Soakas 18
1 Mwet se ma tia lungse kupasr nu sin mwet, el nunku kacl sifacna. El ac tiana insese nu ke ma mwet ngia pangon mu suwohs.
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgement.
2 Sie mwet lalfon el lungse fahk nunak lal sifacna. El tia suk elan kalem ke nunak lun mwet ngia.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 Ma koluk ac mwekin uh tukeni fahsr. Kom fin orala sie ma koluk, ac sufanyuk kom.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4 Kas lun sie mwet ac ku in ase lalmwetmet — loal oana meoa, ac loslos oana soko infacl.
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5 Tia wo in wi layen lun mwet ma orala ma koluk, mweyen ac ku in sruokya nununku suwohs liki mwet wangin mwata.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 Ke pacl se mwet lalfon el purakak sie akukuin, el sifacna suk in sringsring el.
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7 Ke sie mwet lalfon el kaskas, el sifacna akkolukyalla; el sruhu ke kas lal sifacna.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Arulana wo eman lesrik uh. Kut lungse na ukumya.
The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 Koluk lun sie mwet alsrangesr, oapana koluk lun sie mwet kunausten.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 LEUM GOD El oana sie tower na ku, yen mwet suwoswos ku in som ac wikla we.
The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11 Mwet kasrup elos nunku mu mwe kasrup lalos ac karinganulos oana pot fulat ma rauneak sie siti.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12 Sie mwet inse pusisel ac fah akfulatyeyuk. El su inse fulat ac fah sun ongoiya.
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honour is humility.
13 Porongo meet liki kom topuk. Kom fin tia oru ouinge, kom oana sie mwet lalfon ac kom ac fah mwekin.
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14 Kuiyen nunak lom ku in kasrekom ke pacl kom mas. Fin wanginla, na finsrak lom ac wanginla pac.
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 Sie mwet lalmwetmet el suk in akyokye etauk lal pacl nukewa.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Kom fin ke osun nu sin sie mwet fulat, us sie mwe sang an lom nu sel, na ac fah fisrasr kom in sonol.
A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Ke pacl in nununku, mwet se ma sramsram meet ac lumweyuk mu el pa pwaye, nwe ke pacl se mwet se lainul uh mutawauk in kisen siyuk sel.
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18 Mwet fulat luo fin amei in acn in nununku, na susfa pa ku in aksafyela.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
19 Kasru ma lim ac el ac fah karingin kom oana sie pot ku lun siti uh. A kom fin akukuin nu sel, el ac fah kaliya srungul lal nu sum.
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 Kom ac fah kosrani ma wo ku ma koluk ke kas nukewa kom fahk.
A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Ma kom fahk uh ku in karingin moul ku kunausla moul; ouinge kom ac sifacna eis fokin ma kom fahk.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 El su konauk sie mutan kial el konauk sie ma arulana wo; ma inge akkalemye kulang lun LEUM GOD nu sel.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.
23 Pacl sie mwet sukasrup el kaskas el enenu in kas fisrasr. A top lun mwet kasrup uh arulana kou.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 Kutu kawuk uh tiana kawil, a kutu kawuk uh wo liki na tamulel.
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
