Ngeche 4
1 Yawuota, winjuru puonj mag wuonu; chikuru itu eka ubed gi ngʼeyo moloyo.
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 Puonj mara mamiyou beyo, omiyo kik ujwangʼ puonjna.
For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
3 Kane pod an wuowi e od wuora, kane pod an rawera kendo nyathi achiel kende mar minwa,
When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
4 nopuonja kowacho niya, “Mak matek wechena gi chunyi duto, rit chikena eka inibed mangima.
he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
5 Yud rieko kod ngʼeyo matut, wiyi kik wil kod wechena kata weyogi.
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
6 Kik ijwangʼ rieko to obiro bedoni ragengʼ; here, to obiro ritoi.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 Rieko nigi duongʼ moloyo, omiyo yud rieko. Kata obedo ni mwanduni duto nyalo rumo, to bed gi winjo tiend wach.
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
8 Miye duongʼ, to enotingʼi malo; rwake chutho, to obiro miyi duongʼ.
Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 Enoket ogut ngʼwono e wiyi kendo nosidhni osimbo mar duongʼ.”
She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 Wuoda, winji kendo yie gima awacho eka higni mag ngimani nobed mangʼeny.
Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
11 Apuonji e yor rieko kendo anyisi yo makare.
I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
12 Ka iwuotho, to ok inikier bende ka iringo, to ok inichwanyri.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Mak motegno gima isepuonjori, kik iweye, olalni to irite maber, nikech en e ngimani.
Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Kik iwuothi e yor joma timbegi mono kata kik iluw yor jomaricho.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Bed mabor gi yorno, kik iwuothie, to wichri kendo iluw yori iwuon.
Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
16 Nikech ok ginyal nindo nyaka gitim gima mono; ayula wangʼ bende ok nyal terogi kapok gimiyo ngʼato opodho.
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
17 Timbe mamono e chiembgi ma gichamo, to timbe ja-mahundu e divai ma gimadho.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Yor joma kare chalo ka ugwe mar kogwen, omedo rieny maler nyaka chiengʼ wuogi.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 To yor joricho chalo gi mudho mandiwa; ok gingʼeyo gima miyo gichwanyore.
But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 Wuoda, chik iti malongʼo ne gima awacho, chik iti maber ne wechena.
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Kik iwe gilal e wangʼi to kan-gi e chunyi;
Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 nikech gikelo ngima ni jogo moyudogo kendo gin gi ngima maber ne ringre dhano duto.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
23 To moloyo duto, rit chunyi, nikech en e soko mar ngima.
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
24 Wach ma ok adiera kik aa e dhogi; weche mag miganga kik wuogi e dhogi.
Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
25 Rang mana nyimi tir, ka ichomo wangʼi moriere tir e nyimi.
Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Rie yore tir monego iluw kendo luw mana yore motegno.
Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27 Kik ibar kidhiyo korachwich kata koracham; rit tiendi mondo kik idonji e richo.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
