Ngeche 18
1 Ngʼat ma ok jahera dwaro mana gige ok owinj puonj moro amora.
He that separateth himself [from God] seeketh his own desires: at every sound wisdom is he enraged.
2 Ngʼat mofuwo ok mor kod winjo wach to omor mana gi wacho paroge owuon.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but in laying open what is in his heart.
3 Ka richo biro, e kaka achaya biro, to wichkuot kelo duwruok.
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with dishonorable acts, disgrace.
4 Weche mag dho ngʼato tut ka nam, to soko mar rieko en aora mabubni kamol.
Like deep waters are the words of a [wise] man's mouth, and a bubbling brook is the well-spring of wisdom.
5 Ok en gima ber chwako ngʼat ma timbene richo kata ketho buch ngʼato maonge ketho.
It is not good to favor the person of the wicked, to wrest [the cause of the] righteous in judgment.
6 Lew ngʼat mofuwo kelone dhawo, to dhoge luongo goch.
The lips of the fool come with contention, and his mouth calleth for blows.
7 Dho ngʼat mofuwo ema tieke, to lewe ema bedo obadho ne ngimane.
The mouth of the fool is a destruction to himself, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 Weche mag kuoth chalo gi chiemo mamit; gidhiyo e chuny dhano ma iye.
The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down indeed into the innermost parts of the body.
9 Ngʼat ma jasamuoyo e tich en owadgi ngʼat maketho gik moko.
He also that showeth himself slothful in his work is a brother to the destroyer.
10 Nying Jehova Nyasaye en ohinga maratego, ngʼat makare ringo ma pond kanyo kendo yud resruok.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower, whereunto the righteous runneth, and is placed in safety.
11 Mwandu mar jomoko e ohinga mochiel motegno ma gigengʼorego, giparo ni en ohinga maonge ngʼama nyalo muko.
The rich man's wealth is his strong town, and as a towering wall in his own conceit.
12 Kapok ngʼato opodho, to sunga bedo e chunye, to muolo kelo pak.
Before downfall the heart of man becometh haughty, and before honor goeth humility.
13 Chik iti kapok idwoko wach; ka ok itimo kamano to ibedo mofuwo kendo ikelo wichkuot.
When one returneth an answer before he understandeth [the question], it is folly unto him and shame.
14 Chuny ngʼato sire e tuo, to chuny mool, en ngʼa manyalo konyo?
The spirit of a man will readily bear his disease; but a depressed spirit who can bear:
15 Chuny ma weche donjone yudo ngʼeyo; to it mariek dwaro mondo weche odonjne.
The heart of the man of understanding will obtain knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 Chiwo yawo yo ne ngʼat machiwo kendo tere e nyim jomadongo.
A man's gift maketh room for him, and before great men will it lead him.
17 Ngʼat mokwongo keto wachne nenore ni en kare, nyaka ngʼat machielo bi maket penjo ne wachneno.
He that is first in his cause seemeth just; but when his neighbor cometh, then will it be investigated.
18 Goyo ombulu tieko larruok kendo thego joma roteke.
The lot causeth disputes to cease, and it decideth between the mighty.
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 offended is harder [to be won] than a strong town; and quarrels [among brothers] are like the bars of a castle.
20 Wach mawuok e dho ngʼato ema miyo ngʼato yiengʼ; keyo mar dhoge ema miyo oyiengʼ.
From the fruit of a man's mouth is his body satisfied; with the product of his lips doth he satisfy himself.
21 Lep nigi teko mar ngima kod tho, to jogo mohere biro chamo olembe.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it will eat its fruit.
22 Ngʼatno moyudo dhako onwangʼo gima ber kendo oyudo ngʼwono moa kuom Jehova Nyasaye.
Whoso hath found a wife hath found happiness, and hath obtained favor from the Lord.
23 Ngʼat ma jachan ywak kokwayo ngʼwono, to ngʼat ma jamoko dwoko gi gero.
The poor speaketh entreatingly; but the rich answereth roughly.
24 Ngʼat man-gi osiepe mangʼeny nyalo chopo e kethruok to nitie osiep moro masiko buti machiegni maloyo owadu.
A man's many companions are hurtful to him; but there is many a friend that cleaveth closer than a brother.
