Ngeche 17
1 Ber bangʼo kuon gi kwe kod mor moloyo ot mopongʼ gi chiemo mathoth kod dhawo.
Better to eat a dry scrap in peace than to feast in a house full of people arguing.
2 Misumba mariek biro bedo gi loch kuom wuowi makwodo wich, kendo obiro yudo pok mar girkeni machal mana gi owetene.
A servant who acts wisely will be put in charge of a disgraced son, and will share the family inheritance with the brothers.
3 Dhahabu gi fedha itemo gi mach, to Jehova Nyasaye ema temo chuny.
A crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, but the Lord tests the attitude of mind.
4 Ngʼat ma timbene richo chiko ite ne dhok mopongʼ gi richo, ja-miriambo winjo lep mar ajara.
Evil people listen to spiteful talk, and liars pay attention to malicious words.
5 Ngʼat ma jaro jochan ochayo Jachwechgi; ngʼat mamor gi masira ok notony ne kum.
Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, and anyone who enjoys the suffering of others will be punished.
6 Nyikwayo gin osimbo ne joma oti, to jonywol e mor mar nyithindgi.
Old people are proud of their grandchildren, and children are proud of their parents.
7 Lep mar sunga ok owinjore ne ngʼama ofuwo, to en rach maromo nadi lep mariambo ne jaloch!
Fine words don't suit stupid people, how much less are lies suited to a ruler.
8 Asoya en bilo ne ngʼat machiwe, kamoro amora modhiye, odhi maber.
Whoever gives a bribe thinks it's a magical stone—that wherever they turn they'll have success!
9 Ngʼat ma umo ketho mewo hera, to ngʼat mamedo timo gima kamano pogo osiepe moherore.
If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.
10 Puonj mar kwer konyo ngʼat mariek, moloyo chwat nyadi mia ni ngʼat mofuwo.
A reprimand hits a thinking person more than one hundred blows hit someone stupid.
11 Ngʼat ma jaricho ohero mana miero, jaote makwiny ema ibiro orone.
Evil people are only looking to rebel, so a cruel messenger will be sent to attack them.
12 Ber romo gi ondiek madhako moma nyithinde, moloyo romo gi ngʼat mofuwo ei fupe.
Better to meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid person and their foolishness.
13 Ka ngʼato chulo rach kar ber, rach ok nowe ode.
If you repay evil for good, evil will never leave your house.
14 Chako dhawo chalo gimuko yawo, emomiyo we wach kapok dhawo owuok.
The beginning of a quarrel is like the first leak in a water dam, so drop it before a major argument bursts out.
15 Jehova Nyasaye mon-gi ngʼama chwako jaketho kata kumo ngʼat maonge ketho.
The Lord hates it when the wicked are acquitted and the innocent condemned.
16 Ere tiende mondo ngʼat mofuwo obed gi pesa nimar oonge gi dwaro mar bedo mariek?
Is there any point in stupid people trying to buy wisdom when they don't want to learn?
17 En adier ni osiepni nyalo heri kinde duto, to owadu ema konyi e chandruok.
A true friend is always there to love you, and family provides help when troubles come.
18 Ngʼat maonge gi rieko ema keto gir singo ne jabute.
It's not a wise idea to make a pledge and guarantee a neighbor's debt.
19 Ngʼat mohero dhawo ohero richo; ngʼat mogero ohinga mabor kelo mana hinyruok.
People who love sin like to argue; those who build high gates invite destruction.
20 Ngʼat man-gi chuny marach ok nyal dhi maber; ngʼat ma lewe riambo podho e chandruok.
People with warped minds don't succeed; those who tell lies get into trouble.
21 Bedo gi ngʼat mofuwo kaka wuowi kelo kuyo; onge mor ni wuoro ma wuon ngʼat mofuwo.
A stupid son brings grief to his father; the father of a child who does stupid things has no joy.
22 Chuny mamor en yath maber, to chuny mool tuoyo choke.
A cheerful attitude is like good medicine, but discouragement makes you sick.
23 Ngʼat ma timbene richo yie asoya kama opondo mondo oketh gima kare.
The wicked take hidden bribes to pervert the course of justice.
24 Ngʼat mariek keto rieko mondo otel, to wenge ngʼat mofuwo bayo nyaka giko piny.
Sensible people focus on wisdom, but the eyes of stupid people are always wandering.
25 Wuowi mofuwo kelo kuyo ni wuon mare kod chuny lit ne ngʼat mane onywole.
A stupid son brings grief to his father and sadness to his mother who gave birth to him.
26 Ok en gima ber kumo ngʼat maonge ketho kata goyo joote nikech dimbruokgi.
It's not right to impose a fine on someone who's innocent or to flog good leaders for their honesty.
27 Ngʼat man-gi ngʼeyo konyore gi weche kotangʼ; to ngʼat man-gi winjo wach to ritore maber.
If you're wise, you'll be careful what you say; and if you're sensible, you'll keep your temper.
28 Kata ngʼat mofuwo ikwano ka ngʼat mariek ka olingʼ thi; kendo ka ngʼat mongʼeyo ka orito lewe.
Even stupid people who keep quiet are considered wise; if they don't say anything they appear intelligent.
