Ngeche 4
1 Yawuota, winjuru puonj mag wuonu; chikuru itu eka ubed gi ngʼeyo moloyo.
Hear, ye sons, the correction of a father, and attend, that ye may know understanding.
2 Puonj mara mamiyou beyo, omiyo kik ujwangʼ puonjna.
For, good teaching, have I given you, mine instruction, do not ye forsake.
3 Kane pod an wuowi e od wuora, kane pod an rawera kendo nyathi achiel kende mar minwa,
For, a son, became I to my father, tender and most precious in the sight of my mother.
4 nopuonja kowacho niya, “Mak matek wechena gi chunyi duto, rit chikena eka inibed mangima.
So he taught me, and said to me—Let thy heart, lay hold of my words, Keep my commandments and live!
5 Yud rieko kod ngʼeyo matut, wiyi kik wil kod wechena kata weyogi.
Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding, Do not forget, neither decline thou from the sayings of my mouth.
6 Kik ijwangʼ rieko to obiro bedoni ragengʼ; here, to obiro ritoi.
Do not forsake her, and she will guard thee, —love her and she will keep thee.
7 Rieko nigi duongʼ moloyo, omiyo yud rieko. Kata obedo ni mwanduni duto nyalo rumo, to bed gi winjo tiend wach.
The principal thing, is wisdom, acquire thou wisdom, With all thine acquisition, acquire thou understanding.
8 Miye duongʼ, to enotingʼi malo; rwake chutho, to obiro miyi duongʼ.
Exalt her, and she will set thee on high, she will bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her:
9 Enoket ogut ngʼwono e wiyi kendo nosidhni osimbo mar duongʼ.”
She will give for thy head, a wreath of beauty, A crown of adorning, will she bestow upon thee.
10 Wuoda, winji kendo yie gima awacho eka higni mag ngimani nobed mangʼeny.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and they will multiply to thee the years of life.
11 Apuonji e yor rieko kendo anyisi yo makare.
In the way of wisdom, have I taught thee, I have guided thee in tracks of uprightness.
12 Ka iwuotho, to ok inikier bende ka iringo, to ok inichwanyri.
When thou walkest, thy step shall not be hemmed in, and, if 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 correction, let her not go, —keep her, for, she, is thy life.
14 Kik iwuothi e yor joma timbegi mono kata kik iluw yor jomaricho.
Upon the path of the lawless, do not thou enter, and do not advance in the way of the wicked:
15 Bed mabor gi yorno, kik iwuothie, to wichri kendo iluw yori iwuon.
Avoid it, do not pass thereon—turn from it, and depart.
16 Nikech ok ginyal nindo nyaka gitim gima mono; ayula wangʼ bende ok nyal terogi kapok gimiyo ngʼato opodho.
For they sleep not, unless they can do mischief, —They rob themselves of their sleep, if they cannot cause someone to stumble,
17 Timbe mamono e chiembgi ma gichamo, to timbe ja-mahundu e divai ma gimadho.
For they consume bread gotten by lawlessness, and, wine obtained by violence, they drink.
18 Yor joma kare chalo ka ugwe mar kogwen, omedo rieny maler nyaka chiengʼ wuogi.
But, the path of the righteous, is as the light of dawn, —going on and brightening, unto meridian day.
19 To yor joricho chalo gi mudho mandiwa; ok gingʼeyo gima miyo gichwanyore.
The way of the lawless, is like darkness, they know not, at what they stumble.
20 Wuoda, chik iti malongʼo ne gima awacho, chik iti maber ne wechena.
My son, to my words, attend, to my sayings, incline thou thine ear;
21 Kik iwe gilal e wangʼi to kan-gi e chunyi;
Let them not depart from thine eyes, keep them in the midst of thy heart;
22 nikech gikelo ngima ni jogo moyudogo kendo gin gi ngima maber ne ringre dhano duto.
For, life, they are, to them who find them, —and, to every part of one’s flesh, they bring healing.
23 To moloyo duto, rit chunyi, nikech en e soko mar ngima.
Above all that must be guarded, keep thou thy heart, 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.
Remove from thee, perverseness of mouth, and, craftiness of lips, put far from thee.
25 Rang mana nyimi tir, ka ichomo wangʼi moriere tir e nyimi.
Let, thine eyes, right onward, look, —and, thine eyelashes, point straight before thee.
26 Rie yore tir monego iluw kendo luw mana yore motegno.
Make level the track of thy foot, that, all thy ways, may be directed aright:
27 Kik ibar kidhiyo korachwich kata koracham; rit tiendi mondo kik idonji e richo.
Decline not, to the right hand or to the left, —Turn away thy foot from wickedness.
