Engero 4
1 Muwulirize baana bange okuyigiriza kwange ng’okwa kitammwe, era musseeyo omwoyo mufune okutegeera.
My children, listen to what I am teaching you. If you pay attention, you will understand what is wise.
2 Kubanga mbawa okuyigiriza okulungi; temulekanga biragiro byange.
What I am teaching you is good, so do not turn away from it.
3 Bwe nnali omuvubuka nga ndi ne kitange, omwana omu yekka omwagalwa, owa mmange,
When I was a young boy, loved by my mother,
4 yanjigiriza n’aŋŋamba nti, “Ebigambo byange bikuumenga ku mutima gwo, kuuma ebiragiro byange obeere mulamu.
my father told me, “Remember my words; if you obey my commandments, you will live [a long time].
5 Funa amagezi; funa okutegeera, teweerabiranga era tovanga ku bigambo bya mu kamwa kange.
Obtain wisdom and understanding, and (do not abandon/hold fast to) [LIT] what I have taught you.
6 Togalekanga, nago ganaakukuumanga, gaagale nago ganaakulabiriranga.
Do not turn away from wisdom, because if you are wise, you will be protected [from all evil/danger]. If you love wisdom, wisdom [PRS] will guard you.
7 Ddala amagezi kye kintu ekisingira ddala obukulu; noolwekyo fuba ofune amagezi, era fubira ddala nnyo ofune okutegeera.
The most important thing that you can do is to get wisdom. Even if you obtain many other things, the best thing is to know what things are wise.
8 Amagezi gagulumize, nago gajja kukuyimusa, gaanirize, nago gajja kukuweesa ekitiibwa.
If you consider being wise to be very valuable, [people] will think very highly of you. If you cling to wisdom [like you would cling to a woman you love], [many people] will honor you.
9 Amagezi gajja kukutikkira engule ey’ekisa, era gakuwe n’engule ey’ekitiibwa.”
If you become wise, that will for you be [like] a beautiful wreath that is put {someone puts} on your head; it will be [like] a king’s glorious crown.” [That is what my father told me].
10 Wuliriza ggwe, mutabani, era okkirize ebigambo byange olyoke owangaalire ku nsi n’essanyu eringi.
[So now I say], “My son, heed what I say. If you do that, you will live a [good] long life.
11 Nkuluŋŋamya mu kkubo ery’amagezi, ne nkukulembera mu makubo ag’obutuukirivu.
I am teaching you the way to live wisely; I am showing you how to act justly [toward others].
12 Bw’onootambulanga, ekigere kyo kireme okuziyizibwa; era bw’onoddukanga, tojjanga kwesittala.
If you live wisely, when you decide to do something, you will succeed [LIT].
13 Nywerezanga ddala okuyigirizibwa, tokutanga: kukuumenga kubanga bwe bulamu bwo.
Hold fast to the things I have taught you to do, and do not let them go. Guard them, because they [will be the source of a good] life.
14 Toyingiranga mu kkubo ly’abakozi b’ebibi, wadde okutambulira mu kkubo ly’abantu aboonoonyi.
Do not do the things that wicked people do; [do not behave like they do]; do not even walk on the roads that evil [people] walk on [MET].
15 Lyewalenga, tolitambulirangamu, liveeko okwate ekkubo lyo.
Stay away from those roads; turn aside and walk on other roads;
16 Kubanga abakozi b’ebibi tebayinza kwebaka okuggyako nga bakoze ebibi, era otulo tubabulira ddala bwe baba tebalina gwe bakozeeko bulabe.
because evil people cannot sleep if they have not done some evil deed [on that day]. They cannot rest if they have not harmed someone.
17 Okukola ebibi y’emmere yaabwe, n’okukozesa eryanyi kye kyokunywa kyabwe.
What they eat and what they drink are things that they have obtained by acting wickedly and violently.”
18 Ekkubo ly’abatuukirivu liri ng’enjuba eyakavaayo, eyeeyongera okwaka okutuusa obudde lwe butangaalira ddala.
The behavior of good/righteous [people] is like the light [that begins to shine] at dawn and then [continues to] shine brighter until the brightest time of day.
19 Naye ekkubo ly’ababi liri ng’ekizikiza ekikutte, tebamanyi kibaleetera kwesittala.
[But] the behavior of wicked [people] is like deep/thick darkness. [Because it is very dark], they cannot see the things that cause them to stumble.
20 Mutabani wange wuliriza n’obwegendereza ebigambo byange; osseeyo omwoyo eri bye nkutegeeza;
My son, pay attention to what I am saying. Listen to my words carefully.
21 ebigambo bino tebikuvangako, bikuumire ddala mu mutima gwo,
Keep them close to you; let them penetrate your inner being,
22 kubanga bya bulamu eri abo ababifuna, era biwonya omubiri gwabwe gwonna.
because you will have [PRS] [a good] life and [good] health if you [search for them and] find them.
23 Ekisinga byonna kuuma omutima gwo, kubanga y’ensulo y’obulamu bwo.
It is very important that you be careful about what you think, because what you think controls [MET] the things that you do.
24 Weewalire ddala eby’obubambavu era n’okwogera ebya swakaba.
Do not say anything that deceives [others] and never say what is not true.
25 Amaaso go gatunulenga butereevu, era otunulenga n’obumalirivu eyo gy’olaga.
Keep looking straight ahead toward the events that are before you, and do not turn aside.
26 Ttereeza bulungi amakubo go; okwate amakubo ageesigika gokka.
Plan carefully where you will go and what you will do, and then stay on that road. Then what you do will be right.
27 Tokyamanga ku mukono ogwa ddyo oba ogwa kkono; ebigere byo byewalenga ekkubo ekyamu.
Do not leave the straight road by turning to the left or to the right. [Do only what is right] and keep yourself from [doing what is] evil.
