Engero 22
1 Erinnya eddungi lyagalibwa okusinga eby’obugagga ebingi, n’okuganja kusinga ffeeza oba zaabu.
A good name is to be chosen over great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.
2 Abagagga n’abaavu balina kimu ekibagatta, Mukama ye Mutonzi waabwe bonna.
Rich and poor people have this in common— Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
3 Omuntu omutegeevu bw’alaba akabi yeekweka, naye abatalina magezi bagenda bugenzi mu maaso ne balumizibwa.
A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.
4 Obugagga n’ekitiibwa n’obulamu y’empeera ey’okwetoowazanga n’okutyanga Mukama.
The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh is riches, honor, and life.
5 Amaggwa n’emitego biri mu kkubo ly’omubambaavu; naye oyo akuuma emmeeme ye anaabyewalanga.
Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep far from them.
6 Manyiiriza omwana mu kkubo erimugwanira okutambulirangamu, ne bw’alikula talirivaamu.
Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.
7 Omugagga afuga abaavu, naye eyeewola aba muddu w’oyo amuwola.
Rich people rule over poor people and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.
8 Asiga obutali butuukirivu akungula mitawaana, n’oluga olw’obusungu bwe lulizikirizibwa.
He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.
9 Omuntu omugabi anaabanga n’omukisa, kubanga emmere ye agirya n’abaavu.
The one who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Goba omunyoomi, entalo zinaagenda, ennyombo n’okuvumagana binaakoma.
Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.
11 Omuntu eyeegomba omutima omulongoofu era ayogera n’eggonjebwa, talirema kuganja ewa kabaka.
The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, he will have the king for his friend.
12 Amaaso ga Mukama galabirira amazima, era adibya entegeka z’abatali beesigwa.
The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 Omugayaavu ayogera nti, “Ebweru eriyo empologoma,” oba nti, “Nnyinza okutemulirwa mu kkubo.”
The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the street! I will be killed in the open places.”
14 Malaaya mutego gwa kabi, akolimiddwa Mukama mw’afiira.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.
15 Obusirusiru busibiddwa ku mutima gw’omwana omuto, naye omuggo ogukangavvula gulimuwonyeza ddala.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.
16 Omuntu atulugunya abaavu ne yeeyongera okugaggawala, n’oyo agabira omugagga awa abagagga enguzi, enkomerero ya bombi bwavu.
The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth, or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.
17 Ossangayo omwoyo okuwuliriza ebigambo by’omugezi, n’omutima gwo eri ebyo bye njigiriza.
Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18 Kibeera kya ssanyu bw’obikwata ku mutima gwo, n’oba mwetegefu okubiddamu byonna.
for it will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 Mbikumanyisa leero ggwe, obwesige bwo bubeerenga mu Mukama.
So your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach them to you today—even to you.
20 Kale sikuwandiikidde ebintu amakumi asatu ebikuwabula era ebikuwa okumanya?
Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction and knowledge,
21 Sikulaze ekirungi n’ekituufu, olyoke obe n’eky’okuddamu eri oyo eyakutuma?
to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?
22 Tonyaganga mwavu, kubanga mwavu, oba okutulugunyanga aleeteddwa mu mbuga.
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,
23 Kubanga Mukama alibawolereza, n’abo ababanyaga alibanyaga.
for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.
24 Tokwananga muntu wa busungu, oba okuyitanga n’omuntu anyiiganyiiga amangu,
Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger and you must not go with one who rages,
25 oleme okuyiga amakubo ge ne weesuula mu mitawaana.
or you will learn his ways and you will take bait for your soul.
26 Teweegattanga ku abo abeeyama, newaakubadde ku abo abeeyimirira ab’amabanja.
Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.
27 Bw’oliba nga tolina kya kusasula ekitanda kyo kyennyini kye kirikuggyibwako.
If you lack the means to pay, what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?
28 Tojjululanga nsalo bajjajjaabo gye bassaawo edda.
Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that your fathers have set.
29 Omanyi omuntu omunyiikivu era omukugu mu mulimu gwe? Aliweereza bakabaka; taliweereza bantu batamanyiddwa.
Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common people.
