Engero 21
1 Omutima gwa kabaka guli ng’amazzi agakulukutira mu mukono gwa Mukama, era agukyusiza gy’ayagala yonna.
The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
2 Buli kkubo lya muntu liba ng’ettuufu mu maaso ge, naye Mukama apima omutima.
People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
3 Okukola ebituufu n’eby’amazima kisanyusa Mukama okusinga ssaddaaka.
Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
4 Amaaso ageegulumiza, n’omutima ogw’amalala, ye ttabaaza y’ababi, era ebyo kwonoona.
Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
5 Enteekateeka z’omunyiikivu zivaamu magoba meereere, naye okwanguyiriza okutalina nteekateeka kuvaamu bwavu.
Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
6 Okufuna obugagga n’olulimi olulimba, mpewo buwewo etwalibwa eruuyi n’eruuyi era mutego gwa kufa.
Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
7 Obukambwe bw’ababi bulibamalawo, kubanga bagaana okukola eby’ensonga.
The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
8 Ekkubo ly’abazza emisango liba kyamu, naye ery’abataliiko musango liba golokofu.
Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
9 Okusula ku kasolya k’ennyumba, kisinga okubeera mu nnyumba n’omukazi omuyombi.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
10 Emmeeme y’omubi yeegomba okukola ebibi; talaga muliraanwa we kisa n’akatono.
Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
11 Omukudaazi bw’abonerezebwa, atalina magezi agafuna; n’ow’amagezi bw’ayigirizibwa afuna okutegeera.
When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
12 Katonda alaba ebifa mu nnyumba y’omubi, era abakozi b’ebibi abazikkiririza ddala.
The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
13 Oyo aziba amatu ge eri okulaajana kw’omwavu, naye alikoowoola nga talina amwanukula.
If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
14 Ekirabo ekigabire mu kyama kikakkanya obusungu obungi, n’enguzi ebikiddwa mu munagiro eggyawo ekiruyi ekingi.
A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
15 Ensonga bwe zisalibwa mu bwenkanya, lye ssanyu eri abatuukirivu, naye kiba kyekango eri abakozi b’ebibi.
When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
16 Omuntu awaba okuva mu kkubo ly’okutegeera, agukira mu bafu.
Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
17 Aganza eby’amasanyu anaabanga mwavu, n’oyo ayagala omwenge n’amafuta taligaggawala.
If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
18 Abakozi b’ebibi batuukibwako emitawaana egyandigudde ku balungi, n’ekyandituuse ku b’amazima kituuka ku batali beesigwa.
The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
19 Okubeera mu ddungu, kisinga okubeera n’omukazi omuyombi anyiiganyiiga.
It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
20 Mu nnyumba y’omutuukirivu mubaamu eby’obugagga eby’omuwendo, naye omusirusiru ebibye byonna abyonoona.
The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
21 Agoberera obutuukirivu n’ekisa, alibeera n’obulamu obukulaakulana n’ekitiibwa.
If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
22 Omuntu ow’amagezi alumba ekibuga eky’abazira nnamige, era n’asesebbula enfo yaabwe gye beesiga.
The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
23 Afuga akamwa ke n’olulimi lwe, yeewoonya emitawaana.
If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
24 “Mukudaazi,” lye linnya ly’ab’amalala abeeraga, abeetwalira mu kwemanya okw’ekitalo mwe batambulira.
A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
25 Okwetaaga kw’omugayaavu lwe luliba olumbe lwe, kubanga emikono gye tegyagala kukola.
Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
26 Olunaku lwonna aba yeegomba kweyongezaako, naye omutuukirivu agaba awatali kwebalira.
Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
27 Ssaddaaka y’omubi ya muzizo, na ddala bw’agireeta ng’alina ekigendererwa ekitali kirungi.
The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
28 Omujulizi ow’obulimba alizikirira, naye ekigambo ky’oyo ayogera eby’amazima kiribeerera emirembe gyonna.
The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
29 Omuntu omubi yeekazaakaza, naye omuntu ow’amazima yeegendereza amakubo ge.
The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
30 Tewali magezi, newaakubadde okutegeera, wadde ebiteeso ebiyinza okulemesa Mukama.
Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
31 Embalaasi etegekerwa olunaku olw’olutalo, naye obuwanguzi buva eri Mukama.
You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
