Ngeche 17
1 Ber bangʼo kuon gi kwe kod mor moloyo ot mopongʼ gi chiemo mathoth kod dhawo.
Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house [full] of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.
2 Misumba mariek biro bedo gi loch kuom wuowi makwodo wich, kendo obiro yudo pok mar girkeni machal mana gi owetene.
A wise servant shall have rule over foolish masters, and shall divide portions among brethren.
3 Dhahabu gi fedha itemo gi mach, to Jehova Nyasaye ema temo chuny.
As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
4 Ngʼat ma timbene richo chiko ite ne dhok mopongʼ gi richo, ja-miriambo winjo lep mar ajara.
A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
5 Ngʼat ma jaro jochan ochayo Jachwechgi; ngʼat mamor gi masira ok notony ne kum.
He that laughs at the poor provokes him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
6 Nyikwayo gin osimbo ne joma oti, to jonywol e mor mar nyithindgi.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and their fathers are the glory of children. The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
7 Lep mar sunga ok owinjore ne ngʼama ofuwo, to en rach maromo nadi lep mariambo ne jaloch!
Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
8 Asoya en bilo ne ngʼat machiwe, kamoro amora modhiye, odhi maber.
Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and whithersoever it may turn, it shall prosper.
9 Ngʼat ma umo ketho mewo hera, to ngʼat mamedo timo gima kamano pogo osiepe moherore.
He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide [them] separates friends and kindred.
10 Puonj mar kwer konyo ngʼat mariek, moloyo chwat nyadi mia ni ngʼat mofuwo.
A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
11 Ngʼat ma jaricho ohero mana miero, jaote makwiny ema ibiro orone.
Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
12 Ber romo gi ondiek madhako moma nyithinde, moloyo romo gi ngʼat mofuwo ei fupe.
Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
13 Ka ngʼato chulo rach kar ber, rach ok nowe ode.
Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.
14 Chako dhawo chalo gimuko yawo, emomiyo we wach kapok dhawo owuok.
Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
15 Jehova Nyasaye mon-gi ngʼama chwako jaketho kata kumo ngʼat maonge ketho.
He that pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
16 Ere tiende mondo ngʼat mofuwo obed gi pesa nimar oonge gi dwaro mar bedo mariek?
Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.
17 En adier ni osiepni nyalo heri kinde duto, to owadu ema konyi e chandruok.
Have thou a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
18 Ngʼat maonge gi rieko ema keto gir singo ne jabute.
A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, [as he] also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
19 Ngʼat mohero dhawo ohero richo; ngʼat mogero ohinga mabor kelo mana hinyruok.
A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
20 Ngʼat man-gi chuny marach ok nyal dhi maber; ngʼat ma lewe riambo podho e chandruok.
and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
21 Bedo gi ngʼat mofuwo kaka wuowi kelo kuyo; onge mor ni wuoro ma wuon ngʼat mofuwo.
and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
22 Chuny mamor en yath maber, to chuny mool tuoyo choke.
A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
23 Ngʼat ma timbene richo yie asoya kama opondo mondo oketh gima kare.
The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in [his] bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
24 Ngʼat mariek keto rieko mondo otel, to wenge ngʼat mofuwo bayo nyaka giko piny.
The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool [go] to 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 cause of] anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
26 Ok en gima ber kumo ngʼat maonge ketho kata goyo joote nikech dimbruokgi.
[It is] not right to punish a righteous man, nor [is it] holy to plot against righteous princes.
27 Ngʼat man-gi ngʼeyo konyore gi weche kotangʼ; to ngʼat man-gi winjo wach to ritore maber.
He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
28 Kata ngʼat mofuwo ikwano ka ngʼat mariek ka olingʼ thi; kendo ka ngʼat mongʼeyo ka orito lewe.
Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
