Engero 23
1 Bw’otuulanga okulya n’omufuzi, weetegerezanga ebiri mu maaso go;
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
2 era weegendereze bw’obanga omanyi ng’olulunkanira ebyokulya.
and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
3 Tolulunkanira mmere ye ennungi, kubanga erimbalimba.
Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4 Teweemalangako mirembe ng’oyaayaanira obugagga; weefuge obeere mukkakkamu.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
5 Eby’obugagga obikubako eriiso limu nga by’agenze dda, kubanga ddala bimera ebiwaawaatiro ne bibuuka mu bbanga ng’empungu.
When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
6 Tolyanga mmere ya muntu mukodo, wadde okwegomba ebirungi by’alya.
Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, 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 he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “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 what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Totegana kubuulirira musirusiru, kubanga ajja kunyooma ebigambo byo eby’amagezi.
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Tojjululanga nsalo ey’edda, so toyingiriranga nnimiro za bamulekwa,
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 kubanga abalwanirira w’amaanyi, alikuggulako omusango.
for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up 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 words of knowledge.
13 Tolekangayo kukangavvula mwana, bw’omubonereza n’akaggo tekimutta.
Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwana wange, bw’oba n’omutima ogw’amagezi, kinsanyusa.
My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
16 Nnaajjaguzanga okuva ku ntobo y’omutima gwange, bw’onooyogeranga ebituufu.
My inmost being 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 always continue in the fear of the LORD.
18 Mazima ddala onoobanga n’essuubi mu biseera eby’omu maaso, n’essuubi lyo eryo teririggwaawo.
For surely there is a future, 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 guide your heart on the right course.
20 Teweegattanga ku abo abeekamirira omwenge, n’abalulunkanira ennyama:
Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
21 Kubanga omutamiivu n’omuluvu baavuwala, n’okubongoota olutata kubambaza enziina.
For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe 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.
Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24 Kitaawe w’omutuukirivu alina essanyu lingi, n’oyo azaala omwana ow’amagezi amwenyumiririzaamu.
The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
25 Leka kitaawo ne nnyoko basanyuke, omukazi eyakuzaala ajaguzenga.
May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!
26 Mwana wange mpa omutima gwo, n’amaaso go geekalirize amakubo gange,
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
27 kubanga omukazi omwenzi lukonko luwanvu, n’omukazi omubambaavu luzzi lufunda.
For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.
28 Ateega ng’omutemu, n’ayongera ku muwendo gw’abasajja abatali beesigwa eri bakazi baabwe.
Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless 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 contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Abo abatava ku mwenge, nga bagenda baloza ku mwenge omutabule.
Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
31 Totunuulira wayini ng’amyuse, bw’atemaganira mu ggiraasi ng’akka empolampola;
Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 ku nkomerero aluma ng’omusota, wa busagwa ng’essalambwa.
In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
33 Amaaso go galiraba ebyewuunyo, n’omutwe gwo ne gulowooza ebitategeerekeka.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
34 Oliba ng’omuntu eyeebase wakati mu nnyanja, obanga oyo alengejjera waggulu ku mulongooti.
You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
35 Olyogera nti, “Bankubye, naye sirumiddwa. Bankubye naye sirina kye mpuliddemu. Nnaazuukuka ddi, neeyongere okunywa?”
“They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
