Soakas 4
1 Tulik nutik, kowos in porongo mwe luti lun papa tomowos. Arulana lohang nu kac, na ac fah oasr etauk lowos.
Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 Nga luti kowos ke inkanek wo. Nimet kowos pilesru.
for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3 Ke nga srakna tulik srisrik, wen sefanna nutin papa ac nina,
For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4 papa el ac fahk, “Esamya ma nga fahk inge, ac nimet mulkunla. Oru in oana ke nga fahk uh, na kom fah moul.
He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Eis lalmwetmet ac liyaten! Nimet mulkunla ku pilesru ma nga fahk uh.
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6 Nimet sisla lalmwetmet, na el ac loangekom. Lungse el, ac el fah liyekomyang wo.
Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Ma se ma yohk sripa emeet nu sum pa in suk lalmwetmet. Kutena ma kom ac sifil suk saya, kom in suk etauk.
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Lungse lalmwetmet, ac el ac fah oru kom in fulat. Apsilya ku, ac el ac fah oru in kaksakinyuk kom.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honour when you embrace her.
9 El ac fah oana sie tefuro wolana nu fin sifom.”
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendour to you.”
10 Lohngyu, tulik nutik. Nunku akwoye ma nga fahk nu sum uh, na ac fah loes moul lom.
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 Nga luti nu sum lalmwetmet ac ouiyen moul pwaye kom in fahsr kac.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 Wangin ma ac kosrala inkanek lom kom fin fahsr in lalmwetmet, ac kom ac tia tukulkul ke pacl kom kasrusr.
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Esam ma kom luti uh pacl nukewa. Lutlut lom uh pa moul lom — liyaung akwoya.
Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Nimet fahsr nu yen mwet koluk uh fahsr nu we. Nimet ukwe ouiyen moul lalos.
Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15 Fahsr liki ma koluk! Nimet apkuranyang nu kac! Kuhfla liki ac fahsrot ke inkanek lom.
Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 Mwet koluk uh tia ku in motulla nwe ke na elos orala sie ma koluk. Elos ac ngetnget na elos fin tia orala mwe lokoalok nu sin mwet.
For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17 Ma koluk ac sulallal uh oana mwe mongo ac mwe nim nu selos.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Inkanek lun mwet suwoswos uh oana takak lun faht uh, ma kais kutu kalmwelik nwe ke na lenelik.
But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19 Inkanek lun mwet koluk uh lohsr matoltol. Elos ikori tuh elos tia ku in liye lah mea se oru elos ikori uh.
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20 Tulik nutik, lohng akwoya ma nga fahk uh.
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Esam kas luk ac karinganang in tia wanginla liki kom.
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the centre of your heart.
22 Kas inge ac sang moul ac ku lun mano nu sin kutena mwet su kalem kac.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23 Arulana karinganang nunak lom an — mweyen moul lom ac sikyak oana ma kom nunku.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Nimet fahk kutena ma su tia pwaye, ac tia orekmakin kas kikiap ku kutena ouiya ma ac kiapu mwet uh.
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Ngetot suwohs nu meeto ke inse pulaik. Nimet ngetnget in tonong.
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Akola akwoye ma kom ac oru an, na ma nukewa kom oru ac ku in orekla wo.
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Kaingkin ma koluk ac fahsr suwohs nu meeto. Nimet kuhfla liki inkanek pwaye.
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
