Fakkeenya 4
1 Yaa ilmaan ko, mee gorsa abbaan namaaf kennu dhagaʼaa; qalbeeffadhaatii hubannaa argadhaa.
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 Ani barumsa gaarii isinii nan kenna; kanaafuu barsiisa koo hin dhiisinaa.
For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
3 Yeroo ani mucaa xinnaa taʼee mana abbaa koo turetti, yeroo ani daaʼima dhiiga taʼee haadha kootiif ilma tokkicha turetti,
When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
4 inni akkana jedhee na barsiise; “Garaa kee guutuudhaan dubbii koo jabeessii qabadhu; seera koo eegi; ati ni jiraattaatii.
he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
5 Ogummaa argadhu; hubannaas argadhu; dubbii koo hin dagatin yookaan irraa hin jalʼatin.
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
6 Ogummaa hin dhiisin; isheen si eegdii; ishee jaalladhu; isheenis si tiksitii.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 Ogummaan waan hunda caalti; kanaafuu ogummaa argadhu. Yoo isheen waan ati qabdu hunda si baasifte illee hubannaa argadhu.
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
8 Ogummaa kabaji; inni ol si guddisaatii; isa hammadhu; innis si kabajaatii.
Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 Isheen kallacha bareedaa mataa kee irra siif keessi; gonfoo miidhagaa illee siif kenniti.”
She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 Yaa ilma ko dhagaʼi; waan ani jedhu illee fudhadhu; barri jireenya keetiis ni baayʼataa.
Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
11 Ani karaa ogummaa irra sin qajeelcha; daandii qajeelaa irras sin buusa.
I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
12 Yeroo ati deemtu, tarkaanfiin kee hin ittifamu; yoo fiigdu illee ati hin gufattu.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Qajeelfama jabeessii qabadhu; gad hin dhiisin; waan inni jireenya kee taʼeef jabeessii eeggadhu.
Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Daandii hamootaa irra miilla kee hin dhaabin yookaan karaa jalʼootaa irra hin deemin.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Irraa fagaadhu; irras hin deemin; irraa goriitii karaa kee irra qajeeli.
Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
16 Isaan waan hamaa hojjetan malee rafuu hin dandaʼaniitii; isaan hamma nama gufachiisanitti hirriba hin argatan.
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
17 Isaan buddeena hamminaa nyaatu; daadhii wayinii kan dabaan argame dhugu.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Karaan qajeeltotaa akkuma ifa barii barraaqaa kan hamma saafaatti ittuma fufee ifaa deemuu ti.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 Karaan hamootaa garuu akkuma dukkana guddaa ti; isaan waan isaan gufachiisu hin beekan.
But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 Yaa ilma ko, waan ani jedhu qalbeeffadhu; dubbii kootiifis gurra kenni.
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Akka inni fuula kee duraa dhabamu hin godhin; garaa kee keessa ol kaaʼadhu;
Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 inni warra isa argatuuf jireenya, dhagna namaa guutuufis fayyinaatii.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
23 Waan hunda caalaa qalbii kee eeggadhu; burqaan jireenyaa achii baʼaatii.
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
24 Dubbii jalʼinaa afaan kee keessaa balleessi; haasaa hamaas arraba kee irraa fageessi.
Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
25 Iji kee kallattiidhaan qajeelchee haa ilaalu; atis xiyyeeffadhuu fuula kee dura ilaali.
Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Miilla keetiif daandii wal qixxeeffadhu; karaan kee hundinuu haa jabaatu.
Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27 Gara mirgaatti yookaan gara bitaatti hin gorin; miilla kee hammina irraa eeggadhu.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
