Proverbs 4
1 Tẹ́tí, ẹ̀yin ọmọ mi, sí ẹ̀kọ́ baba; fetísílẹ̀ kí o sì ní òye sí i.
Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 Mo fún ọ ní ẹ̀kọ́ tí ó yè kooro, nítorí náà, má ṣe kọ ẹ̀kọ́ mi sílẹ̀.
for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
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 a son to my father, tender and an 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 your heart retain 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. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6 Má ṣe kọ ọgbọ́n sílẹ̀, yóò sì dáàbò bò ọ́, fẹ́ràn rẹ̀, yóò sì bojútó ọ.
Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Ọgbọ́n ni ó ga jù; nítorí náà gba ọgbọ́n. Bí ó tilẹ̀ ná gbogbo ohun tí o ní, gba òye.
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Gbé e ga, yóò sì gbé ọ ga dìrọ̀ mọ́ ọn, yóò sì bu iyì fún ọ.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
9 Yóò fi òdòdó ọ̀ṣọ́ ẹwà sí orí rẹ yóò sì fi adé ẹlẹ́wà fún ọ.”
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
10 Tẹ́tí, ọmọ mi, gba ohun tí mo sọ, ọjọ́ ayé è rẹ yóò sì gùn.
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 Mo tọ́ ọ ṣọ́nà ní ọ̀nà ti ọgbọ́n mo sì mú ọ lọ ní ọ̀nà ti tààrà.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 Nígbà tí o rìn, ìgbésẹ̀ rẹ kò ní ní ìdíwọ́ nígbà tí o bá sáré, ìwọ kì yóò kọsẹ̀.
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Di ẹ̀kọ́ mú, má ṣe jẹ́ kí ó lọ; tọ́jú u rẹ̀ dáradára nítorí òun ni ìyè rẹ.
Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Má ṣe gbé ẹsẹ̀ rẹ sí ojú ọnà àwọn ènìyàn búburú tàbí kí o rìn ní ọ̀nà àwọn ẹni ibi.
Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk 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, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
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 don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone 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 like the dawning light that shines more and more until 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 like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20 Ọmọ mi, tẹ́tí sí ohun tí mo sọ; fetísílẹ̀ dáradára sí ọ̀rọ̀ mi.
My son, attend to my words. Turn your 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 your eyes. Keep them in the center of your 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 their whole body.
23 Ju gbogbo nǹkan tókù lọ, pa ọkàn rẹ mọ́, nítorí òun ni orísun ìyè.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Mú àrékérekè kúrò ní ẹnu rẹ; sì jẹ́ kí ọ̀rọ̀ ìsọkúsọ jìnnà réré sí ẹnu rẹ.
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Jẹ́ kí ojú rẹ máa wo iwájú, jẹ́ kí ìwo ojú rẹ máa wo ọ̀kánkán iwájú rẹ sá á.
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Kíyèsi ìrìn ẹsẹ̀ rẹ sì rìn ní àwọn ọ̀nà tí ó dára nìkan.
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Má ṣe yà sọ́tùn ún tàbí sósì; pa ẹsẹ̀ rẹ mọ́ kúrò nínú ibi.
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
