Ngeche 26
1 Mana kaka pe e ndalo oro kata koth e kinde keyo, e kaka luor ok owinjore ni ngʼat mofuwo.
As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not [seemly] for a fool.
2 Mana kaka oyundi mafuyo kata ka opija maringo e kaka kwongʼ maonge gimomiyo kadho akadha.
As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
3 Kaka faras owinjore gi chwat, to dho punda owinjore gi tweyo e kaka ngʼe joma ofuwo owinjore gi goch.
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
4 Kik idwok ngʼat mofuwo machalre gi fupe, to dipo ka ibiro bedo machal kode.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Dwok ngʼat mofuwo koluwore gi fupe, dipo ka obiro nenore e wangʼe owuon ni oriek.
Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
6 Mana kaka ingʼado tiend ngʼato kata kelo masira, chalo gioro ngʼama ofuwo mondo oter ote.
He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 Mana ka tiend ngʼat mongʼol mawengni, e kaka ngero moa e dho ngʼat mofuwo.
[As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
8 Mana kaka keto kidi e orujre e kaka miyo ngʼat mofuwo luor.
He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
9 Mana kaka bungu mar kudho e lwet ngʼat momer, e kaka ngero moa e dho ngʼat mofuwo.
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
10 Mana kaka ngʼama thoro diro aserni adira ema chalo gi ngʼat mandiko ngʼat mofuwo kata ngʼato angʼata moyudo e tich.
All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
11 Kaka guok dok e ngʼokne mosengʼogo e kaka ngʼat mofuwo nwoyo fupe.
As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
12 Bende ineno ngʼato ma paro owuon ni oriek? Ngʼat mofuwo nitiere gi geno moloye.
I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
13 Jasamuoyo wacho niya, “Sibuor ni e wangʼ yo, sibuor mager bayo e yore mag dala!”
A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
14 Mana kaka dhoot marundore e pata, e kaka jasamuoyo lokore aloka e kitandane.
As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 Jasamuoyo luto lwete malal ei tawo; onyap ahinya ma ok onyal gole oko moduoge e dhoge.
A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 Jasamuoyo paro e chunye ni oriek moloyo ji abiriyo ma dwoko wach gi rieko.
A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
17 Mana kaka ngʼat mamako guok gi ite, e kaka ngʼat makadho akadha madonjo e dhawo ma ok mare.
As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
18 Mana kaka ngʼat ma janeko madiro pil mach kata aserni mager,
As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
19 e kaka ngʼato mawuondo jabute kowacho niya, “Ne angeri angera!”
so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
20 Ka yien onge to mach tho; ka kuoth onge dhawo rumo.
With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
21 Kaka makaa miyo mach ngʼangʼni, to yien bende miyo mach liel, e kaka ngʼat makwiny kelo miero.
A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
22 Weche mag kuoth chalo gi chiemo mamit; gidhiyo e chuny dhano ma iye.
The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
23 Mana kaka range mangʼangʼni mowir e agulu mochwe chalo e kaka lep mager mar chuny mopongʼ gi richo.
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
24 Jasigu wuondore koumore kod dhoge, to ei chunye okano miriambo.
A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
25 Kata bed ni wechene lombo chuny, kik iyie kode, nimar gik maricho abiriyo opongʼo chunye.
Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Onyalo wuondore ni oonge wuond, to timbene maricho biro nenore ratiro e nyim oganda.
He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
27 Ka ngʼato okunyo bur, obiro lutore e iye; to ka ngʼato ngʼielo kidi, to kidino biro ngʼielore kaduogo ire.
He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
28 Lep mariambo mon kod jogo mohinyo, to dhok mawuondo ji kelo kethruok.
A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
