¹The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:

¹ Israyla* bonkoono Suleymanu, Dawda ize yaasayey neeya:

²to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;

² Zama i ma bay laakal nda dondonandiyaŋ gaa; I ma fahamay sanney fayanka mo.

³to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

³ Zama i ma dondonandiyaŋ ta laakal goy da adilitaray da cimi ciiti da sasabandiyaŋ ra.

⁴to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:

⁴ Zama i ma borey kaŋ si caram yaŋ no azanci, I ma bayray da fayanka mo no arwasu se.

⁵that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:

⁵ Zama laakalkooni ma maa ka tonton da bayray. Fahamante mo ma to saaware hanney gaa.

⁶to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

⁶ Zama i ma yaasay da nga feerijo bay, I ma laakalkooney sanney da ngey misey mo bay.

⁷The fear of Yahweh “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations. is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁷ Rabbi humburkumay ya bayray sintinay no, Amma borey kaŋ yaŋ si caram ga donda laakal da dondonandiyaŋ.

⁸My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:

⁸ Ay izo, ma ni baaba cabe ta, Ni nya lordo mo, ni ma s'a furu.

⁹for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

⁹ Zama i ga te ni se gomni taalam ni boŋo gaa, Da hiiri mo ni jinda gaa.

¹⁰ Ay izo, da zunubikooney na ni hiila-hiila, Ma si yadda.

¹¹If they say, “Come with us, Let’s lay in wait for blood; let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

¹¹ D'i ne: «Ma kaa, iri ma koy care banda ka batandi ka wi. Iri ma gum mo borey kaŋ yaŋ sinda taali se sabaabu kulu si.

¹²let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol Sheol is the place of the dead. , and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

¹² Iri m'i gon da fundi, danga Alaahara cine, I afo kulu sukutum, Danga borey kaŋ yaŋ ga gunguray hala guusu ra.

¹³We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with spoil.

¹³ Iri ga arzaka darzakoy yaŋ gar, dumi-dumi, Iri g'iri windey toonandi nda nooru.

¹⁴You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse.”

¹⁴ Kala ni ma margu nda iri, Iri kulu, iri ga te nooru foolo folloŋ.»

¹⁵My son, don’t walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path,

¹⁵ Ay izo, ma si margu nd'ey fondo. Ma ni ce hibandi ka kaa i laawalo gaa.

¹⁶for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

¹⁶ Zama i cey ga zuru no i ma goy laalo te se, I goono ga cahã boro wiyaŋ se.

¹⁷ Zama yaamo no i ma asuuta hirri naŋ kaŋ curo ga di a.

¹⁸but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁸ Woodin yaŋ binde, ngey boŋ wiyaŋ se no i goono ga batandi, Ngey fundey halaciyaŋ se mo no i goono ga gumandi te.

¹⁹So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

¹⁹ Yaadin no riiba binikom kulu muraadey bara nd'a, A ga nga koy fundo kom a gaa no.

²⁰Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

²⁰ Laakal goono ga ce fondey ra, A goono ga nga jinde tunandi batamey ra.

²¹She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

²¹ A goono ga ce marga nangu beerey ra, Naŋ kaŋ borey ga furo kwaara meyey ra; Kwaara ra a goono ga nga sanney salaŋ ka ne:

²²“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

²² «Araŋ kaŋ sinda carmay, Alwaati marge no araŋ ga ba carmay-jaŋay, Dondayankoyey ma maa ngey dondayaŋ kaani, Saamey mo ma wangu bayray?

²³Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

²³ Wa bare ay kaseetiyaŋo boŋ! A go, ay g'ay biya zumandi araŋ boŋ, Ay m'araŋ bayrandi nd'ay sanno.

²⁴Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

²⁴ Za kaŋ ay ce, araŋ wangu mo, Ay n'ay kamba salle, amma afo si no kaŋ saal a.

²⁵but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

²⁵ Amma araŋ n'ay saawarey kulu furu, Araŋ mana yadda nd'ay kaseetey baa kayna;

²⁶I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;

²⁶ Kal ay mo ma haaru araŋ masiibey zaaro hane, Ay ga hahaarayaŋ te waato kaŋ humburkumay kaa araŋ gaa.

²⁷when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.

²⁷ Waato kaŋ humburkumay kaa araŋ gaa danga alma haw beeri cine, Araŋ masiibey m'araŋ to danga hari haw bambata, Saaya kaŋ azaaba nda kankami du araŋ.

²⁸Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;

²⁸ Saaya din i g'ay ce, amma ay si tu. I g'ay ceeci nda himma, i si du ay mo.

²⁹because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.

²⁹ Zama i wangu bayray, I mana Rabbi humburkumay suuban.

³⁰They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.

³⁰ I mana yadda nd'ay saawarey baa kayna, I donda ay kaseetey kulu.

³¹Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.

³¹ I binde ga ngey fundey alhakku ŋwa, I ma kungu nda ngey dabarey.

³²For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.

³² Zama borey kaŋ yaŋ sinda carmay banda yeyaŋo g'i wi, Saamey goray mo g'i halaci.

³³But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”

³³ Amma boro kulu kaŋ hangan ay se ga goro baani, A ga goro nda fundi kaani, A si humburu masiiba kulu.»