Ngeche 4
1 Yawuota, winjuru puonj mag wuonu; chikuru itu eka ubed gi ngʼeyo moloyo.
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 Puonj mara mamiyou beyo, omiyo kik ujwangʼ puonjna.
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3 Kane pod an wuowi e od wuora, kane pod an rawera kendo nyathi achiel kende mar minwa,
For I was my father’s son, tender and only [beloved] in the sight of my mother.
4 nopuonja kowacho niya, “Mak matek wechena gi chunyi duto, rit chikena eka inibed mangima.
He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5 Yud rieko kod ngʼeyo matut, wiyi kik wil kod wechena kata weyogi.
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Kik ijwangʼ rieko to obiro bedoni ragengʼ; here, to obiro ritoi.
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Rieko nigi duongʼ moloyo, omiyo yud rieko. Kata obedo ni mwanduni duto nyalo rumo, to bed gi winjo tiend wach.
Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Miye duongʼ, to enotingʼi malo; rwake chutho, to obiro miyi duongʼ.
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 Enoket ogut ngʼwono e wiyi kendo nosidhni osimbo mar duongʼ.”
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
10 Wuoda, winji kendo yie gima awacho eka higni mag ngimani nobed mangʼeny.
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11 Apuonji e yor rieko kendo anyisi yo makare.
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12 Ka iwuotho, to ok inikier bende ka iringo, to ok inichwanyri.
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Mak motegno gima isepuonjori, kik iweye, olalni to irite maber, nikech en e ngimani.
Take fast hold of instruction; let [her] not go: keep her; for she [is] thy life.
14 Kik iwuothi e yor joma timbegi mono kata kik iluw yor jomaricho.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men].
15 Bed mabor gi yorno, kik iwuothie, to wichri kendo iluw yori iwuon.
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16 Nikech ok ginyal nindo nyaka gitim gima mono; ayula wangʼ bende ok nyal terogi kapok gimiyo ngʼato opodho.
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to 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.
But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 To yor joricho chalo gi mudho mandiwa; ok gingʼeyo gima miyo gichwanyore.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20 Wuoda, chik iti malongʼo ne gima awacho, chik iti maber ne wechena.
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Kik iwe gilal e wangʼi to kan-gi e chunyi;
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 nikech gikelo ngima ni jogo moyudogo kendo gin gi ngima maber ne ringre dhano duto.
For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 To moloyo duto, rit chunyi, nikech en e soko mar ngima.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.
24 Wach ma ok adiera kik aa e dhogi; weche mag miganga kik wuogi e dhogi.
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Rang mana nyimi tir, ka ichomo wangʼi moriere tir e nyimi.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Rie yore tir monego iluw kendo luw mana yore motegno.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Kik ibar kidhiyo korachwich kata koracham; rit tiendi mondo kik idonji e richo.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
