Ngeche 4
1 Yawuota, winjuru puonj mag wuonu; chikuru itu eka ubed gi ngʼeyo moloyo.
Listen, sons, to the discipline of a father, and pay attention, so that you may know prudence.
2 Puonj mara mamiyou beyo, omiyo kik ujwangʼ puonjna.
I will bestow upon you a good gift. Do not relinquish my law.
3 Kane pod an wuowi e od wuora, kane pod an rawera kendo nyathi achiel kende mar minwa,
For I, too, was the son of my father, tender and an only son in the sight of my mother.
4 nopuonja kowacho niya, “Mak matek wechena gi chunyi duto, rit chikena eka inibed mangima.
And he taught me, and he also said: “Let your heart accept my words. Keep my precepts, and you shall live.
5 Yud rieko kod ngʼeyo matut, wiyi kik wil kod wechena kata weyogi.
Obtain wisdom, obtain prudence. May you neither forget, nor turn away from, the words of my mouth.
6 Kik ijwangʼ rieko to obiro bedoni ragengʼ; here, to obiro ritoi.
Do not send her away, and she will guard you. Love her, and she will preserve you.
7 Rieko nigi duongʼ moloyo, omiyo yud rieko. Kata obedo ni mwanduni duto nyalo rumo, to bed gi winjo tiend wach.
The beginning of wisdom is to obtain wisdom, and, with all that you possess, to acquire prudence.
8 Miye duongʼ, to enotingʼi malo; rwake chutho, to obiro miyi duongʼ.
Grasp her, and she will exalt you. You will be glorified by her, when you have embraced her.
9 Enoket ogut ngʼwono e wiyi kendo nosidhni osimbo mar duongʼ.”
She will bestow upon your head an increase in graces, and she will protect you with a noble crown.
10 Wuoda, winji kendo yie gima awacho eka higni mag ngimani nobed mangʼeny.
Listen, my son, and accept my words, so that years of life may be multiplied for you.
11 Apuonji e yor rieko kendo anyisi yo makare.
I will demonstrate to you the way of wisdom. I will lead you along the paths of equity.
12 Ka iwuotho, to ok inikier bende ka iringo, to ok inichwanyri.
When you have entered by these, your steps will not be constrained, and when running, you will have no obstacle.
13 Mak motegno gima isepuonjori, kik iweye, olalni to irite maber, nikech en e ngimani.
Take hold of discipline. Do not dismiss it. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Kik iwuothi e yor joma timbegi mono kata kik iluw yor jomaricho.
Do not delight in the paths of the impious, nor permit the way of evil-doers to please you.
15 Bed mabor gi yorno, kik iwuothie, to wichri kendo iluw yori iwuon.
Take flight from it. Do not pass close to it. Turn away and abandon it.
16 Nikech ok ginyal nindo nyaka gitim gima mono; ayula wangʼ bende ok nyal terogi kapok gimiyo ngʼato opodho.
For they do not sleep, unless they have done evil. And their sleep is quickly taken away from them, unless they have overthrown.
17 Timbe mamono e chiembgi ma gichamo, to timbe ja-mahundu e divai ma gimadho.
They eat the bread of impiety, and they drink the wine of iniquity.
18 Yor joma kare chalo ka ugwe mar kogwen, omedo rieny maler nyaka chiengʼ wuogi.
But the path of the just is like a shining light: it advances and increases, even to the day of completion.
19 To yor joricho chalo gi mudho mandiwa; ok gingʼeyo gima miyo gichwanyore.
The way of the impious is darkened. They do not know where they may fall.
20 Wuoda, chik iti malongʼo ne gima awacho, chik iti maber ne wechena.
My son, pay attention to my sermons, and incline your ear to my eloquent words.
21 Kik iwe gilal e wangʼi to kan-gi e chunyi;
Let them not recede from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of 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 all that is flesh.
23 To moloyo duto, rit chunyi, nikech en e soko mar ngima.
Preserve your heart with all watchfulness, for life proceeds from this.
24 Wach ma ok adiera kik aa e dhogi; weche mag miganga kik wuogi e dhogi.
Remove from yourself a corrupt mouth, and let detracting lips be far from you.
25 Rang mana nyimi tir, ka ichomo wangʼi moriere tir e nyimi.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, and let your eyelids precede your steps.
26 Rie yore tir monego iluw kendo luw mana yore motegno.
Direct the path of your feet, and all your ways shall be secure.
27 Kik ibar kidhiyo korachwich kata koracham; rit tiendi mondo kik idonji e richo.
Turn aside, neither to the right, nor to the left; yet turn your foot away from evil. For the Lord knows the ways that are on the right, and truly, those that are on the left are perverse. But he himself will make your courses straight. Then your journey will advance in peace.
