Proverbs 18
1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
Minawk hoi angkom ai kami loe, angmah koehhaih to pazui moe, minawk lok takroekhaih aek thaih kami ah oh.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
Kamthu loe palunghahaih nuiah anghoehaih tawn ai moe, angmah poekhaih nui khue ah ni anghoe.
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
Kahoih ai kami angzoh naah, hnaphnaehaih to oh; ahmin sethaih oh naah, azathaih doeh oh.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
Kami pakha thung hoi tacawt lok loe tuili baktiah thuk, toe palunghahaih loe tuibap baktiah puek.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
Lokcaek naah kahoih kami to sungsak hanah, kami kasae to angdoet haih han om ai.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
Kamthu ih pahni mah angzoehhaih to tacawtsak, anih ih pakha hoiah angbohhaih to ohsak.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Kamthu ih pakha loe angmah amrohaih ah oh moe, anih ih pahni loe a hinghaih pakhra amanhaih dongh baktiah oh.
8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Minawk kasaethuihaih lok loe ahmaa kana baktiah, kami ih zok thung khoek to akun tathuk.
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Thasae kami loe hmuenmae tahmat thaih kami ih nawkamya ah oh.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Angraeng ih ahmin loe kacak abuephaih sipae ah oh; katoeng kami loe to imthung ah cawnh moe, to ah monghaih to hnuk.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Hmuenmae hoi angraeng kami loe angmah ih angraenghaih to vangpui kacak baktih, kasang parai sipae baktiah poek.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
Amoekhaih mah amrohaih to phaksak; toe kami tlim ah khosakhaih loe pakoehhaih loklam tuhkung ah oh.
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame to him.
Lok tahngai hmaloe ai ah pathim ih lok loe, amthuhaih hoi azathaih ah oh.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Kami ih palung mah ngannathaih to khaang thaih; toe palungsethaih loe kawbangmaw khaang thai tih?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Khopoek thaih kami ih palung loe palunghahaih to tawnh; palungha kami ih naa mah loe palunghahaih to pakrong.
16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Kami mah sin ih tangqum mah, kalen kaminawk hmaa ah caeh haih loklam to paawh pae.
17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
Angmah kawng thui hmaloe kami loe katoeng kami baktiah amtueng; toe a imtaeng kami to angzoh moe, anih ih akawng to thuih naah ni, katoeng hoi katoeng ai to amtueng.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
Tahamsae kahoih khethaih phoisa vahhaih mah lok angaekhaih to dipsak moe, lokaek thaih thacak kaminawk doeh pathlaeng thaih.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Lok angaek thaih nawkamya loe pazawk hanah kacak vangpui tuk pongah doeh rai kue; nihnik lok angaekhaih loe misatoep kami ohhaih sipae hoiah anghmong.
20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Kami loe angmah ih pakha hoi tacawt thingthai to caa ueloe, zok amhah tih; a pahni hoi tacawt hmuen hoiah zok amhah tih.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.
Palai loe duekhaih hoi hinghaih tha to tawnh; palai palung kaminawk loe palai ih athaih to caa o tih.
22 Whoever findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour from the LORD.
Zu la kami loe kahoih hmuen to a hnuk moe, Angraeng koehhaih to a tongh.
23 The poor useth entreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
Amtang kami loe tahmenhaih hnik thaih; toe angraeng loe lok kaham hoiah minawk ih lok to pathim.
24 A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Ampui kapop ah tawn kami loe angmah amrohaih ah oh; toe nawkamya pongah palung cak kue ampui doeh oh.
