Ngeche 25
1 Magi e ngeche mamoko mag Solomon, mane jo-Hezekia ruodh Juda ondiko.
Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: —
2 Wamiyo Nyasaye duongʼ kuom gik ma opando; to lero tiend weche en duongʼ ni ruodhi.
The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.
3 Mana kaka polo bor kendo piny tut, e kaka chuny ruodhi ngʼeyo tek.
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings — [are] unsearchable.
4 Ka ogol chilo kuom fedha, to jatheth koro nigi gimoro mar theth;
Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,
5 ka ogol ngʼat marach e nyim ruoth, eka kom ruodhe ibiro guro motegno e tim makare.
Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.
6 Kik imiri duongʼ iwuon e nyim ruoth, kata bedo kar jomadongo,
Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
7 nimar ber moloyo owachni niya, “Bi ka,” moloyo ka igoli e nyim jomadongo.
For better [that] he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than [that] he humble thee before a noble, Whom 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?
Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?
9 Ka iloso wach manie kindi gi jabuti, to kik idhi ihul wach malingʼ-lingʼ mar ngʼato;
Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,
10 nono to ngʼat moro mowinji biro keti e wichkuot; mi huma mari marach ok nogiki.
Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.
11 Wach mowach e kinde mowinjore, chalo gi olemo mar dhahabu moketie tawo molos gi fedha.
Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
12 Mana kaka tere mar dhahabu kata tigo mar dhahabu maber e kaka siem mar ngʼat mariek mokwerogo ngʼat machiko ite.
A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive 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 vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.
14 Kaka boche polo gi yamo maonge koth, e kaka ngʼat mawuorore gi mich ma ok dochiw.
Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
15 Horuok mos nyalo loko chuny ruoth, to lep mamuol nyalo toyo chogo.
By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.
16 Ka iyudo mor kich, to cham mana moromo, mathoth ahinya, nyalo miyo ingʼogi.
Honey thou hast found — eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it.
17 Kik iter tiendi pile e od jabuti, dhiyo kuno pile, biro miyo ochayi.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee.
18 Mana kaka arungu kata ligangla; kata asere mabith, e kaka ngʼatno machiwo neno ma ok adiera kuom ngʼat ma gidakgo machiegni.
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.
19 Mana kaka lak marach kata tielo mongʼol e kaka keto geno kuom jogo ma ok jo-adiera e kinde mag chandruok.
A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
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.
Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
21 Ka jasiki odenyo, to miye chiemo ocham; ka riyo oloye, miye pi omodhi.
If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
22 Ka itimo kamano, ibiro choko chuk mach maliel e wiye, kendo Jehova Nyasaye biro miyi pok.
For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.
23 Kaka yamb nyandwat kelo koth, e kaka lep mafuongʼo wach kelo miero.
A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue — indignant faces.
24 Ber dak e kona mar wi ot moloyo dak gi dhako maralep.
Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
25 Mana kaka pi mangʼich chalo ne chuny mool, e kaka wach maber moa e piny mabor chalo.
[As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
26 Mana kaka soko motimo chwodho kata aora moduwore chalo e kaka ngʼat makare machiwo thuolo ne jaricho.
A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
27 Ok ber chamo mor kich mathoth, kata ok en gima longʼo mondo ngʼato odwar luor monego miye owuon.
The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour — honour.
28 Mana kaka dala maduongʼ ma ohingane omukore mogore piny e kaka ngʼatno ma ok nyal ritore owuon.
A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
