Ngeche 4
1 Yawuota, winjuru puonj mag wuonu; chikuru itu eka ubed gi ngʼeyo moloyo.
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Puonj mara mamiyou beyo, omiyo kik ujwangʼ puonjna.
For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3 Kane pod an wuowi e od wuora, kane pod an rawera kendo nyathi achiel kende mar minwa,
For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
4 nopuonja kowacho niya, “Mak matek wechena gi chunyi duto, rit chikena eka inibed mangima.
And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Yud rieko kod ngʼeyo matut, wiyi kik wil kod wechena kata weyogi.
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 Kik ijwangʼ rieko to obiro bedoni ragengʼ; here, to obiro ritoi.
Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7 Rieko nigi duongʼ moloyo, omiyo yud rieko. Kata obedo ni mwanduni duto nyalo rumo, to bed gi winjo tiend wach.
The first thing [is] wisdom — 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 doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9 Enoket ogut ngʼwono e wiyi kendo nosidhni osimbo mar duongʼ.”
She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10 Wuoda, winji kendo yie gima awacho eka higni mag ngimani nobed mangʼeny.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
11 Apuonji e yor rieko kendo anyisi yo makare.
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 Ka iwuotho, to ok inikier bende ka iringo, to ok inichwanyri.
In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13 Mak motegno gima isepuonjori, kik iweye, olalni to irite maber, nikech en e ngimani.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
14 Kik iwuothi e yor joma timbegi mono kata kik iluw yor jomaricho.
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15 Bed mabor gi yorno, kik iwuothie, to wichri kendo iluw yori iwuon.
Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 Nikech ok ginyal nindo nyaka gitim gima mono; ayula wangʼ bende ok nyal terogi kapok gimiyo ngʼato opodho.
For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
17 Timbe mamono e chiembgi ma gichamo, to timbe ja-mahundu e divai ma gimadho.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18 Yor joma kare chalo ka ugwe mar kogwen, omedo rieny maler nyaka chiengʼ wuogi.
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
19 To yor joricho chalo gi mudho mandiwa; ok gingʼeyo gima miyo gichwanyore.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 Wuoda, chik iti malongʼo ne gima awacho, chik iti maber ne wechena.
My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21 Kik iwe gilal e wangʼi to kan-gi e chunyi;
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve 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 those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23 To moloyo duto, rit chunyi, nikech en e soko mar ngima.
Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Wach ma ok adiera kik aa e dhogi; weche mag miganga kik wuogi e dhogi.
Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25 Rang mana nyimi tir, ka ichomo wangʼi moriere tir e nyimi.
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Rie yore tir monego iluw kendo luw mana yore motegno.
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
27 Kik ibar kidhiyo korachwich kata koracham; rit tiendi mondo kik idonji e richo.
Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
