Ngeche 4
1 Yawuota, winjuru puonj mag wuonu; chikuru itu eka ubed gi ngʼeyo moloyo.
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 Puonj mara mamiyou beyo, omiyo kik ujwangʼ puonjna.
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 Kane pod an wuowi e od wuora, kane pod an rawera kendo nyathi achiel kende mar minwa,
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 nopuonja kowacho niya, “Mak matek wechena gi chunyi duto, rit chikena eka inibed mangima.
he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
5 Yud rieko kod ngʼeyo matut, wiyi kik wil kod wechena kata weyogi.
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 Kik ijwangʼ rieko to obiro bedoni ragengʼ; here, to obiro ritoi.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 Rieko nigi duongʼ moloyo, omiyo yud rieko. Kata obedo ni mwanduni duto nyalo rumo, to bed gi winjo tiend wach.
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Miye duongʼ, to enotingʼi malo; rwake chutho, to obiro miyi duongʼ.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 Enoket ogut ngʼwono e wiyi kendo nosidhni osimbo mar duongʼ.”
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 Wuoda, winji kendo yie gima awacho eka higni mag ngimani nobed mangʼeny.
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 Apuonji e yor rieko kendo anyisi yo makare.
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 Ka iwuotho, to ok inikier bende ka iringo, to ok inichwanyri.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 Mak motegno gima isepuonjori, kik iweye, olalni to irite maber, nikech en e ngimani.
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 Kik iwuothi e yor joma timbegi mono kata kik iluw yor jomaricho.
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Bed mabor gi yorno, kik iwuothie, to wichri kendo iluw yori iwuon.
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 Nikech ok ginyal nindo nyaka gitim gima mono; ayula wangʼ bende ok nyal terogi kapok gimiyo ngʼato opodho.
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
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 way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
19 To yor joricho chalo gi mudho mandiwa; ok gingʼeyo gima miyo gichwanyore.
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
20 Wuoda, chik iti malongʼo ne gima awacho, chik iti maber ne wechena.
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 Kik iwe gilal e wangʼi to kan-gi e chunyi;
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 nikech gikelo ngima ni jogo moyudogo kendo gin gi ngima maber ne ringre dhano duto.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 To moloyo duto, rit chunyi, nikech en e soko mar ngima.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Wach ma ok adiera kik aa e dhogi; weche mag miganga kik wuogi e dhogi.
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Rang mana nyimi tir, ka ichomo wangʼi moriere tir e nyimi.
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Rie yore tir monego iluw kendo luw mana yore motegno.
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 Kik ibar kidhiyo korachwich kata koracham; rit tiendi mondo kik idonji e richo.
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
