Ngeche 17
1 Ber bangʼo kuon gi kwe kod mor moloyo ot mopongʼ gi chiemo mathoth kod dhawo.
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, 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 who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
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 YHWH tests the hearts.
4 Ngʼat ma timbene richo chiko ite ne dhok mopongʼ gi richo, ja-miriambo winjo lep mar ajara.
An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Ngʼat ma jaro jochan ochayo Jachwechgi; ngʼat mamor gi masira ok notony ne kum.
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who 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; the glory of children are their parents.
7 Lep mar sunga ok owinjore ne ngʼama ofuwo, to en rach maromo nadi lep mariambo ne jaloch!
Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
8 Asoya en bilo ne ngʼat machiwe, kamoro amora modhiye, odhi maber.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 Ngʼat ma umo ketho mewo hera, to ngʼat mamedo timo gima kamano pogo osiepe moherore.
He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
10 Puonj mar kwer konyo ngʼat mariek, moloyo chwat nyadi mia ni ngʼat mofuwo.
A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
11 Ngʼat ma jaricho ohero mana miero, jaote makwiny ema ibiro orone.
An evil man seeks 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 cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Ka ngʼato chulo rach kar ber, rach ok nowe ode.
Whoever rewards 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 like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
15 Jehova Nyasaye mon-gi ngʼama chwako jaketho kata kumo ngʼat maonge ketho.
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to YHWH.
16 Ere tiende mondo ngʼat mofuwo obed gi pesa nimar oonge gi dwaro mar bedo mariek?
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he has no understanding?
17 En adier ni osiepni nyalo heri kinde duto, to owadu ema konyi e chandruok.
A friend loves 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 strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Ngʼat mohero dhawo ohero richo; ngʼat mogero ohinga mabor kelo mana hinyruok.
He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
20 Ngʼat man-gi chuny marach ok nyal dhi maber; ngʼat ma lewe riambo podho e chandruok.
One who has a perverse heart doesn't find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
21 Bedo gi ngʼat mofuwo kaka wuowi kelo kuyo; onge mor ni wuoro ma wuon ngʼat mofuwo.
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
22 Chuny mamor en yath maber, to chuny mool tuoyo choke.
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 Ngʼat ma timbene richo yie asoya kama opondo mondo oketh gima kare.
A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, 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 one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander everywhere.
25 Wuowi mofuwo kelo kuyo ni wuon mare kod chuny lit ne ngʼat mane onywole.
A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore 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 flog officials for their integrity.
27 Ngʼat man-gi ngʼeyo konyore gi weche kotangʼ; to ngʼat man-gi winjo wach to ritore maber.
He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered 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 keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
