Ngeche 21
1 Chuny ruoth ni e lwet Jehova Nyasaye, ochike mana kaka kuonde ma pi luwo kendo kaka ohero owuon.
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
2 Yore duto mag dhano nenorene ni nikare, to Jehova Nyasaye ema pimo chuny.
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 Timo gima kare kod mowinjore ema Jehova Nyasaye oyiego moloyo misango.
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Wangʼ teko, chuny mar sunga kod taya mar jo-mahundu, gin richo!
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
5 Chenro mag ngʼat matiyo matek kelo ohala to chutho e kaka rikni kelo chan.
The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6 Mwandu moyudi gi lep mariambo en mana tho malal piyo kendo en obeto mar tho.
Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
7 Timbe mahundu mar joricho biro terogi mabor magilal; nimar gidagi timo gima kare.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
8 Yor ngʼat ma jaketho ogondore, to kit ngʼat makare oriere tir.
The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Ber dak e kona mar wi ot moloyo dak gi dhako maralep.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Ngʼat ma timbene richo ohero richo; jabute ok yud ngʼwono kuome.
The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 Ka okum ngʼat ma jaro ji, to joma ngʼeyogi tin yudo rieko, ka ngʼat mariek opuonji, to oyudo ngʼeyo.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
12 Ngʼat Makare ongʼeyo od ngʼat ma timbene richo kendo otero ngʼat marach e kethruok.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Ka ngʼato odino ite ne ywak mar jachan, en owuon bende obiro ywak to ok nodwoke.
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
14 Mich mochiw lingʼ-lingʼ kweyo mirima to asoya mopandi ei law jiwo mirima maduongʼ.
A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
15 Ka adiera onenore, to joma timbegi nikare bedo mamor to joma timbegi richo to yudo bwok.
Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 Ngʼat moweyo yor winjo wach dhiyo kar yweyo mar oganda mar joma otho.
The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Ngʼat mohero budho biro bedo jachan; ngʼat mohero divai kod moo ok nyal bedo ja-mwandu.
He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18 Jomaricho bedo resruok mar joma kare; to jogo ma ok jo-adiera ne joma oriere tir.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
19 Ber dak e thim motwo moloyo dak gi dhako ma jadhawo kendo ma ja-mirima.
Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
20 Od ngʼat mariek opongʼ kod chiemo gi moo moyier, to ngʼat mofuwo chamo gik moko duto ma en-go.
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
21 Ngʼatno maluwo tim makare kod hera yudo ngima, mwandu gi luor.
He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Ngʼat mariek kawo dala ngʼat maratego kendo omuko dhorangeye matek magiketoe genogi.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 Ngʼatno marito dhoge kod lewe ritore kuom masiche.
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
24 Ngʼat ma jasunga kendo jawuorre “Jajaro” e nyinge; otingʼore malo ka osungore malich.
Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
25 Dwaro mar jasamuoyo biro bedo thone owuon; nikech lwetene odagi tich.
The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
26 Odiechiengʼ duto odwaro mangʼeny, to ngʼat makare chiwo maonge giko.
All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
27 Misango mar jaricho ok ber, onyalo bedo marach maromo nade ka ochiwe gi paro marach!
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
28 Janeno ma ja-miriambo biro lal; to ngʼat mawinje ibiro tieko chutho.
A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
29 Ngʼat ma jaricho wangʼe tek to ngʼat moriere tir tiyo gi paro e yorene.
A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
30 Onge rieko, onge neno matut, onge chenro manyalo loyo Jehova Nyasaye.
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
31 Inyalo yiko faras ne ndalo mar lweny; to loyo lweny en mar Jehova Nyasaye.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
