Ngeche 23
1 Ka ibedo mondo ichiem gi ruoth, non maber gima ni e nyimi,
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 ka in jawuoro to dimbri nono to onyalo keto pala e dwondi.
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3 Kik igomb chiembe mamit, nimar chiemono en mar wuondruok.
Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4 Kik iwe tich bari ndasi ni mondo ibed ja-mwandu, bed gi rieko mondo iritri.
Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Ngʼi mwandu mana matin nono, to bangʼe gidhi, nimar adiera gibiro bedo gi bwombe, kendo gifu gidhi e kor polo ka ongo.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Kik icham chiemb jagwondo, kik igomb chiembe mamit,
Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
7 nimar en ngʼat mosiko paro nengo mochul. Owachoni niya, “Chiem kendo methi,” to chunye ok ni kodi.
for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Ibiro ngʼogo mano matin mane ichamo kendo ibiro bedo ni iketho kindeni kuom pwoch mipuoyego.
You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Kik iwuo ne ngʼat mofuwo, nikech obiro chayo rieko mag wechegi.
Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Kik igol kidi mar kiewo machon, kata ima nyithindo maonge wuone puothegi;
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 nimar Jal moritogi en ratego; obiro chwakogi e kindi kodgi.
for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Ket chunyi ne puonj to iti ne weche mag ngʼeyo.
Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Kik itamri kumo nyathi; nimar chwat ok nyal nege.
Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Wuoda, ka chunyi riek, eka chunya biro bedo mamor,
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
16 chunya ma iye nobed mamor ka lewi wacho gima nikare.
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Kik ibed gi nyiego e chunyi nikech joricho; to kinde duto bedi gi dwaro mar luoro Jehova Nyasaye moloyo.
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
18 Adier, ka itimo kamano to inibed gi geno e ndalo mabiro, kendo genoni ok nongʼad oko.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Wuoda, winja, eka inibed mariek, kendo ket chunyi e yo moriere tir.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
20 Kik iriwri gi jogo ma madho kongʼo mangʼeny kata jowuoro mohero ringʼo,
Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
21 nimar jomer kod jowuoro bedo jochan, kendo nongʼno rwakogi gi lewni moti.
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Winj wuonu, nikech en ema nonywoli, kendo kik icha minu ka oti.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Adiera gi rieko gi puonjruok kod ngʼeyo tiend wach ema nyaka iyudi, kata dabed ni ingʼiewogi gi nengo matek.
Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 Wuon ngʼat makare nigi mor maduongʼ; ngʼatno man-gi wuowi mariek obedo mamor kode.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Mad wuonu gi minu bed mamor; mad minu mane onywoli bed gi ilo.
Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 Wuoda, miya chunyi, kendo ket wengegi orit yorena,
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 nimar dhako ma jachode en bur matut, to dhako mabayo en soko madiny.
For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Ka jamecho obuto korito, to omedo keto ji ma ok jo-adiera mangʼeny e kind ji.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst men.
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 has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Jogo madeko oko ka kongʼo, madhi mondo gibil kongʼo mokik mayoreyore.
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Kik ingʼi kongʼo kochiek mowalo, ka obabni e kikombe, ka omadhore mos kolor piny!
Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32 Bangʼe to okecho ka thuol kendo oketo kwiri kaka fu.
In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
33 Wengeni biro neno gik mayoreyore to pachi paro gik morundore.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 Ibiro chalo ngʼat ma nindo e nam mar apaka matek, ka inindo ewi apaka.
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 Ibiro wacho niya, “Gigoya, to ok ahinyra! Gigoya, to ok awinji! Karangʼo ma abiro chiewoe mondo adog ameth kendo?”
“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
