Engero 23
1 Bw’otuulanga okulya n’omufuzi, weetegerezanga ebiri mu maaso go;
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 era weegendereze bw’obanga omanyi ng’olulunkanira ebyokulya.
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3 Tolulunkanira mmere ye ennungi, kubanga erimbalimba.
Do not be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4 Teweemalangako mirembe ng’oyaayaanira obugagga; weefuge obeere mukkakkamu.
Do not weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Eby’obugagga obikubako eriiso limu nga by’agenze dda, kubanga ddala bimera ebiwaawaatiro ne bibuuka mu bbanga ng’empungu.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Tolyanga mmere ya muntu mukodo, wadde okwegomba ebirungi by’alya.
Do not eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and do not crave his delicacies,
7 Kubanga ye muntu abalirira ensimbi z’asaasaanyizza, n’akugamba nti, “Weeriire, weenywere,” naye ng’omutima gwe tegukusanyukira.
for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Akatono k’onooba olidde onookasesema, ebigambo byo ebirungi eby’okwebaza bibe bya bwereere.
You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Totegana kubuulirira musirusiru, kubanga ajja kunyooma ebigambo byo eby’amagezi.
Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Tojjululanga nsalo ey’edda, so toyingiriranga nnimiro za bamulekwa,
Do not move the ancient boundary stone. Do not encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 kubanga abalwanirira w’amaanyi, alikuggulako omusango.
for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Ossangayo omwoyo eri okuyigirizibwa, n’amatu go eri ebigambo by’okutegeera.
Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Tolekangayo kukangavvula mwana, bw’omubonereza n’akaggo tekimutta.
Do not withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol (Sheol h7585).
15 Mwana wange, bw’oba n’omutima ogw’amagezi, kinsanyusa.
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
16 Nnaajjaguzanga okuva ku ntobo y’omutima gwange, bw’onooyogeranga ebituufu.
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Omutima gwo gulemenga okukwatirwa aboonoonyi obuggya, kyokka nyiikira okutya Mukama ebbanga lyonna.
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
18 Mazima ddala onoobanga n’essuubi mu biseera eby’omu maaso, n’essuubi lyo eryo teririggwaawo.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Mwana wange wulirizanga, obeerenga n’amagezi, okumenga omutima gwo mu kkubo ettuufu.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
20 Teweegattanga ku abo abeekamirira omwenge, n’abalulunkanira ennyama:
Do not be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
21 Kubanga omutamiivu n’omuluvu baavuwala, n’okubongoota olutata kubambaza enziina.
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Wulirizanga kitaawo eyakuzaala, so togayanga nnyoko ng’akaddiye.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Gula amazima so togatunda, ffuna amagezi, n’okuyigirizibwa n’okutegeera.
Buy the truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 Kitaawe w’omutuukirivu alina essanyu lingi, n’oyo azaala omwana ow’amagezi amwenyumiririzaamu.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Leka kitaawo ne nnyoko basanyuke, omukazi eyakuzaala ajaguzenga.
Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 Mwana wange mpa omutima gwo, n’amaaso go geekalirize amakubo gange,
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 kubanga omukazi omwenzi lukonko luwanvu, n’omukazi omubambaavu luzzi lufunda.
For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Ateega ng’omutemu, n’ayongera ku muwendo gw’abasajja abatali beesigwa eri bakazi baabwe.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
29 Ani alina obuyinike? Ani alina ennaku? Ani alina ennyombo? Ani alina okwemulugunya? Ani alina ebiwundu eby’obwereere? Ani amyuse amaaso?
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Abo abatava ku mwenge, nga bagenda baloza ku mwenge omutabule.
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Totunuulira wayini ng’amyuse, bw’atemaganira mu ggiraasi ng’akka empolampola;
Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32 ku nkomerero aluma ng’omusota, wa busagwa ng’essalambwa.
In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
33 Amaaso go galiraba ebyewuunyo, n’omutwe gwo ne gulowooza ebitategeerekeka.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 Oliba ng’omuntu eyeebase wakati mu nnyanja, obanga oyo alengejjera waggulu ku mulongooti.
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 Olyogera nti, “Bankubye, naye sirumiddwa. Bankubye naye sirina kye mpuliddemu. Nnaazuukuka ddi, neeyongere okunywa?”
“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I do not feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
