Awicyih 23
1 Ukkung ingqawi buh ai haih hamna nang ngawih awh, namik huh awhkaw ak awm ce ak leekna toek.
If thou sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before thee:
2 Awk ai awh ak kamvana na awm awhtaw na hawngawh cimca toen.
and apply thine hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such [meats]: but if thou art very insatiable,
3 Thailatnaak buh ni ti sim nawh a tuinaak doeng koeh nai.
desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
4 Boei na ngaih yyt awh lynaak koeh toen, yh thai hamna na cyih ta.
If thou art poor, measure not thyself with a rich man; but refrain thyself in thy wisdom.
5 Ak qeeng thai khawhawh koeh ly, ang hlaa tawi nawh ding valh kaw, Huu khanna ang ding amyihna.
If thou shouldest fix thine eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
6 Thlak yyt a buh koeh ai nawh, a buh tui ant tui koeh nai.
Sup not with an envious man, neither desire thou his meats:
7 Ak poek amyih koep nani a awmna, “Ai hlah, aw hlah,” ti kawm saw; cehlai ak kawlung ing am ti tang kaw.
so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to thyself, nor eat thy morsel with him:
8 Na buh ai ce laawk kawm tik saw, nak awihleek ce plak kawp ti.
for he will vomit it up, and spoil thy fair words.
9 Thlakqaw ang zaakna awi koeh kqawn, nak awicyihkhqi ce husit kaw.
Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at thy wise words.
10 Syn awhkawng qii lung ami khoeng koeh thoeih nawh, cadah a khawhyn koeh cuh pyi.
Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:
11 Amingmih ak dyihpyikung taw ak thamah ni, anih ing na venawh awi kqawn law kaw.
for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with thee.
12 Cawngpyinaak benna nak kawlung pe nawh, nang haa ing zaaknaak benna hawi.
Apply thine heart to instruction, and prepare thine ears for words of discretion.
13 Nasen toel koeh hqeh, cumcik ing vyk tik seiawm am thi kaw.
Refrain not from chastening a child; for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
For thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Ka capa, nak kaw a cyih awhtaw kak kaw zeel soeih soeih kaw.
Son, if thy heart be wise, thou shalt also gladden my heart;
16 Oeih, nam kha awhkawng awihthym ak cawnawh kak kaw awmhly soeih kaw.
and thy lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
17 Nak kawlung ing thlakche koeh oet seitaw, Khawsa kqihchahnaak doeng mah nak kawlung ing poek lah.
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day.
18 Kutdo awm law ngai kawm saw, nang ngaihuunaak ing am qeeng ti kaw.
For if thou shouldest keep these things, thou shalt have posterity; and thine hope shall not be removed.
19 Ka capa, ngai nawh, cyi lah, lam ak thym awh nak kawlung sawi lah.
Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of thine heart.
20 Zuuk awkhqi ven ingkaw buh meh ak sawkkhqi venawh koeh boei;
Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
21 Zuuk quikhqi ingkaw buh meh ak sawkkhqi taw khawdeng kawm uh.
for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
22 Na pa, anik canaak ak awi ce pawm nawh, na nu ce a nucawng lawawh koeh thekha na.
Hearken, [my] son, to thy father which begot thee, and despise not [thy mother] because she is grown old.
23 Awihthym ce thlai nawh koeh zawi voel; cyihnaak, cawngpyinaak, zaaksimnaakkhqi awm.
24 Thlakdyng a pa taw awmhlynaak ak sang soeih ta kawm saw, capak cyi ak canaak ing ak khanawh zeelnaak ta kaw.
A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
25 Na nu ingkaw na pa kawzeel sak lah, nang anik canaak kung awmhlynaak ing awm seh nyng.
Let thy father and thy mother rejoice over thee, and let her that bore thee be glad.
26 Ka capa, nak kawlung ni pe lah, ka khawsak na mik ing hat lah seh.
[My] son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
27 A pum ak zawi nu taw lawkkhqawng dung amyihna, samphaih nu taw ak ceek lawkkhqawng amyihna awm hy.
For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
28 Qukai amyihna thlang qym nawh, pakhqi ce amak ypawm thlangna coeng sak khqi hy.
For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
29 Unu khaw ak map? Unu kaw ak see? Unu hqo ak hu? Unu ak patang? Unu ak leem? Unu amik ak ling?
Who [has] woe? who trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
30 Zuukung thawh ta dam nawh, zuu ing ak thoek qu ak aw thlangkhqi ni.
Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly.
31 Ak ling zuu, boengloeng khanawh phyl nawh, plaiplek ing awiqawng khui ak kun koeh toek.
For if thou shouldest set thine eyes on bowls and cups, thou shalt afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
32 A dytnaak benawh khqui amyihna thlang cuk nawh khqui sy ak ngaan ing myih hy.
But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one smitten by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
33 Na mik ak changchangna dai nawh, nak kaw khawhang sak kaw.
Whenever thine eyes shall behold a strange woman, then thy mouth shall speak perverse things.
34 Tuicunli sawawh ak ip amyihna awm kawm tik saw, laawng hizannaak tung lingawh ak ip amyihna awm kawp ti.
And thou shalt lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
35 Ni vyk u seiawm am tlo nawh, ni phawp useiawm am za nyng! Kang hqyng law tlaih awhtaw ka aawk hamkawi ak chang hu tlaih bit kawng,” ti kawp ti.
And thou shalt say, They smote me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?
