Ngeche 17
1 Ber bangʼo kuon gi kwe kod mor moloyo ot mopongʼ gi chiemo mathoth kod dhawo.
Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims 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 rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Dhahabu gi fedha itemo gi mach, to Jehova Nyasaye ema temo chuny.
As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
4 Ngʼat ma timbene richo chiko ite ne dhok mopongʼ gi richo, ja-miriambo winjo lep mar ajara.
The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.
5 Ngʼat ma jaro jochan ochayo Jachwechgi; ngʼat mamor gi masira ok notony ne kum.
He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, 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!
Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
8 Asoya en bilo ne ngʼat machiwe, kamoro amora modhiye, odhi maber.
The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.
9 Ngʼat ma umo ketho mewo hera, to ngʼat mamedo timo gima kamano pogo osiepe moherore.
He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
10 Puonj mar kwer konyo ngʼat mariek, moloyo chwat nyadi mia ni ngʼat mofuwo.
A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 Ngʼat ma jaricho ohero mana miero, jaote makwiny ema ibiro orone.
An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.
12 Ber romo gi ondiek madhako moma nyithinde, moloyo romo gi ngʼat mofuwo ei fupe.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
13 Ka ngʼato chulo rach kar ber, rach ok nowe ode.
He that rendereth 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 quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.
15 Jehova Nyasaye mon-gi ngʼama chwako jaketho kata kumo ngʼat maonge ketho.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.
16 Ere tiende mondo ngʼat mofuwo obed gi pesa nimar oonge gi dwaro mar bedo mariek?
What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.
17 En adier ni osiepni nyalo heri kinde duto, to owadu ema konyi e chandruok.
He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
18 Ngʼat maonge gi rieko ema keto gir singo ne jabute.
A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.
19 Ngʼat mohero dhawo ohero richo; ngʼat mogero ohinga mabor kelo mana hinyruok.
He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.
20 Ngʼat man-gi chuny marach ok nyal dhi maber; ngʼat ma lewe riambo podho e chandruok.
He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.
21 Bedo gi ngʼat mofuwo kaka wuowi kelo kuyo; onge mor ni wuoro ma wuon ngʼat mofuwo.
A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.
22 Chuny mamor en yath maber, to chuny mool tuoyo choke.
A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Ngʼat ma timbene richo yie asoya kama opondo mondo oketh gima kare.
The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 Ngʼat mariek keto rieko mondo otel, to wenge ngʼat mofuwo bayo nyaka giko piny.
Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools 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 the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.
26 Ok en gima ber kumo ngʼat maonge ketho kata goyo joote nikech dimbruokgi.
It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.
27 Ngʼat man-gi ngʼeyo konyore gi weche kotangʼ; to ngʼat man-gi winjo wach to ritore maber.
He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.
28 Kata ngʼat mofuwo ikwano ka ngʼat mariek ka olingʼ thi; kendo ka ngʼat mongʼeyo ka orito lewe.
Even a fool, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.
