Engero 18
1 Eyeggya ku banne aba yeerowoozako yekka, era tawuliriza magezi gamuweebwa.
Those who separate themselves [from other people] think [only] about those things that they are interested in; [if they would continually associate with] those who have good judgment/sense, they would constantly disagree/quarrel with them.
2 Omusirusiru tasanyukira kutegeera, ky’asanyukira kyokka kwe kwogera by’alowooza.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 Okukola ekibi bwe kujja n’okunyooma kujjirako, era awali okuyisaamu omuntu amaaso wabaawo okunyoomoola.
Whenever people do wicked things, others will despise them; when people do things that cause themselves to no [longer] be honored, they will be disgraced [also].
4 Ebigambo by’omu kamwa k’omuntu mazzi ga buziba, naye ensulo ey’amagezi mugga ogukulukuta.
What wise people say is [like] a deep ocean [that you can never get to the bottom of] [MET], and it [refreshes us like water from] a rapidly flowing stream.
5 Si kirungi kuttira mubi ku liiso, oba okusaliriza omutuukirivu.
It is not good [for a judge] to decide matters in favor of those who (are guilty/have done wicked things) and to not do what is just for those who (are innocent/have not done what is wrong).
6 Akamwa k’omusirusiru kamuleetera entalo era akamwa ke kamuleetera okukubwa emiggo.
When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
7 Akamwa k’omusirusiru ke kamuleetera okuzikirira, era n’emimwa gye mutego eri emmeeme ye.
What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
8 Ebigambo by’omuntu ageya biri ng’emmere ewoomerera, bigenda mu bitundu by’omubiri eby’ewala.
[People enjoy listening to] what gossips say like [SIM] [they enjoy] tasty food; they [accept what gossips tell them like] [MET] they swallow tasty food.
9 Omuntu omugayaavu mu mirimu gy’akola, waluganda n’oyo azikiriza.
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 Erinnya lya Mukama kigo ky’amaanyi, omutuukirivu addukira omwo n’afuna emirembe.
Yahweh [MTY] is [like] a strong tower [MET]; righteous people [can] go to him and be safe [like they can run to a tower to be safe].
11 Obugagga bw’omugagga, kye kibuga kye ekiriko bbugwe ow’amaanyi, era mu kulaba kwe, kigo kye ekigumu ekitarinnyika.
Rich people [are protected because they have] a lot of money [PRS] like a city is protected because it has a high wall surrounding it [SIM].
12 Omuntu nga tannagwa, omutima gwe gwegulumiza, naye okwetoowaza kumuweesa ekitiibwa.
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 Oyo addamu amangu mu nsonga gy’ateetegerezza, buba busirusiru bwe era buswavu.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 Omwoyo gw’omuntu gumuwanirira mu bulwadde, naye emmeeme eyennyise ani ayinza okugigumiikiriza?
A desire to [continue to] live can sustain someone when he is sick; if he loses that desire, he (cannot endure it/will become very discouraged) when he is sick [RHQ].
15 Omutima gw’omwegendereza guyiga okumanya, amatu g’omuntu omugezi gawuliriza.
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 Ekirabo ky’omuntu kimuseguliza, era kimutuusa ne mu maaso g’abeekitiibwa.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 Asooka okweyogerako y’afaanana ng’omutuufu, okutuusa omulala lw’amubuuza ebibuuzo.
The first person to present his case in court seems right, but when (someone else/his opponent) begins to ask him questions, [it may become clear that what he said was not true].
18 Okukuba akalulu kimalawo empaka, era kisalawo eggoye wakati w’abawakana ab’amaanyi.
If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
19 Kyangu okuwamba ekibuga ekiriko bbugwe ow’amaanyi, okusinga okukomyawo owooluganda anyiize, era ennyombo ziba ng’empagi z’ekigo.
If you help relatives, they will [protect you] like [SIM] a strong wall [protects a city], but if you quarrel with them, [that will separate you from them] like bars on a city gate [separate the city from those who want to enter it] [MET].
20 Omuntu anakkutanga ebigambo ebiva mu kamwa ke; ebibala ebijjula akamwa ke bye binamukkusanga.
People are happy when they hear others say [MTY] something that is good, [like] they are happy when they eat food that is good [MET].
21 Olulimi lulina obuyinza okuwa obulamu oba okutta, era n’abo abalwagala balirya ebibala byalwo.
What you say can cause others to be killed or it can cause them to [continue to] live; [so] those who like [to talk a lot] must (accept the consequences/realize that what they say can cause much harm).
22 Azuula omukazi omulungi ow’okuwasa aba azudde ekirungi, era aganja eri Mukama.
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
23 Omwavu yeegayirira, naye omugagga addamu na bbogo.
[It is necessary for] poor [people] to speak politely when they request [rich people to do something for them], but rich [people] reply very impolitely when poor people speak to them.
24 Akwana emikwano emingi yeereetera okuzikirira, naye wabaawo ow’omukwano akwagala ennyo okusinga owooluganda.
There are [some] people who [only] pretend to be friends [with us], but there are [some] friends who are more loyal than members of our families.
