse an-doha’o, ho tolora’e sabaka fanjàka.
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 Mitsanoña ahy, anake, vaho iantofo o entakoo, hañamaroañe ty taon-kavelo’o.
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 Fa nitalifirako mb’an-dalan-kihitse; naho nitehafeko mb’amo lalan-kavantañañeo.
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 Ie mitsontike, tsy ho sebañeñe o lia’oo; ihe milay, tsy hitsikapy.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 Vontitiro ty anatse le ko apo’o, ambeno amy t’ie ro havelo’o.
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 Ko mitsile mb’añ’oloñolo’ o lo-tserekeo vaho ko andenà’o ty lala’ o tsivokatseo.
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Ihankaño, ko miary eo, iholiaro vaho mihelaña.
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 Ie tsy miroro hey naho tsy mandilatse; tinavañ’ am’iereo ty firotse ampara’ te mitsikapy.
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
17 Fihina’ iereo ty lintsen-karatiañe vaho genohe’ iereo ty divain-kasiahañe.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Manahake ty hazavà’ i manjirik’ àndroy ty lala’ o vantañeo, ie mihamazava erike ampara’ te mipisañe.
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 Hoe fimoromoroñañe ty lala’ o lo-tserekeo, ie tsy maharendreke te mahatsikapy.
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
20 O anake, tsendreño o fivolakoo; anokilaño sofy o lañonakoo.
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 Ko enga’o hihake amo maso’oo; f’ie ahajao an-tro’o ao.
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 Amy t’ie haveloñe amo maharendrekeo, toe fijanganañe ho an-tsandri’iareo iaby.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 Ambeno am-pilozohañe ty tro’o, fa boak’ama’e o fanganahanan-dranon-kaveloñeo.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Asioro ama’o ty vava mengoke, vaho ihankaño o soñy mikelokeo.
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Ampañenteo mahity o maso’oo, vaho ampivantaño mañaolo o holi-maso’oo.
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Jilovo ty fombàn-tombo’o, le hijadoñe soa o lia’oo.
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 Ko mivio mb’an-kavana ndra mb’ankavia; fa ampandifiho ty raty o tombo’oo.
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
