Ngeche 4
1 Yawuota, winjuru puonj mag wuonu; chikuru itu eka ubed gi ngʼeyo moloyo.
Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge:
2 Puonj mara mamiyou beyo, omiyo kik ujwangʼ puonjna.
For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me.
3 Kane pod an wuowi e od wuora, kane pod an rawera kendo nyathi achiel kende mar minwa,
For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother.
4 nopuonja kowacho niya, “Mak matek wechena gi chunyi duto, rit chikena eka inibed mangima.
And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life:
5 Yud rieko kod ngʼeyo matut, wiyi kik wil kod wechena kata weyogi.
Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth.
6 Kik ijwangʼ rieko to obiro bedoni ragengʼ; here, to obiro ritoi.
Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe.
7 Rieko nigi duongʼ moloyo, omiyo yud rieko. Kata obedo ni mwanduni duto nyalo rumo, to bed gi winjo tiend wach.
The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge.
8 Miye duongʼ, to enotingʼi malo; rwake chutho, to obiro miyi duongʼ.
Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love.
9 Enoket ogut ngʼwono e wiyi kendo nosidhni osimbo mar duongʼ.”
She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory.
10 Wuoda, winji kendo yie gima awacho eka higni mag ngimani nobed mangʼeny.
Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be yours.
11 Apuonji e yor rieko kendo anyisi yo makare.
I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way.
12 Ka iwuotho, to ok inikier bende ka iringo, to ok inichwanyri.
When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall.
13 Mak motegno gima isepuonjori, kik iweye, olalni to irite maber, nikech en e ngimani.
Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life.
14 Kik iwuothi e yor joma timbegi mono kata kik iluw yor jomaricho.
Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men.
15 Bed mabor gi yorno, kik iwuothie, to wichri kendo iluw yori iwuon.
Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way.
16 Nikech ok ginyal nindo nyaka gitim gima mono; ayula wangʼ bende ok nyal terogi kapok gimiyo ngʼato opodho.
For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall.
17 Timbe mamono e chiembgi ma gichamo, to timbe ja-mahundu e divai ma gimadho.
The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink.
18 Yor joma kare chalo ka ugwe mar kogwen, omedo rieny maler nyaka chiengʼ wuogi.
But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and brighter till the full day.
19 To yor joricho chalo gi mudho mandiwa; ok gingʼeyo gima miyo gichwanyore.
The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall.
20 Wuoda, chik iti malongʼo ne gima awacho, chik iti maber ne wechena.
My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings.
21 Kik iwe gilal e wangʼi to kan-gi e chunyi;
Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart.
22 nikech gikelo ngima ni jogo moyudogo kendo gin gi ngima maber ne ringre dhano duto.
For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh.
23 To moloyo duto, rit chunyi, nikech en e soko mar ngima.
And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.
24 Wach ma ok adiera kik aa e dhogi; weche mag miganga kik wuogi e dhogi.
Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you.
25 Rang mana nyimi tir, ka ichomo wangʼi moriere tir e nyimi.
Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you.
26 Rie yore tir monego iluw kendo luw mana yore motegno.
Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be rightly ordered.
27 Kik ibar kidhiyo korachwich kata koracham; rit tiendi mondo kik idonji e richo.
Let there be no turning to the right or to the left, keep your feet from evil.
