Proverbs 4
1 Tẹ́tí, ẹ̀yin ọmọ mi, sí ẹ̀kọ́ baba; fetísílẹ̀ kí o sì ní òye sí i.
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Mo fún ọ ní ẹ̀kọ́ tí ó yè kooro, nítorí náà, má ṣe kọ ẹ̀kọ́ mi sílẹ̀.
For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3 Nígbà tí mo jẹ́ ọ̀dọ́mọkùnrin ní ilé baba à mí, mo jẹ́ èwe, tí mo sì jẹ́ ọ̀kan ṣoṣo lọ́wọ́ ìyá mi.
For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before 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.
And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Gba ọgbọ́n, gba òye, má ṣe gbàgbé ọ̀rọ̀ mi tàbí kí o yẹsẹ̀ kúrò nínú rẹ̀.
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings 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 doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7 Ọgbọ́n ni ó ga jù; nítorí náà gba ọgbọ́n. Bí ó tilẹ̀ ná gbogbo ohun tí o ní, gba òye.
The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Gbé e ga, yóò sì gbé ọ ga dìrọ̀ mọ́ ọn, yóò sì bu iyì fún ọ.
Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9 Yóò fi òdòdó ọ̀ṣọ́ ẹwà sí orí rẹ yóò sì fi adé ẹlẹ́wà fún ọ.”
She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10 Tẹ́tí, ọmọ mi, gba ohun tí mo sọ, ọjọ́ ayé è rẹ yóò sì gùn.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
11 Mo tọ́ ọ ṣọ́nà ní ọ̀nà ti ọgbọ́n mo sì mú ọ lọ ní ọ̀nà ti tààrà.
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 Nígbà tí o rìn, ìgbésẹ̀ rẹ kò ní ní ìdíwọ́ nígbà tí o bá sáré, ìwọ kì yóò kọsẹ̀.
In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13 Di ẹ̀kọ́ mú, má ṣe jẹ́ kí ó lọ; tọ́jú u rẹ̀ dáradára nítorí òun ni ìyè rẹ.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, 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.
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15 Yẹra fún un, má ṣe rìn níbẹ̀; yàgò fún un kí o sì bá ọ̀nà tìrẹ lọ.
Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside 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 sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
17 Wọ́n ń jẹ oúnjẹ ìwà búburú wọ́n sì ń mu wáìnì ìwà ìkà.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18 Ipa ọ̀nà olódodo dàbí àṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀yọ oòrùn tí ń tànmọ́lẹ̀ sí i títí ọjọ́ fi kanrí
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
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 darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 Ọmọ mi, tẹ́tí sí ohun tí mo sọ; fetísílẹ̀ dáradára sí ọ̀rọ̀ mi.
My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21 Má ṣe jẹ́ kí wọ́n rá mọ́ ọ lójú pa wọ́n mọ́ sínú ọkàn rẹ,
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve 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 life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23 Ju gbogbo nǹkan tókù lọ, pa ọkàn rẹ mọ́, nítorí òun ni orísun ìyè.
Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Mú àrékérekè kúrò ní ẹnu rẹ; sì jẹ́ kí ọ̀rọ̀ ìsọkúsọ jìnnà réré sí ẹnu rẹ.
Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25 Jẹ́ kí ojú rẹ máa wo iwájú, jẹ́ kí ìwo ojú rẹ máa wo ọ̀kánkán iwájú rẹ sá á.
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Kíyèsi ìrìn ẹsẹ̀ rẹ sì rìn ní àwọn ọ̀nà tí ó dára nìkan.
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
27 Má ṣe yà sọ́tùn ún tàbí sósì; pa ẹsẹ̀ rẹ mọ́ kúrò nínú ibi.
Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
