Proverbs 23
1 If you sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before you:
Bw’otuulanga okulya n’omufuzi, weetegerezanga ebiri mu maaso go;
2 and apply your hand, knowing that it behoves you to prepare such [meats]: but if you are very insatiable,
era weegendereze bw’obanga omanyi ng’olulunkanira ebyokulya.
3 desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
Tolulunkanira mmere ye ennungi, kubanga erimbalimba.
4 If you are poor, measure not yourself with a rich man; but refrain yourself in your wisdom.
Teweemalangako mirembe ng’oyaayaanira obugagga; weefuge obeere mukkakkamu.
5 If you should fix your eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
Eby’obugagga obikubako eriiso limu nga by’agenze dda, kubanga ddala bimera ebiwaawaatiro ne bibuuka mu bbanga ng’empungu.
6 Sup not with an envious man, neither desire you his meats:
Tolyanga mmere ya muntu mukodo, wadde okwegomba ebirungi by’alya.
7 so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to yourself, nor eat your morsel with him:
Kubanga ye muntu abalirira ensimbi z’asaasaanyizza, n’akugamba nti, “Weeriire, weenywere,” naye ng’omutima gwe tegukusanyukira.
8 for he will vomit it up, and spoil your fair words.
Akatono k’onooba olidde onookasesema, ebigambo byo ebirungi eby’okwebaza bibe bya bwereere.
9 Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at your wise words.
Totegana kubuulirira musirusiru, kubanga ajja kunyooma ebigambo byo eby’amagezi.
10 Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:
Tojjululanga nsalo ey’edda, so toyingiriranga nnimiro za bamulekwa,
11 for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with you.
kubanga abalwanirira w’amaanyi, alikuggulako omusango.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and prepare your ears for words of discretion.
Ossangayo omwoyo eri okuyigirizibwa, n’amatu go eri ebigambo by’okutegeera.
13 Refrain not from chastening a child; for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
Tolekangayo kukangavvula mwana, bw’omubonereza n’akaggo tekimutta.
Mubonerezenga n’akaggo, kiwonye emmeeme ye okufa. (Sheol h7585)
15 Son, if your heart be wise, you shall also gladden my heart;
Mwana wange, bw’oba n’omutima ogw’amagezi, kinsanyusa.
16 and your lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
Nnaajjaguzanga okuva ku ntobo y’omutima gwange, bw’onooyogeranga ebituufu.
17 Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the Lord all the day.
Omutima gwo gulemenga okukwatirwa aboonoonyi obuggya, kyokka nyiikira okutya Mukama ebbanga lyonna.
18 For if you should keep these things, you shall have posterity; and your hope shall not be removed.
Mazima ddala onoobanga n’essuubi mu biseera eby’omu maaso, n’essuubi lyo eryo teririggwaawo.
19 Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of your heart.
Mwana wange wulirizanga, obeerenga n’amagezi, okumenga omutima gwo mu kkubo ettuufu.
20 Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
Teweegattanga ku abo abeekamirira omwenge, n’abalulunkanira ennyama:
21 for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
Kubanga omutamiivu n’omuluvu baavuwala, n’okubongoota olutata kubambaza enziina.
22 Listen, [my] son, to your father which begot you, and despise not [your mother] because she is grown old.
Wulirizanga kitaawo eyakuzaala, so togayanga nnyoko ng’akaddiye.
Gula amazima so togatunda, ffuna amagezi, n’okuyigirizibwa n’okutegeera.
24 A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
Kitaawe w’omutuukirivu alina essanyu lingi, n’oyo azaala omwana ow’amagezi amwenyumiririzaamu.
25 Let your father and your mother rejoice over you, and let her that bore you be glad.
Leka kitaawo ne nnyoko basanyuke, omukazi eyakuzaala ajaguzenga.
26 [My] son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
Mwana wange mpa omutima gwo, n’amaaso go geekalirize amakubo gange,
27 For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
kubanga omukazi omwenzi lukonko luwanvu, n’omukazi omubambaavu luzzi lufunda.
28 For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
Ateega ng’omutemu, n’ayongera ku muwendo gw’abasajja abatali beesigwa eri bakazi baabwe.
29 Who [has] woe? who trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
Ani alina obuyinike? Ani alina ennaku? Ani alina ennyombo? Ani alina okwemulugunya? Ani alina ebiwundu eby’obwereere? Ani amyuse amaaso?
30 Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly.
Abo abatava ku mwenge, nga bagenda baloza ku mwenge omutabule.
31 For if you should set your eyes on bowls and cups, you shall afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
Totunuulira wayini ng’amyuse, bw’atemaganira mu ggiraasi ng’akka empolampola;
32 But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one struck by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
ku nkomerero aluma ng’omusota, wa busagwa ng’essalambwa.
33 Whenever your eyes shall behold a strange woman, then your mouth shall speak perverse things.
Amaaso go galiraba ebyewuunyo, n’omutwe gwo ne gulowooza ebitategeerekeka.
34 And you shall lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
Oliba ng’omuntu eyeebase wakati mu nnyanja, obanga oyo alengejjera waggulu ku mulongooti.
35 And you shall say, They struck me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?
Olyogera nti, “Bankubye, naye sirumiddwa. Bankubye naye sirina kye mpuliddemu. Nnaazuukuka ddi, neeyongere okunywa?”
