Engero 4
1 Muwulirize baana bange okuyigiriza kwange ng’okwa kitammwe, era musseeyo omwoyo mufune okutegeera.
Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 Kubanga mbawa okuyigiriza okulungi; temulekanga biragiro byange.
for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3 Bwe nnali omuvubuka nga ndi ne kitange, omwana omu yekka omwagalwa, owa mmange,
For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4 yanjigiriza n’aŋŋamba nti, “Ebigambo byange bikuumenga ku mutima gwo, kuuma ebiragiro byange obeere mulamu.
He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Funa amagezi; funa okutegeera, teweerabiranga era tovanga ku bigambo bya mu kamwa kange.
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6 Togalekanga, nago ganaakukuumanga, gaagale nago ganaakulabiriranga.
Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Ddala amagezi kye kintu ekisingira ddala obukulu; noolwekyo fuba ofune amagezi, era fubira ddala nnyo ofune okutegeera.
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Amagezi gagulumize, nago gajja kukuyimusa, gaanirize, nago gajja kukuweesa ekitiibwa.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honour when you embrace her.
9 Amagezi gajja kukutikkira engule ey’ekisa, era gakuwe n’engule ey’ekitiibwa.”
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendour to you.”
10 Wuliriza ggwe, mutabani, era okkirize ebigambo byange olyoke owangaalire ku nsi n’essanyu eringi.
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 Nkuluŋŋamya mu kkubo ery’amagezi, ne nkukulembera mu makubo ag’obutuukirivu.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 Bw’onootambulanga, ekigere kyo kireme okuziyizibwa; era bw’onoddukanga, tojjanga kwesittala.
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Nywerezanga ddala okuyigirizibwa, tokutanga: kukuumenga kubanga bwe bulamu bwo.
Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Toyingiranga mu kkubo ly’abakozi b’ebibi, wadde okutambulira mu kkubo ly’abantu aboonoonyi.
Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15 Lyewalenga, tolitambulirangamu, liveeko okwate ekkubo lyo.
Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 Kubanga abakozi b’ebibi tebayinza kwebaka okuggyako nga bakoze ebibi, era otulo tubabulira ddala bwe baba tebalina gwe bakozeeko bulabe.
For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17 Okukola ebibi y’emmere yaabwe, n’okukozesa eryanyi kye kyokunywa kyabwe.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Ekkubo ly’abatuukirivu liri ng’enjuba eyakavaayo, eyeeyongera okwaka okutuusa obudde lwe butangaalira ddala.
But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19 Naye ekkubo ly’ababi liri ng’ekizikiza ekikutte, tebamanyi kibaleetera kwesittala.
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20 Mutabani wange wuliriza n’obwegendereza ebigambo byange; osseeyo omwoyo eri bye nkutegeeza;
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 ebigambo bino tebikuvangako, bikuumire ddala mu mutima gwo,
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the centre of your heart.
22 kubanga bya bulamu eri abo ababifuna, era biwonya omubiri gwabwe gwonna.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23 Ekisinga byonna kuuma omutima gwo, kubanga y’ensulo y’obulamu bwo.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Weewalire ddala eby’obubambavu era n’okwogera ebya swakaba.
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Amaaso go gatunulenga butereevu, era otunulenga n’obumalirivu eyo gy’olaga.
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Ttereeza bulungi amakubo go; okwate amakubo ageesigika gokka.
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Tokyamanga ku mukono ogwa ddyo oba ogwa kkono; ebigere byo byewalenga ekkubo ekyamu.
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
