Engero 22
1 Erinnya eddungi lyagalibwa okusinga eby’obugagga ebingi, n’okuganja kusinga ffeeza oba zaabu.
A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches; loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 Abagagga n’abaavu balina kimu ekibagatta, Mukama ye Mutonzi waabwe bonna.
The rich and poor meet together; Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3 Omuntu omutegeevu bw’alaba akabi yeekweka, naye abatalina magezi bagenda bugenzi mu maaso ne balumizibwa.
A prudent [man] seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 Obugagga n’ekitiibwa n’obulamu y’empeera ey’okwetoowazanga n’okutyanga Mukama.
The reward of humility [and] the fear of Jehovah is riches, and honour, and life.
5 Amaggwa n’emitego biri mu kkubo ly’omubambaavu; naye oyo akuuma emmeeme ye anaabyewalanga.
Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the perverse: he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.
6 Manyiiriza omwana mu kkubo erimugwanira okutambulirangamu, ne bw’alikula talirivaamu.
Train up the child according to the tenor of his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Omugagga afuga abaavu, naye eyeewola aba muddu w’oyo amuwola.
The rich ruleth over the poor; and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Asiga obutali butuukirivu akungula mitawaana, n’oluga olw’obusungu bwe lulizikirizibwa.
He that soweth unrighteousness shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his wrath shall have an end.
9 Omuntu omugabi anaabanga n’omukisa, kubanga emmere ye agirya n’abaavu.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Goba omunyoomi, entalo zinaagenda, ennyombo n’okuvumagana binaakoma.
Cast out the scorner, and contention will depart, and strife and ignominy shall cease.
11 Omuntu eyeegomba omutima omulongoofu era ayogera n’eggonjebwa, talirema kuganja ewa kabaka.
He that loveth pureness of heart, upon whose lips is grace, the king is his friend.
12 Amaaso ga Mukama galabirira amazima, era adibya entegeka z’abatali beesigwa.
The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge; but he overthroweth the words of the unfaithful.
13 Omugayaavu ayogera nti, “Ebweru eriyo empologoma,” oba nti, “Nnyinza okutemulirwa mu kkubo.”
The sluggard saith, There is a lion without, I shall be killed in the streets!
14 Malaaya mutego gwa kabi, akolimiddwa Mukama mw’afiira.
The mouth of strange women is a deep ditch: he with whom Jehovah is displeased shall fall therein.
15 Obusirusiru busibiddwa ku mutima gw’omwana omuto, naye omuggo ogukangavvula gulimuwonyeza ddala.
Folly is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 Omuntu atulugunya abaavu ne yeeyongera okugaggawala, n’oyo agabira omugagga awa abagagga enguzi, enkomerero ya bombi bwavu.
He that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, [bringeth] only to want.
17 Ossangayo omwoyo okuwuliriza ebigambo by’omugezi, n’omutima gwo eri ebyo bye njigiriza.
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
18 Kibeera kya ssanyu bw’obikwata ku mutima gwo, n’oba mwetegefu okubiddamu byonna.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee: they shall be together fitted on thy lips.
19 Mbikumanyisa leero ggwe, obwesige bwo bubeerenga mu Mukama.
That thy confidence may be in Jehovah, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Kale sikuwandiikidde ebintu amakumi asatu ebikuwabula era ebikuwa okumanya?
Have not I written to thee excellent things, in counsels and knowledge,
21 Sikulaze ekirungi n’ekituufu, olyoke obe n’eky’okuddamu eri oyo eyakutuma?
that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
22 Tonyaganga mwavu, kubanga mwavu, oba okutulugunyanga aleeteddwa mu mbuga.
Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate;
23 Kubanga Mukama alibawolereza, n’abo ababanyaga alibanyaga.
for Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoil them.
24 Tokwananga muntu wa busungu, oba okuyitanga n’omuntu anyiiganyiiga amangu,
Make no friendship with an angry man, and go not with a furious man;
25 oleme okuyiga amakubo ge ne weesuula mu mitawaana.
lest thou learn his paths, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Teweegattanga ku abo abeeyama, newaakubadde ku abo abeeyimirira ab’amabanja.
Be not of them that strike hands, of them that are sureties for debts:
27 Bw’oliba nga tolina kya kusasula ekitanda kyo kyennyini kye kirikuggyibwako.
if thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Tojjululanga nsalo bajjajjaabo gye bassaawo edda.
Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.
29 Omanyi omuntu omunyiikivu era omukugu mu mulimu gwe? Aliweereza bakabaka; taliweereza bantu batamanyiddwa.
Hast thou seen a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before the mean.
