Ngeche 26
1 Mana kaka pe e ndalo oro kata koth e kinde keyo, e kaka luor ok owinjore ni ngʼat mofuwo.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 Mana kaka oyundi mafuyo kata ka opija maringo e kaka kwongʼ maonge gimomiyo kadho akadha.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Kaka faras owinjore gi chwat, to dho punda owinjore gi tweyo e kaka ngʼe joma ofuwo owinjore gi goch.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Kik idwok ngʼat mofuwo machalre gi fupe, to dipo ka ibiro bedo machal kode.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 Dwok ngʼat mofuwo koluwore gi fupe, dipo ka obiro nenore e wangʼe owuon ni oriek.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Mana kaka ingʼado tiend ngʼato kata kelo masira, chalo gioro ngʼama ofuwo mondo oter ote.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Mana ka tiend ngʼat mongʼol mawengni, e kaka ngero moa e dho ngʼat mofuwo.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Mana kaka keto kidi e orujre e kaka miyo ngʼat mofuwo luor.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Mana kaka bungu mar kudho e lwet ngʼat momer, e kaka ngero moa e dho ngʼat mofuwo.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Mana kaka ngʼama thoro diro aserni adira ema chalo gi ngʼat mandiko ngʼat mofuwo kata ngʼato angʼata moyudo e tich.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 Kaka guok dok e ngʼokne mosengʼogo e kaka ngʼat mofuwo nwoyo fupe.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Bende ineno ngʼato ma paro owuon ni oriek? Ngʼat mofuwo nitiere gi geno moloye.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Jasamuoyo wacho niya, “Sibuor ni e wangʼ yo, sibuor mager bayo e yore mag dala!”
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 Mana kaka dhoot marundore e pata, e kaka jasamuoyo lokore aloka e kitandane.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 Jasamuoyo luto lwete malal ei tawo; onyap ahinya ma ok onyal gole oko moduoge e dhoge.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Jasamuoyo paro e chunye ni oriek moloyo ji abiriyo ma dwoko wach gi rieko.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 Mana kaka ngʼat mamako guok gi ite, e kaka ngʼat makadho akadha madonjo e dhawo ma ok mare.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Mana kaka ngʼat ma janeko madiro pil mach kata aserni mager,
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 e kaka ngʼato mawuondo jabute kowacho niya, “Ne angeri angera!”
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Ka yien onge to mach tho; ka kuoth onge dhawo rumo.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 Kaka makaa miyo mach ngʼangʼni, to yien bende miyo mach liel, e kaka ngʼat makwiny kelo miero.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 Weche mag kuoth chalo gi chiemo mamit; gidhiyo e chuny dhano ma iye.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Mana kaka range mangʼangʼni mowir e agulu mochwe chalo e kaka lep mager mar chuny mopongʼ gi richo.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 Jasigu wuondore koumore kod dhoge, to ei chunye okano miriambo.
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 Kata bed ni wechene lombo chuny, kik iyie kode, nimar gik maricho abiriyo opongʼo chunye.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Onyalo wuondore ni oonge wuond, to timbene maricho biro nenore ratiro e nyim oganda.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Ka ngʼato okunyo bur, obiro lutore e iye; to ka ngʼato ngʼielo kidi, to kidino biro ngʼielore kaduogo ire.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 Lep mariambo mon kod jogo mohinyo, to dhok mawuondo ji kelo kethruok.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
