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 with it, than a house full of 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 a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Dhahabu gi fedha itemo gi mach, to Jehova Nyasaye ema temo chuny.
The fining-pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 Ngʼat ma timbene richo chiko ite ne dhok mopongʼ gi richo, ja-miriambo winjo lep mar ajara.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips: [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Ngʼat ma jaro jochan ochayo Jachwechgi; ngʼat mamor gi masira ok notony ne kum.
He that mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [and] he that is glad at calamities 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 [is] 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 gift [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 repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
10 Puonj mar kwer konyo ngʼat mariek, moloyo chwat nyadi mia ni ngʼat mofuwo.
A reproof entereth more into a wise man 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.
Whoever 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 withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.
15 Jehova Nyasaye mon-gi ngʼama chwako jaketho kata kumo ngʼat maonge ketho.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
16 Ere tiende mondo ngʼat mofuwo obed gi pesa nimar oonge gi dwaro mar bedo mariek?
Why [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
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 friend.
19 Ngʼat mohero dhawo ohero richo; ngʼat mogero ohinga mabor kelo mana hinyruok.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth 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 froward 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 merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 Ngʼat ma timbene richo yie asoya kama opondo mondo oketh gima kare.
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Ngʼat mariek keto rieko mondo otel, to wenge ngʼat mofuwo bayo nyaka giko piny.
Wisdom [is] before 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 bore him.
26 Ok en gima ber kumo ngʼat maonge ketho kata goyo joote nikech dimbruokgi.
Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
27 Ngʼat man-gi ngʼeyo konyore gi weche kotangʼ; to ngʼat man-gi winjo wach to ritore maber.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
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: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
