Ohabolana 4
1 Tsanoño ry anake, ty fanoroan-drae, itsendreño hahazoa’ areo hilala;
Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 fa nanolorako fiohan-tsoa: aa le ko apo’ areo ty Fañòhako
for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3 Izaho anadahin-draeko, nitrotrotrotro, bako tokañe ampahaisahan-dreneko,
For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4 le nanareñe ahy ty hoe: ampifaharo an-tro’o ao o entakoo; tambozoro o lilikoo hiveloma’o
He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Manaña hihitse; mitohà hilala: ko mañaliño, vaho ko miamboho amo volam-bavakoo;
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6 Ko apo’o, le harova’e; ikokò, le hambena’e.
Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Hihitse ty lohà’e, aa le manàña hihitse, eka, mangalà hilala amy ze hene famoria’o.
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Onjono re le honjone’e irehe; hiasia’e te fihine’o.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honour when you embrace her.
9 Hampihamine’e voñe vinanditse an-doha’o, ho tolora’e sabaka fanjàka.
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendour to you.”
10 Mitsanoña ahy, anake, vaho iantofo o entakoo, hañamaroañe ty taon-kavelo’o.
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 Fa nitalifirako mb’an-dalan-kihitse; naho nitehafeko mb’amo lalan-kavantañañeo.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 Ie mitsontike, tsy ho sebañeñe o lia’oo; ihe milay, tsy hitsikapy.
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Vontitiro ty anatse le ko apo’o, ambeno amy t’ie ro havelo’o.
Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Ko mitsile mb’añ’oloñolo’ o lo-tserekeo vaho ko andenà’o ty lala’ o tsivokatseo.
Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15 Ihankaño, ko miary eo, iholiaro vaho mihelaña.
Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 Ie tsy miroro hey naho tsy mandilatse; tinavañ’ am’iereo ty firotse ampara’ te mitsikapy.
For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
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.
But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19 Hoe fimoromoroñañe ty lala’ o lo-tserekeo, ie tsy maharendreke te mahatsikapy.
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20 O anake, tsendreño o fivolakoo; anokilaño sofy o lañonakoo.
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Ko enga’o hihake amo maso’oo; f’ie ahajao an-tro’o ao.
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the centre of your heart.
22 Amy t’ie haveloñe amo maharendrekeo, toe fijanganañe ho an-tsandri’iareo iaby.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23 Ambeno am-pilozohañe ty tro’o, fa boak’ama’e o fanganahanan-dranon-kaveloñeo.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Asioro ama’o ty vava mengoke, vaho ihankaño o soñy mikelokeo.
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Ampañenteo mahity o maso’oo, vaho ampivantaño mañaolo o holi-maso’oo.
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Jilovo ty fombàn-tombo’o, le hijadoñe soa o lia’oo.
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Ko mivio mb’an-kavana ndra mb’ankavia; fa ampandifiho ty raty o tombo’oo.
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
