Lea Fakatātā 18
1Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.
1KO E meʻa ʻi he holi ki ai ʻae tangata, ʻoku ne vaheʻi ia ke ne kumi mo kau ʻi he poto kotoa pē.
2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
2ʻOku ʻikai fiefia ʻae vale ʻi he ʻilo, ka koeʻuhi ke fakahā ʻaki ia hono loto.
3When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace.
3ʻOka hoko mai ʻae angahala ʻoku haʻu mo ia ʻae manukia, pea mo e ongoongo kovi mo e valokia.
4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
4ʻOku 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.
5It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
5ʻOku ʻikai lelei ia ke fili ki he tangata ʻoku angahala, kae fakahinga ai ʻae māʻoniʻoni ʻi he fakamaau.
6A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.
6ʻOku kau ʻae loungutu ʻoe vale ʻi he kē, pea ʻoku ui mai hono ngutu ke taaʻi ia.
7A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
7Ko e ʻauhaʻanga ʻoe vale ʻa hono ngutu, pea ko e tauhele ki hono laumālie ʻa hono loungutu.
8The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
8Ko e ngaahi lea ʻae tangata faʻa fafana ʻoku hangē ia ko e ngaahi makafokafo, pea ʻoku ʻasi mai ia ki he kakano ʻoe loto.
9Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.
9Ko ia ʻoku fakapikopiko ʻi heʻene ngāue, ko e tokoua ia ʻoʻona ʻoku faʻa maumau meʻa.
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
10Ko e fale māʻolunga mo mālohi ʻae huafa ʻo Sihova: ʻoku hola ki ai ʻae māʻoniʻoni, ʻo ne moʻui ai.
11A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.
11Ko e kolo mālohi ʻae tangata koloaʻia ko ʻene koloa, pea ʻoku tatau ia ʻi heʻene mahalo ʻaʻana mo e fuʻu ʻā māʻolunga.
12Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
12ʻOku muʻomuʻa ʻi he fakaʻauha ʻae fielahi ʻi he loto ʻae tangata, pea ʻoku muʻomuʻa ʻae angavaivai ʻi he hakeakiʻi.
13If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
13Ko 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;
14A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
14ʻE faʻa kātakiʻi ʻe he laumālie ʻoe tangata haʻane vaivai; ka ko hai ʻoku faʻa kātakiʻi ʻae laumālie kuo lavea?
15An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
15ʻOku maʻu ʻe he loto ʻoe fakamākukanga ʻae poto: pea ʻoku kumi ki he ʻilo ʻe he telinga ʻoe poto.
16A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.
16ʻOku fakaʻataʻatā ʻae hala ʻoe tangata ʻoku faʻa foaki, pea ʻoku ʻomi ai ia ki he ʻao ʻoe houʻeiki.
17The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.
17Ko ia ʻoku muʻomuʻa ʻi heʻene meʻa ʻaʻana ʻoku matamata totonu: ka ʻi he haʻu ʻa hono kaungāʻapi ʻoku ne ʻahiʻahiʻi ia.
18The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders.
18ʻOku fakangatangata ʻi he fai ʻoe talotalo ʻae fakakikihi, ʻo ne vahevahe ki he kakai mālohi.
19A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
19ʻOka 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.
20From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
20ʻE fakamākona ʻae kete ʻoe tangata ʻaki ʻae fua ʻo hono ngutu: pea ʻe fakafonu ia ʻaki ʻaia ʻoku tupu mei hono loungutu.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
21ʻOku ʻi he ʻelelo ʻae pule ki he mate mo e moʻui: pea ko kinautolu ʻoku ʻofa ki ai te nau kai ʻa hono fua.
22He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
22Ko e tangata ʻoku ne maʻu hono ʻunoho ʻoku maʻu ʻe ia ʻae lelei, ʻoku ne maʻu ai ʻae lelei ʻi he ʻao ʻo Sihova.
23The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly.
23ʻOku fakakolekole ʻe he masiva; ka ʻoku tali fakamālohi ʻe he koloaʻia.
24A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
24Ko 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.