< Proverbs 4 >

1 Tẹ́tí, ẹ̀yin ọmọ mi, sí ẹ̀kọ́ baba; fetísílẹ̀ kí o sì ní òye sí i.
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend, that ye may learn understanding!
2 Mo fún ọ ní ẹ̀kọ́ tí ó yè kooro, nítorí náà, má ṣe kọ ẹ̀kọ́ mi sílẹ̀.
For I give you good instruction; Forsake ye not my commandments.
3 Nígbà tí mo jẹ́ ọ̀dọ́mọkùnrin ní ilé baba à mí, mo jẹ́ èwe, tí mo sì jẹ́ ọ̀kan ṣoṣo lọ́wọ́ ìyá mi.
For I was my father's son, A tender and only child in the sight of my mother.
4 Ó kọ́ mi ó sì wí pé, “Jẹ́ kí àyà rẹ kí ó gba ọ̀rọ̀ mi dúró, pa òfin mi mọ́, kí ìwọ kí ó sì yè.
He taught me, and said to me, Let thy heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Gba ọgbọ́n, gba òye, má ṣe gbàgbé ọ̀rọ̀ mi tàbí kí o yẹsẹ̀ kúrò nínú rẹ̀.
Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, and depart not from, the words of my mouth.
6 Má ṣe kọ ọgbọ́n sílẹ̀, yóò sì dáàbò bò ọ́, fẹ́ràn rẹ̀, yóò sì bojútó ọ.
Forsake her not, and she will guard thee: Love her, and she will preserve thee.
7 Ọgbọ́n ni ó ga jù; nítorí náà gba ọgbọ́n. Bí ó tilẹ̀ ná gbogbo ohun tí o ní, gba òye.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore gain wisdom, And with all thy gain, gain understanding.
8 Gbé e ga, yóò sì gbé ọ ga dìrọ̀ mọ́ ọn, yóò sì bu iyì fún ọ.
Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her;
9 Yóò fi òdòdó ọ̀ṣọ́ ẹwà sí orí rẹ yóò sì fi adé ẹlẹ́wà fún ọ.”
She will give to thy head a graceful wreath, A beautiful crown will she bestow upon thee.
10 Tẹ́tí, ọmọ mi, gba ohun tí mo sọ, ọjọ́ ayé è rẹ yóò sì gùn.
Hear, O my son! and receive my sayings! So shall the years of thy life be many.
11 Mo tọ́ ọ ṣọ́nà ní ọ̀nà ti ọgbọ́n mo sì mú ọ lọ ní ọ̀nà ti tààrà.
I have taught thee the way of wisdom, I have guided thee in the right path.
12 Nígbà tí o rìn, ìgbésẹ̀ rẹ kò ní ní ìdíwọ́ nígbà tí o bá sáré, ìwọ kì yóò kọsẹ̀.
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be confined; And, when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Di ẹ̀kọ́ mú, má ṣe jẹ́ kí ó lọ; tọ́jú u rẹ̀ dáradára nítorí òun ni ìyè rẹ.
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go; Keep her, for she is thy life.
14 Má ṣe gbé ẹsẹ̀ rẹ sí ojú ọnà àwọn ènìyàn búburú tàbí kí o rìn ní ọ̀nà àwọn ẹni ibi.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, And go not in the way of evil men;
15 Yẹra fún un, má ṣe rìn níbẹ̀; yàgò fún un kí o sì bá ọ̀nà tìrẹ lọ.
Avoid it, pass not upon it, Turn from it, and go away.
16 Nítorí wọn kò le sùn àyàfi tí wọ́n bá ṣe ibi, wọn kò ní tòògbé àyàfi tí wọ́n bá gbé ẹlòmíràn ṣubú.
For they sleep not, unless they have done mischief; Yea, their sleep is taken away, unless they have caused some to fall.
17 Wọ́n ń jẹ oúnjẹ ìwà búburú wọ́n sì ń mu wáìnì ìwà ìkà.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
18 Ipa ọ̀nà olódodo dàbí àṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀yọ oòrùn tí ń tànmọ́lẹ̀ sí i títí ọjọ́ fi kanrí
But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, Which groweth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.
19 ṣùgbọ́n ọ̀nà ènìyàn búburú dàbí òkùnkùn biribiri; wọn kò mọ ohun tí ó ń mú wọn kọsẹ̀.
The way of the wicked is as thick darkness; They know not at what they stumble.
20 Ọmọ mi, tẹ́tí sí ohun tí mo sọ; fetísílẹ̀ dáradára sí ọ̀rọ̀ mi.
My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear to my sayings;
21 Má ṣe jẹ́ kí wọ́n rá mọ́ ọ lójú pa wọ́n mọ́ sínú ọkàn rẹ,
Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart!
22 nítorí ìyè ni wọ́n jẹ́ fún gbogbo ẹni tí ó rí wọn àti ìlera fún gbogbo ara ènìyàn.
For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
23 Ju gbogbo nǹkan tókù lọ, pa ọkàn rẹ mọ́, nítorí òun ni orísun ìyè.
More than any thing which thou watchest, watch thy heart; For from it goeth forth life.
24 Mú àrékérekè kúrò ní ẹnu rẹ; sì jẹ́ kí ọ̀rọ̀ ìsọkúsọ jìnnà réré sí ẹnu rẹ.
Put away from thee a deceitful mouth, And remove far from thee perverse lips.
25 Jẹ́ kí ojú rẹ máa wo iwájú, jẹ́ kí ìwo ojú rẹ máa wo ọ̀kánkán iwájú rẹ sá á.
Let thine eyes look straight forward, And thine eyelids be directed before thee.
26 Kíyèsi ìrìn ẹsẹ̀ rẹ sì rìn ní àwọn ọ̀nà tí ó dára nìkan.
Give heed to the path of thy foot, And let all thy ways be steadfast.
27 Má ṣe yà sọ́tùn ún tàbí sósì; pa ẹsẹ̀ rẹ mọ́ kúrò nínú ibi.
Turn not to the right hand or to the left; Remove thy foot from evil.

< Proverbs 4 >