Proverbs 18

1 He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense.

Ko e meʻa ʻi he holi ki ai ʻae tangata, ʻoku ne vaheʻi ia ke ne kumi mo kau ʻi he poto kotoa pē.

2 A foolish man has no pleasure in good sense, but only to let what is in his heart come to light.

‌ʻOku ʻikai fiefia ʻae vale ʻi he ʻilo, ka koeʻuhi ke fakahā ʻaki ia hono loto.

3 When the evil-doer comes, a low opinion comes with him, and with the loss of honour comes shame.

‌ʻOka hoko mai ʻae angahala ʻoku haʻu mo ia ʻae manukia, pea mo e ongoongo kovi mo e valokia.

4 The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters: the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.

‌ʻOku hangē ko e ngaahi vai loloto ʻae ngaahi lea mei he ngutu ʻoe tangata, pea ʻoku tatau ʻae matavai ʻoe poto mo e pā ʻae vaitafe.

5 To have respect for the person of the evil-doer is not good, or to give a wrong decision against the upright.

‌ʻOku ʻikai lelei ia ke fili ki he tangata ʻoku angahala, kae fakahinga ai ʻae māʻoniʻoni ʻi he fakamaau.

6 A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his mouth makes him open to blows.

‌ʻOku kau ʻae loungutu ʻoe vale ʻi he kē, pea ʻoku ui mai hono ngutu ke taaʻi ia.

7 The mouth of a foolish man is his destruction, and his lips are a net for his soul.

Ko e ʻauhaʻanga ʻoe vale ʻa hono ngutu, pea ko e tauhele ki hono laumālie ʻa hono loungutu.

8 The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach.

Ko e ngaahi lea ʻae tangata faʻa fafana ʻoku hangē ia ko e ngaahi makafokafo, pea ʻoku ʻasi mai ia ki he kakano ʻoe loto.

9 He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to him who makes destruction.

Ko ia ʻoku fakapikopiko ʻi heʻene ngāue, ko e tokoua ia ʻoʻona ʻoku faʻa maumau meʻa.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the upright man running into it is safe.

Ko e fale māʻolunga mo mālohi ʻae huafa ʻo Sihova: ʻoku hola ki ai ʻae māʻoniʻoni, ʻo ne moʻui ai.

11 The property of a man of wealth is his strong town, and it is as a high wall in the thoughts of his heart.

Ko e kolo mālohi ʻae tangata koloaʻia ko ʻene koloa, pea ʻoku tatau ia ʻi heʻene mahalo ʻaʻana mo e fuʻu ʻā māʻolunga.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride, and before honour goes a gentle spirit.

‌ʻOku muʻomuʻa ʻi he fakaʻauha ʻae fielahi ʻi he loto ʻae tangata, pea ʻoku muʻomuʻa ʻae angavaivai ʻi he hakeakiʻi.

13 To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame.

Ko ia ʻoku kau ke lea ʻi ha meʻa ʻi he teʻeki te ne fanongo ki ai, ko e vale mo e fakamā ia kiate ia;

14 The spirit of a man will be his support when he is ill; but how may a broken spirit be lifted up?

‌ʻE faʻa kātakiʻi ʻe he laumālie ʻoe tangata haʻane vaivai; ka ko hai ʻoku faʻa kātakiʻi ʻae laumālie kuo lavea?

15 The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge.

‌ʻOku maʻu ʻe he loto ʻoe fakamākukanga ʻae poto: pea ʻoku kumi ki he ʻilo ʻe he telinga ʻoe poto.

16 A man's offering makes room for him, letting him come before great men.

‌ʻOku fakaʻataʻatā ʻae hala ʻoe tangata ʻoku faʻa foaki, pea ʻoku ʻomi ai ia ki he ʻao ʻoe houʻeiki.

17 The man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light.

Ko ia ʻoku muʻomuʻa ʻi heʻene meʻa ʻaʻana ʻoku matamata totonu: ka ʻi he haʻu ʻa hono kaungāʻapi ʻoku ne ʻahiʻahiʻi ia.

18 The decision of chance puts an end to argument, parting the strong.

‌ʻOku fakangatangata ʻi he fai ʻoe talotalo ʻae fakakikihi, ʻo ne vahevahe ki he kakai mālohi.

19 A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent acts are like a locked tower.

‌ʻOka koviʻia ʻae loto ʻoe tokoua ʻo ha taha, ʻoku faingataʻa lahi hake ia ʻi ha kolo ʻoku mālohi: pea ko ʻena fekeʻikeʻi ʻoku hangē ia ko e ngaahi songo ʻoe kolo.

20 With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure.

‌ʻE fakamākona ʻae kete ʻoe tangata ʻaki ʻae fua ʻo hono ngutu: pea ʻe fakafonu ia ʻaki ʻaia ʻoku tupu mei hono loungutu.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.

‌ʻOku ʻi he ʻelelo ʻae pule ki he mate mo e moʻui: pea ko kinautolu ʻoku ʻofa ki ai te nau kai ʻa hono fua.

22 Whoever gets a wife gets a good thing, and has the approval of the Lord.

Ko e tangata ʻoku ne maʻu hono uaifi ʻoku maʻu ʻe ia ʻae lelei, ʻoku ne maʻu ai ʻae lelei ʻi he ʻao ʻo Sihova.

23 The poor man makes requests for grace, but the man of wealth gives a rough answer.

‌ʻOku fakakolekole ʻe he masiva; ka ʻoku tali fakamālohi ʻe he koloaʻia.

24 There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother.

Ko e tangata ʻoku ai hono ngaahi kāinga ʻoku ngali ke ne fai fakakāinga ʻe ia; pea ʻoku ai ʻae tākanga ʻoku pikitai mālohi hake ʻi ha tokoua.