Fakkeenya 18
1 Namni addaan of baasu ofittummaa duukaa buʼa; murtii dhugaa hundaanis ni morma.
Selfish people only please themselves, they attack anything that makes good sense.
2 Namni gowwaan hubannaa argachuutti hin gammadu; garuu yaaduma isaa ibsuutti gammada.
Stupid people have no interest in trying to understand, they only want to express their opinions.
3 Yeroo hamminni dhufu tuffiin dhufa; salphinnis qaanii wajjin dhufa.
With wickedness comes contempt; with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 Dubbiin afaan namaa bishaan gad fagoo dha; burqaan ogummaa garuu bishaan yaaʼuu dha.
People's words can be profound like deep waters, a gushing stream that is the source of wisdom.
5 Gara nama hamaa goruun yookaan nama balleessaa hin qabne murtii qajeelaa dhowwachuun gaarii miti.
It's not right to show favoritism to the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.
6 Hidhiin gowwaa lola fida; afaan isaas rukutamuu itti waama.
What stupid people say gets them into fights, as if they're asking for a beating.
7 Afaan gowwaa badiisa isaa ti; hidhiin isaas kiyyoo lubbuu isaa ti.
Stupid people are caught out by what they say; their own words trap them.
8 Dubbiin hamattuu akkuma gurshaa miʼaawuu ti; gara kutaa garaattis gad buʼa.
Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
9 Namni hojii isaa irratti dhibaaʼu, obboleessa nama waa balleessuu ti.
Laziness and destruction are brothers.
10 Maqaan Waaqayyoo gamoo jabaa dha; namni qajeelaan itti baqatee badiisa oola.
The Lord is a protective tower that good people can run to and be safe.
11 Qabeenyi sooreyyii isaaniif magaalaa daʼoo qabduu dha; isaanis akka dallaa ol dheeraatti hedu.
Rich people see their wealth as a fortified town—it's like a high wall in their imagination.
12 Kufaatiidhaan dura garaan namaa of tuula; gad of qabuun garuu ulfinaan dura dhufa.
Pride leads to destruction; humility goes before honor.
13 Utuu hin dhaggeeffatin deebii kennuun, gowwummaa fi qaanii dha.
Replying before hearing is stupidity and shame.
14 Hafuurri namaa dhukkuba ni obsa; hafuura cabe garuu eenyutu obsuu dandaʼa?
With a brave spirit you can put up with sickness, but if it's crushed, you can't bear it.
15 Garaan nama hubataa beekumsa argata; gurri ogeessaas waan kana barbaada.
An intelligent mind acquires knowledge; the wise are ready to hear knowledge.
16 Kennaan abbicha kennuuf karaa bana; fuula namoota gurguddaa durattis isa dhiʼeessa.
A gift opens doors for you, and gets you into the presence of important people.
17 Hamma namni biraa dhufee isaan mormutti, namni jalqabatti himata isaa dhiʼeeffatu tokko dhugaa qabeessa fakkaata.
The first person to plead a case sounds right until someone comes to cross-examine them.
18 Ixaa buusuun wal falmii qabbaneessa; namoota wal lolan jajjaboos addaan galcha.
Casting lots can end disputes and decide between powerful people.
19 Obboleessa yakkame tokko deebisuun magaalaa daʼoo qabdu irra ulfaata; wal falmiinis akkuma danqaraa karra dallaa dhagaa ti.
A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.
20 Ija afaan isaatiin garaan namaa quufa; dubbii arraba isaatiinis ni guuta.
Make sure you're satisfied with what you say—you have to live with your words.
21 Arrabni humna jireenyaatii fi duʼaa qaba; warri isa jaallatanis ija isaa nyaatu.
What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.
22 Namni niitii argatu waan gaarii argata; fuula Waaqayyoo durattis surraa argata.
If you find a wife, that's great, and you'll be blessed by the Lord.
23 Hiyyeessi arraba laafaadhaan dubbata; sooressi garuu sagalee jabaadhaan deebii kenna.
The poor beg for mercy, but the rich reply harshly.
24 Namni michoota baayʼisu ni bada; garuu michuun obboleessa caalaa namatti aanu ni jira.
Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you than a brother.
