Engero 23
1 Bw’otuulanga okulya n’omufuzi, weetegerezanga ebiri mu maaso go;
If thou sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before thee:
2 era weegendereze bw’obanga omanyi ng’olulunkanira ebyokulya.
and apply thine hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such [meats]: but if thou art very insatiable,
3 Tolulunkanira mmere ye ennungi, kubanga erimbalimba.
desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
4 Teweemalangako mirembe ng’oyaayaanira obugagga; weefuge obeere mukkakkamu.
If thou art poor, measure not thyself with a rich man; but refrain thyself in thy wisdom.
5 Eby’obugagga obikubako eriiso limu nga by’agenze dda, kubanga ddala bimera ebiwaawaatiro ne bibuuka mu bbanga ng’empungu.
If thou shouldest fix thine eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
6 Tolyanga mmere ya muntu mukodo, wadde okwegomba ebirungi by’alya.
Sup not with an envious man, neither desire thou his meats:
7 Kubanga ye muntu abalirira ensimbi z’asaasaanyizza, n’akugamba nti, “Weeriire, weenywere,” naye ng’omutima gwe tegukusanyukira.
so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to thyself, nor eat thy morsel with him:
8 Akatono k’onooba olidde onookasesema, ebigambo byo ebirungi eby’okwebaza bibe bya bwereere.
for he will vomit it up, and spoil thy fair words.
9 Totegana kubuulirira musirusiru, kubanga ajja kunyooma ebigambo byo eby’amagezi.
Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at thy wise words.
10 Tojjululanga nsalo ey’edda, so toyingiriranga nnimiro za bamulekwa,
Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:
11 kubanga abalwanirira w’amaanyi, alikuggulako omusango.
for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with thee.
12 Ossangayo omwoyo eri okuyigirizibwa, n’amatu go eri ebigambo by’okutegeera.
Apply thine heart to instruction, and prepare thine ears for words of discretion.
13 Tolekangayo kukangavvula mwana, bw’omubonereza n’akaggo tekimutta.
Refrain not from chastening a child; for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
For thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwana wange, bw’oba n’omutima ogw’amagezi, kinsanyusa.
Son, if thy heart be wise, thou shalt also gladden my heart;
16 Nnaajjaguzanga okuva ku ntobo y’omutima gwange, bw’onooyogeranga ebituufu.
and thy lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
17 Omutima gwo gulemenga okukwatirwa aboonoonyi obuggya, kyokka nyiikira okutya Mukama ebbanga lyonna.
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day.
18 Mazima ddala onoobanga n’essuubi mu biseera eby’omu maaso, n’essuubi lyo eryo teririggwaawo.
For if thou shouldest keep these things, thou shalt have posterity; and thine hope shall not be removed.
19 Mwana wange wulirizanga, obeerenga n’amagezi, okumenga omutima gwo mu kkubo ettuufu.
Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of thine heart.
20 Teweegattanga ku abo abeekamirira omwenge, n’abalulunkanira ennyama:
Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
21 Kubanga omutamiivu n’omuluvu baavuwala, n’okubongoota olutata kubambaza enziina.
for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
22 Wulirizanga kitaawo eyakuzaala, so togayanga nnyoko ng’akaddiye.
Hearken, [my] son, to thy father which begot thee, and despise not [thy mother] because she is grown old.
23 Gula amazima so togatunda, ffuna amagezi, n’okuyigirizibwa n’okutegeera.
24 Kitaawe w’omutuukirivu alina essanyu lingi, n’oyo azaala omwana ow’amagezi amwenyumiririzaamu.
A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
25 Leka kitaawo ne nnyoko basanyuke, omukazi eyakuzaala ajaguzenga.
Let thy father and thy mother rejoice over thee, and let her that bore thee be glad.
26 Mwana wange mpa omutima gwo, n’amaaso go geekalirize amakubo gange,
[My] son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
27 kubanga omukazi omwenzi lukonko luwanvu, n’omukazi omubambaavu luzzi lufunda.
For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
28 Ateega ng’omutemu, n’ayongera ku muwendo gw’abasajja abatali beesigwa eri bakazi baabwe.
For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
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 trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
30 Abo abatava ku mwenge, nga bagenda baloza ku mwenge omutabule.
Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly.
31 Totunuulira wayini ng’amyuse, bw’atemaganira mu ggiraasi ng’akka empolampola;
For if thou shouldest set thine eyes on bowls and cups, thou shalt afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
32 ku nkomerero aluma ng’omusota, wa busagwa ng’essalambwa.
But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one smitten by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
33 Amaaso go galiraba ebyewuunyo, n’omutwe gwo ne gulowooza ebitategeerekeka.
Whenever thine eyes shall behold a strange woman, then thy mouth shall speak perverse things.
34 Oliba ng’omuntu eyeebase wakati mu nnyanja, obanga oyo alengejjera waggulu ku mulongooti.
And thou shalt lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
35 Olyogera nti, “Bankubye, naye sirumiddwa. Bankubye naye sirina kye mpuliddemu. Nnaazuukuka ddi, neeyongere okunywa?”
And thou shalt say, They smote me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?
