Ngeche 18
1 Ngʼat ma ok jahera dwaro mana gige ok owinj puonj moro amora.
Selfish people only please themselves, they attack anything that makes good sense.
2 Ngʼat mofuwo ok mor kod winjo wach to omor mana gi wacho paroge owuon.
Stupid people have no interest in trying to understand, they only want to express their opinions.
3 Ka richo biro, e kaka achaya biro, to wichkuot kelo duwruok.
With wickedness comes contempt; with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 Weche mag dho ngʼato tut ka nam, to soko mar rieko en aora mabubni kamol.
People's words can be profound like deep waters, a gushing stream that is the source of wisdom.
5 Ok en gima ber chwako ngʼat ma timbene richo kata ketho buch ngʼato maonge ketho.
It's not right to show favoritism to the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.
6 Lew ngʼat mofuwo kelone dhawo, to dhoge luongo goch.
What stupid people say gets them into fights, as if they're asking for a beating.
7 Dho ngʼat mofuwo ema tieke, to lewe ema bedo obadho ne ngimane.
Stupid people are caught out by what they say; their own words trap them.
8 Weche mag kuoth chalo gi chiemo mamit; gidhiyo e chuny dhano ma iye.
Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
9 Ngʼat ma jasamuoyo e tich en owadgi ngʼat maketho gik moko.
Laziness and destruction are brothers.
10 Nying Jehova Nyasaye en ohinga maratego, ngʼat makare ringo ma pond kanyo kendo yud resruok.
The Lord is a protective tower that good people can run to and be safe.
11 Mwandu mar jomoko e ohinga mochiel motegno ma gigengʼorego, giparo ni en ohinga maonge ngʼama nyalo muko.
Rich people see their wealth as a fortified town—it's like a high wall in their imagination.
12 Kapok ngʼato opodho, to sunga bedo e chunye, to muolo kelo pak.
Pride leads to destruction; humility goes before honor.
13 Chik iti kapok idwoko wach; ka ok itimo kamano to ibedo mofuwo kendo ikelo wichkuot.
Replying before hearing is stupidity and shame.
14 Chuny ngʼato sire e tuo, to chuny mool, en ngʼa manyalo konyo?
With a brave spirit you can put up with sickness, but if it's crushed, you can't bear it.
15 Chuny ma weche donjone yudo ngʼeyo; to it mariek dwaro mondo weche odonjne.
An intelligent mind acquires knowledge; the wise are ready to hear knowledge.
16 Chiwo yawo yo ne ngʼat machiwo kendo tere e nyim jomadongo.
A gift opens doors for you, and gets you into the presence of important people.
17 Ngʼat mokwongo keto wachne nenore ni en kare, nyaka ngʼat machielo bi maket penjo ne wachneno.
The first person to plead a case sounds right until someone comes to cross-examine them.
18 Goyo ombulu tieko larruok kendo thego joma roteke.
Casting lots can end disputes and decide between powerful people.
19 Kiketho ne owadu to duoge iri tek mana kadonjo e dala maduongʼ mochiel motegno; to larruok chalo gi dhorangeye mag dala modin gi lodi.
A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.
20 Wach mawuok e dho ngʼato ema miyo ngʼato yiengʼ; keyo mar dhoge ema miyo oyiengʼ.
Make sure you're satisfied with what you say—you have to live with your words.
21 Lep nigi teko mar ngima kod tho, to jogo mohere biro chamo olembe.
What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.
22 Ngʼatno moyudo dhako onwangʼo gima ber kendo oyudo ngʼwono moa kuom Jehova Nyasaye.
If you find a wife, that's great, and you'll be blessed by the Lord.
23 Ngʼat ma jachan ywak kokwayo ngʼwono, to ngʼat ma jamoko dwoko gi gero.
The poor beg for mercy, but the rich reply harshly.
24 Ngʼat man-gi osiepe mangʼeny nyalo chopo e kethruok to nitie osiep moro masiko buti machiegni maloyo owadu.
Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you than a brother.
