Engero 22
1 Erinnya eddungi lyagalibwa okusinga eby’obugagga ebingi, n’okuganja kusinga ffeeza oba zaabu.
A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 Abagagga n’abaavu balina kimu ekibagatta, Mukama ye Mutonzi waabwe bonna.
The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
3 Omuntu omutegeevu bw’alaba akabi yeekweka, naye abatalina magezi bagenda bugenzi mu maaso ne balumizibwa.
An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
4 Obugagga n’ekitiibwa n’obulamu y’empeera ey’okwetoowazanga n’okutyanga Mukama.
The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
5 Amaggwa n’emitego biri mu kkubo ly’omubambaavu; naye oyo akuuma emmeeme ye anaabyewalanga.
Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
6 Manyiiriza omwana mu kkubo erimugwanira okutambulirangamu, ne bw’alikula talirivaamu.
7 Omugagga afuga abaavu, naye eyeewola aba muddu w’oyo amuwola.
The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
8 Asiga obutali butuukirivu akungula mitawaana, n’oluga olw’obusungu bwe lulizikirizibwa.
He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but [a man] shall fully prove the folly of his works.
9 Omuntu omugabi anaabanga n’omukisa, kubanga emmere ye agirya n’abaavu.
He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory an honour; but he takes away the life of them that posses [them].
10 Goba omunyoomi, entalo zinaagenda, ennyombo n’okuvumagana binaakoma.
Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.
11 Omuntu eyeegomba omutima omulongoofu era ayogera n’eggonjebwa, talirema kuganja ewa kabaka.
The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
12 Amaaso ga Mukama galabirira amazima, era adibya entegeka z’abatali beesigwa.
But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
13 Omugayaavu ayogera nti, “Ebweru eriyo empologoma,” oba nti, “Nnyinza okutemulirwa mu kkubo.”
The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
14 Malaaya mutego gwa kabi, akolimiddwa Mukama mw’afiira.
The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.
15 Obusirusiru busibiddwa ku mutima gw’omwana omuto, naye omuggo ogukangavvula gulimuwonyeza ddala.
Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are [then] far from him.
16 Omuntu atulugunya abaavu ne yeeyongera okugaggawala, n’oyo agabira omugagga awa abagagga enguzi, enkomerero ya bombi bwavu.
He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
17 Ossangayo omwoyo okuwuliriza ebigambo by’omugezi, n’omutima gwo eri ebyo bye njigiriza.
Incline thine ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply thine heart,
18 Kibeera kya ssanyu bw’obikwata ku mutima gwo, n’oba mwetegefu okubiddamu byonna.
that thou mayest know that they are good: and if thou lay them to heart, they shall also gladden thee on thy lips.
19 Mbikumanyisa leero ggwe, obwesige bwo bubeerenga mu Mukama.
That thy hope may be in the Lord, and he may make thy way known to thee.
20 Kale sikuwandiikidde ebintu amakumi asatu ebikuwabula era ebikuwa okumanya?
And do thou too repeatedly record them for thyself on the table of thine heart, for counsel and knowledge.
21 Sikulaze ekirungi n’ekituufu, olyoke obe n’eky’okuddamu eri oyo eyakutuma?
I therefore teach thee truth, and knowledge good to hear; that thou mayest answer words of truth to them that question thee.
22 Tonyaganga mwavu, kubanga mwavu, oba okutulugunyanga aleeteddwa mu mbuga.
Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless [man] in the gates.
23 Kubanga Mukama alibawolereza, n’abo ababanyaga alibanyaga.
For the Lord will plead his cause, and thou shalt deliver thy soul in safety.
24 Tokwananga muntu wa busungu, oba okuyitanga n’omuntu anyiiganyiiga amangu,
Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
25 oleme okuyiga amakubo ge ne weesuula mu mitawaana.
lest thou learn of his ways, and get snares to thy soul.
26 Teweegattanga ku abo abeeyama, newaakubadde ku abo abeeyimirira ab’amabanja.
Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
27 Bw’oliba nga tolina kya kusasula ekitanda kyo kyennyini kye kirikuggyibwako.
For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under thee.
28 Tojjululanga nsalo bajjajjaabo gye bassaawo edda.
Remove not the old landmarks, which thy fathers placed.
29 Omanyi omuntu omunyiikivu era omukugu mu mulimu gwe? Aliweereza bakabaka; taliweereza bantu batamanyiddwa.
It is fit that an observant man and [one] diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
