Ngeche 23
1 Ka ibedo mondo ichiem gi ruoth, non maber gima ni e nyimi,
When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 ka in jawuoro to dimbri nono to onyalo keto pala e dwondi.
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 Kik igomb chiembe mamit, nimar chiemono en mar wuondruok.
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 Kik iwe tich bari ndasi ni mondo ibed ja-mwandu, bed gi rieko mondo iritri.
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5 Ngʼi mwandu mana matin nono, to bangʼe gidhi, nimar adiera gibiro bedo gi bwombe, kendo gifu gidhi e kor polo ka ongo.
It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6 Kik icham chiemb jagwondo, kik igomb chiembe mamit,
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
7 nimar en ngʼat mosiko paro nengo mochul. Owachoni niya, “Chiem kendo methi,” to chunye ok ni kodi.
for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
8 Ibiro ngʼogo mano matin mane ichamo kendo ibiro bedo ni iketho kindeni kuom pwoch mipuoyego.
You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 Kik iwuo ne ngʼat mofuwo, nikech obiro chayo rieko mag wechegi.
Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10 Kik igol kidi mar kiewo machon, kata ima nyithindo maonge wuone puothegi;
Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
11 nimar Jal moritogi en ratego; obiro chwakogi e kindi kodgi.
for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12 Ket chunyi ne puonj to iti ne weche mag ngʼeyo.
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 Kik itamri kumo nyathi; nimar chwat ok nyal nege.
Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
If you use physical correction you can save them from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Wuoda, ka chunyi riek, eka chunya biro bedo mamor,
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 chunya ma iye nobed mamor ka lewi wacho gima nikare.
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17 Kik ibed gi nyiego e chunyi nikech joricho; to kinde duto bedi gi dwaro mar luoro Jehova Nyasaye moloyo.
Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18 Adier, ka itimo kamano to inibed gi geno e ndalo mabiro, kendo genoni ok nongʼad oko.
for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19 Wuoda, winja, eka inibed mariek, kendo ket chunyi e yo moriere tir.
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 Kik iriwri gi jogo ma madho kongʼo mangʼeny kata jowuoro mohero ringʼo,
Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
21 nimar jomer kod jowuoro bedo jochan, kendo nongʼno rwakogi gi lewni moti.
For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22 Winj wuonu, nikech en ema nonywoli, kendo kik icha minu ka oti.
Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23 Adiera gi rieko gi puonjruok kod ngʼeyo tiend wach ema nyaka iyudi, kata dabed ni ingʼiewogi gi nengo matek.
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 Wuon ngʼat makare nigi mor maduongʼ; ngʼatno man-gi wuowi mariek obedo mamor kode.
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 Mad wuonu gi minu bed mamor; mad minu mane onywoli bed gi ilo.
Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26 Wuoda, miya chunyi, kendo ket wengegi orit yorena,
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 nimar dhako ma jachode en bur matut, to dhako mabayo en soko madiny.
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28 Ka jamecho obuto korito, to omedo keto ji ma ok jo-adiera mangʼeny e kind ji.
Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
29 En ngʼa man-gi masira? En ngʼa man-gi lit? En ngʼa man-gi lweny? En ngʼa man-gi ngʼur? En ngʼa man-gi adhonde ma ok owinjore? En ngʼa man-gi wangʼ makwar motimo remo?
Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30 Jogo madeko oko ka kongʼo, madhi mondo gibil kongʼo mokik mayoreyore.
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
31 Kik ingʼi kongʼo kochiek mowalo, ka obabni e kikombe, ka omadhore mos kolor piny!
Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
32 Bangʼe to okecho ka thuol kendo oketo kwiri kaka fu.
In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33 Wengeni biro neno gik mayoreyore to pachi paro gik morundore.
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 Ibiro chalo ngʼat ma nindo e nam mar apaka matek, ka inindo ewi apaka.
You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 Ibiro wacho niya, “Gigoya, to ok ahinyra! Gigoya, to ok awinji! Karangʼo ma abiro chiewoe mondo adog ameth kendo?”
“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
