Ngeche 25
1 Magi e ngeche mamoko mag Solomon, mane jo-Hezekia ruodh Juda ondiko.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 Wamiyo Nyasaye duongʼ kuom gik ma opando; to lero tiend weche en duongʼ ni ruodhi.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
3 Mana kaka polo bor kendo piny tut, e kaka chuny ruodhi ngʼeyo tek.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Ka ogol chilo kuom fedha, to jatheth koro nigi gimoro mar theth;
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 ka ogol ngʼat marach e nyim ruoth, eka kom ruodhe ibiro guro motegno e tim makare.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Kik imiri duongʼ iwuon e nyim ruoth, kata bedo kar jomadongo,
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
7 nimar ber moloyo owachni niya, “Bi ka,” moloyo ka igoli e nyim jomadongo.
for [it is] better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen.
8 Gima wangʼi oseneno kik ikel mapiyo kirikni e nyim od bura; nimar ibiro timo angʼo achien ka jabuti oketi e wichkuot?
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last.
9 Ka iloso wach manie kindi gi jabuti, to kik idhi ihul wach malingʼ-lingʼ mar ngʼato;
Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 nono to ngʼat moro mowinji biro keti e wichkuot; mi huma mari marach ok nogiki.
lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably.
11 Wach mowach e kinde mowinjore, chalo gi olemo mar dhahabu moketie tawo molos gi fedha.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 Mana kaka tere mar dhahabu kata tigo mar dhahabu maber e kaka siem mar ngʼat mariek mokwerogo ngʼat machiko ite.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
13 Mana kaka ngʼich mar pe e kinde mar keyo, e kaka jaote ma ja-adiera chalo ne ngʼat moore, omoro chuny ruodhe.
As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
14 Kaka boche polo gi yamo maonge koth, e kaka ngʼat mawuorore gi mich ma ok dochiw.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 Horuok mos nyalo loko chuny ruoth, to lep mamuol nyalo toyo chogo.
In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Ka iyudo mor kich, to cham mana moromo, mathoth ahinya, nyalo miyo ingʼogi.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Kik iter tiendi pile e od jabuti, dhiyo kuno pile, biro miyo ochayi.
Enter sparingly into thy friend's house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.
18 Mana kaka arungu kata ligangla; kata asere mabith, e kaka ngʼatno machiwo neno ma ok adiera kuom ngʼat ma gidakgo machiegni.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Mana kaka lak marach kata tielo mongʼol e kaka keto geno kuom jogo ma ok jo-adiera e kinde mag chandruok.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
20 Mana ka ngʼat ma lonyo law midongʼ duk e ndalo ngʼich, kata kaka olo chumbi e adhola, e kaka ngʼat ma wero wende ne chuny mool.
As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
21 Ka jasiki odenyo, to miye chiemo ocham; ka riyo oloye, miye pi omodhi.
If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 Ka itimo kamano, ibiro choko chuk mach maliel e wiye, kendo Jehova Nyasaye biro miyi pok.
for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee [with] good.
23 Kaka yamb nyandwat kelo koth, e kaka lep mafuongʼo wach kelo miero.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
24 Ber dak e kona mar wi ot moloyo dak gi dhako maralep.
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 Mana kaka pi mangʼich chalo ne chuny mool, e kaka wach maber moa e piny mabor chalo.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 Mana kaka soko motimo chwodho kata aora moduwore chalo e kaka ngʼat makare machiwo thuolo ne jaricho.
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
27 Ok ber chamo mor kich mathoth, kata ok en gima longʼo mondo ngʼato odwar luor monego miye owuon.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
28 Mana kaka dala maduongʼ ma ohingane omukore mogore piny e kaka ngʼatno ma ok nyal ritore owuon.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
