Ngeche 17
1 Ber bangʼo kuon gi kwe kod mor moloyo ot mopongʼ gi chiemo mathoth kod dhawo.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 Misumba mariek biro bedo gi loch kuom wuowi makwodo wich, kendo obiro yudo pok mar girkeni machal mana gi owetene.
A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Dhahabu gi fedha itemo gi mach, to Jehova Nyasaye ema temo chuny.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.
4 Ngʼat ma timbene richo chiko ite ne dhok mopongʼ gi richo, ja-miriambo winjo lep mar ajara.
An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Ngʼat ma jaro jochan ochayo Jachwechgi; ngʼat mamor gi masira ok notony ne kum.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [And] he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 Nyikwayo gin osimbo ne joma oti, to jonywol e mor mar nyithindgi.
Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Lep mar sunga ok owinjore ne ngʼama ofuwo, to en rach maromo nadi lep mariambo ne jaloch!
Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.
8 Asoya en bilo ne ngʼat machiwe, kamoro amora modhiye, odhi maber.
A bribe is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Ngʼat ma umo ketho mewo hera, to ngʼat mamedo timo gima kamano pogo osiepe moherore.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
10 Puonj mar kwer konyo ngʼat mariek, moloyo chwat nyadi mia ni ngʼat mofuwo.
A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Ngʼat ma jaricho ohero mana miero, jaote makwiny ema ibiro orone.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Ber romo gi ondiek madhako moma nyithinde, moloyo romo gi ngʼat mofuwo ei fupe.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Ka ngʼato chulo rach kar ber, rach ok nowe ode.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Chako dhawo chalo gimuko yawo, emomiyo we wach kapok dhawo owuok.
The beginning of strife is [as] when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
15 Jehova Nyasaye mon-gi ngʼama chwako jaketho kata kumo ngʼat maonge ketho.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
16 Ere tiende mondo ngʼat mofuwo obed gi pesa nimar oonge gi dwaro mar bedo mariek?
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
17 En adier ni osiepni nyalo heri kinde duto, to owadu ema konyi e chandruok.
A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.
18 Ngʼat maonge gi rieko ema keto gir singo ne jabute.
A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Ngʼat mohero dhawo ohero richo; ngʼat mogero ohinga mabor kelo mana hinyruok.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.
20 Ngʼat man-gi chuny marach ok nyal dhi maber; ngʼat ma lewe riambo podho e chandruok.
He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 Bedo gi ngʼat mofuwo kaka wuowi kelo kuyo; onge mor ni wuoro ma wuon ngʼat mofuwo.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 Chuny mamor en yath maber, to chuny mool tuoyo choke.
A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Ngʼat ma timbene richo yie asoya kama opondo mondo oketh gima kare.
A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.
24 Ngʼat mariek keto rieko mondo otel, to wenge ngʼat mofuwo bayo nyaka giko piny.
Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 Wuowi mofuwo kelo kuyo ni wuon mare kod chuny lit ne ngʼat mane onywole.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Ok en gima ber kumo ngʼat maonge ketho kata goyo joote nikech dimbruokgi.
Also to punish the righteous is not good, [Nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness.
27 Ngʼat man-gi ngʼeyo konyore gi weche kotangʼ; to ngʼat man-gi winjo wach to ritore maber.
He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Kata ngʼat mofuwo ikwano ka ngʼat mariek ka olingʼ thi; kendo ka ngʼat mongʼeyo ka orito lewe.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.
