Fakkeenya 4
1 Yaa ilmaan ko, mee gorsa abbaan namaaf kennu dhagaʼaa; qalbeeffadhaatii hubannaa argadhaa.
Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 Ani barumsa gaarii isinii nan kenna; kanaafuu barsiisa koo hin dhiisinaa.
for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3 Yeroo ani mucaa xinnaa taʼee mana abbaa koo turetti, yeroo ani daaʼima dhiiga taʼee haadha kootiif ilma tokkicha turetti,
For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight 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 to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Ogummaa argadhu; hubannaas argadhu; dubbii koo hin dagatin yookaan irraa hin jalʼatin.
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6 Ogummaa hin dhiisin; isheen si eegdii; ishee jaalladhu; isheenis si tiksitii.
Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Ogummaan waan hunda caalti; kanaafuu ogummaa argadhu. Yoo isheen waan ati qabdu hunda si baasifte illee hubannaa argadhu.
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Ogummaa kabaji; inni ol si guddisaatii; isa hammadhu; innis si kabajaatii.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
9 Isheen kallacha bareedaa mataa kee irra siif keessi; gonfoo miidhagaa illee siif kenniti.”
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
10 Yaa ilma ko dhagaʼi; waan ani jedhu illee fudhadhu; barri jireenya keetiis ni baayʼataa.
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 Ani karaa ogummaa irra sin qajeelcha; daandii qajeelaa irras sin buusa.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 Yeroo ati deemtu, tarkaanfiin kee hin ittifamu; yoo fiigdu illee ati hin gufattu.
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Qajeelfama jabeessii qabadhu; gad hin dhiisin; waan inni jireenya kee taʼeef jabeessii eeggadhu.
Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Daandii hamootaa irra miilla kee hin dhaabin yookaan karaa jalʼootaa irra hin deemin.
Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15 Irraa fagaadhu; irras hin deemin; irraa goriitii karaa kee irra qajeeli.
Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 Isaan waan hamaa hojjetan malee rafuu hin dandaʼaniitii; isaan hamma nama gufachiisanitti hirriba hin argatan.
For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless 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.
But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19 Karaan hamootaa garuu akkuma dukkana guddaa ti; isaan waan isaan gufachiisu hin beekan.
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20 Yaa ilma ko, waan ani jedhu qalbeeffadhu; dubbii kootiifis gurra kenni.
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Akka inni fuula kee duraa dhabamu hin godhin; garaa kee keessa ol kaaʼadhu;
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
22 inni warra isa argatuuf jireenya, dhagna namaa guutuufis fayyinaatii.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23 Waan hunda caalaa qalbii kee eeggadhu; burqaan jireenyaa achii baʼaatii.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Dubbii jalʼinaa afaan kee keessaa balleessi; haasaa hamaas arraba kee irraa fageessi.
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Iji kee kallattiidhaan qajeelchee haa ilaalu; atis xiyyeeffadhuu fuula kee dura ilaali.
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Miilla keetiif daandii wal qixxeeffadhu; karaan kee hundinuu haa jabaatu.
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Gara mirgaatti yookaan gara bitaatti hin gorin; miilla kee hammina irraa eeggadhu.
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
