Ngeche 26
1 Mana kaka pe e ndalo oro kata koth e kinde keyo, e kaka luor ok owinjore ni ngʼat mofuwo.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
2 Mana kaka oyundi mafuyo kata ka opija maringo e kaka kwongʼ maonge gimomiyo kadho akadha.
As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
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 ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Kik idwok ngʼat mofuwo machalre gi fupe, to dipo ka ibiro bedo machal kode.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto 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 be wise in his own eyes.
6 Mana kaka ingʼado tiend ngʼato kata kelo masira, chalo gioro ngʼama ofuwo mondo oter ote.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
7 Mana ka tiend ngʼat mongʼol mawengni, e kaka ngero moa e dho ngʼat mofuwo.
The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Mana kaka keto kidi e orujre e kaka miyo ngʼat mofuwo luor.
As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Mana kaka bungu mar kudho e lwet ngʼat momer, e kaka ngero moa e dho ngʼat mofuwo.
[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Mana kaka ngʼama thoro diro aserni adira ema chalo gi ngʼat mandiko ngʼat mofuwo kata ngʼato angʼata moyudo e tich.
A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
11 Kaka guok dok e ngʼokne mosengʼogo e kaka ngʼat mofuwo nwoyo fupe.
As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Bende ineno ngʼato ma paro owuon ni oriek? Ngʼat mofuwo nitiere gi geno moloye.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Jasamuoyo wacho niya, “Sibuor ni e wangʼ yo, sibuor mager bayo e yore mag dala!”
The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
14 Mana kaka dhoot marundore e pata, e kaka jasamuoyo lokore aloka e kitandane.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
15 Jasamuoyo luto lwete malal ei tawo; onyap ahinya ma ok onyal gole oko moduoge e dhoge.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Jasamuoyo paro e chunye ni oriek moloyo ji abiriyo ma dwoko wach gi rieko.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
17 Mana kaka ngʼat mamako guok gi ite, e kaka ngʼat makadho akadha madonjo e dhawo ma ok mare.
He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Mana kaka ngʼat ma janeko madiro pil mach kata aserni mager,
As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 e kaka ngʼato mawuondo jabute kowacho niya, “Ne angeri angera!”
so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
20 Ka yien onge to mach tho; ka kuoth onge dhawo rumo.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
21 Kaka makaa miyo mach ngʼangʼni, to yien bende miyo mach liel, e kaka ngʼat makwiny kelo miero.
[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 Weche mag kuoth chalo gi chiemo mamit; gidhiyo e chuny dhano ma iye.
The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Mana kaka range mangʼangʼni mowir e agulu mochwe chalo e kaka lep mager mar chuny mopongʼ gi richo.
Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 Jasigu wuondore koumore kod dhoge, to ei chunye okano miriambo.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
25 Kata bed ni wechene lombo chuny, kik iyie kode, nimar gik maricho abiriyo opongʼo chunye.
when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Onyalo wuondore ni oonge wuond, to timbene maricho biro nenore ratiro e nyim oganda.
Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
27 Ka ngʼato okunyo bur, obiro lutore e iye; to ka ngʼato ngʼielo kidi, to kidino biro ngʼielore kaduogo ire.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 Lep mariambo mon kod jogo mohinyo, to dhok mawuondo ji kelo kethruok.
A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
