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 or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
2 Mana kaka oyundi mafuyo kata ka opija maringo e kaka kwongʼ maonge gimomiyo kadho akadha.
As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.
3 Kaka faras owinjore gi chwat, to dho punda owinjore gi tweyo e kaka ngʼe joma ofuwo owinjore gi goch.
A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey and a rod is for the back 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 will become like him.
5 Dwok ngʼat mofuwo koluwore gi fupe, dipo ka obiro nenore e wangʼe owuon ni oriek.
Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.
6 Mana kaka ingʼado tiend ngʼato kata kelo masira, chalo gioro ngʼama ofuwo mondo oter ote.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Mana ka tiend ngʼat mongʼol mawengni, e kaka ngero moa e dho ngʼat mofuwo.
Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Mana kaka keto kidi e orujre e kaka miyo ngʼat mofuwo luor.
Like tying a stone in a sling is giving 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 goes into the hand of a drunkard 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.
Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
11 Kaka guok dok e ngʼokne mosengʼogo e kaka ngʼat mofuwo nwoyo fupe.
As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Bende ineno ngʼato ma paro owuon ni oriek? Ngʼat mofuwo nitiere gi geno moloye.
Do you see someone 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 lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
14 Mana kaka dhoot marundore e pata, e kaka jasamuoyo lokore aloka e kitandane.
As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.
15 Jasamuoyo luto lwete malal ei tawo; onyap ahinya ma ok onyal gole oko moduoge e dhoge.
The lazy person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.
16 Jasamuoyo paro e chunye ni oriek moloyo ji abiriyo ma dwoko wach gi rieko.
The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
17 Mana kaka ngʼat mamako guok gi ite, e kaka ngʼat makadho akadha madonjo e dhawo ma ok mare.
Like one who takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.
18 Mana kaka ngʼat ma janeko madiro pil mach kata aserni mager,
Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
19 e kaka ngʼato mawuondo jabute kowacho niya, “Ne angeri angera!”
is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
20 Ka yien onge to mach tho; ka kuoth onge dhawo rumo.
For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
21 Kaka makaa miyo mach ngʼangʼni, to yien bende miyo mach liel, e kaka ngʼat makwiny kelo miero.
As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 Weche mag kuoth chalo gi chiemo mamit; gidhiyo e chuny dhano ma iye.
The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 Mana kaka range mangʼangʼni mowir e agulu mochwe chalo e kaka lep mager mar chuny mopongʼ gi richo.
Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
24 Jasigu wuondore koumore kod dhoge, to ei chunye okano miriambo.
One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
25 Kata bed ni wechene lombo chuny, kik iyie kode, nimar gik maricho abiriyo opongʼo chunye.
He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, 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 with 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.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
28 Lep mariambo mon kod jogo mohinyo, to dhok mawuondo ji kelo kethruok.
A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
