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 as rain in harvest, so honour is not fitting for a fool.
2 Mana kaka oyundi mafuyo kata ka opija maringo e kaka kwongʼ maonge gimomiyo kadho akadha.
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t 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 is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4 Kik idwok ngʼat mofuwo machalre gi fupe, to dipo ka ibiro bedo machal kode.
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also 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 be wise in his own eyes.
6 Mana kaka ingʼado tiend ngʼato kata kelo masira, chalo gioro ngʼama ofuwo mondo oter ote.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7 Mana ka tiend ngʼat mongʼol mawengni, e kaka ngero moa e dho ngʼat mofuwo.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Mana kaka keto kidi e orujre e kaka miyo ngʼat mofuwo luor.
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honour to a fool.
9 Mana kaka bungu mar kudho e lwet ngʼat momer, e kaka ngero moa e dho ngʼat mofuwo.
Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable 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.
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11 Kaka guok dok e ngʼokne mosengʼogo e kaka ngʼat mofuwo nwoyo fupe.
As a dog that returns to his 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 a man 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 sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14 Mana kaka dhoot marundore e pata, e kaka jasamuoyo lokore aloka e kitandane.
As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
15 Jasamuoyo luto lwete malal ei tawo; onyap ahinya ma ok onyal gole oko moduoge e dhoge.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Jasamuoyo paro e chunye ni oriek moloyo ji abiriyo ma dwoko wach gi rieko.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
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’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Mana kaka ngʼat ma janeko madiro pil mach kata aserni mager,
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19 e kaka ngʼato mawuondo jabute kowacho niya, “Ne angeri angera!”
is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “Am I not joking?”
20 Ka yien onge to mach tho; ka kuoth onge dhawo rumo.
For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 Kaka makaa miyo mach ngʼangʼni, to yien bende miyo mach liel, e kaka ngʼat makwiny kelo miero.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22 Weche mag kuoth chalo gi chiemo mamit; gidhiyo e chuny dhano ma iye.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Mana kaka range mangʼangʼni mowir e agulu mochwe chalo e kaka lep mager mar chuny mopongʼ gi richo.
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 Jasigu wuondore koumore kod dhoge, to ei chunye okano miriambo.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbours evil in his heart.
25 Kata bed ni wechene lombo chuny, kik iyie kode, nimar gik maricho abiriyo opongʼo chunye.
When his speech is charming, don’t 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.
His malice may be concealed by deception, but 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 shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 Lep mariambo mon kod jogo mohinyo, to dhok mawuondo ji kelo kethruok.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
