Words of Wisdom Are Better than Gold
1 It isn't smart to get drunk!
Drinking makes a fool of you
and leads to fights.
2 An angry ruler
is like a roaring lion—
make either one angry,
and you are dead.
3 It makes you look good
when you avoid a fight—
only fools love to quarrel.
4 If you are too lazy to plow,
don't expect a harvest.
5 Someone's thoughts may be
as deep as the ocean,
but if you are smart,
you will discover them.
6 There are many who say,
“You can trust me!”
But can they be trusted?
7 Good people live right,
and God blesses the children
who follow their example.
8 When rulers decide cases,
they weigh the evidence.
9 Can any of us really say,
“My thoughts are pure,
and my sins are gone”?
10 Two things the Lord hates
are dishonest scales
and dishonest measures.
11 The good or bad
that children do
shows what they are like.
12 Hearing and seeing
are gifts from the Lord.
13 If you sleep all the time,
you will starve;
if you get up and work,
you will have enough food.
14 Everyone likes to brag
about getting a bargain.
15 Sensible words are better
than gold or jewels.
16 You deserve to lose your coat
if you loan it to someone
to guarantee payment
for the debt of a stranger.
17 The food you get by cheating
may taste delicious,
but it turns to gravel.
18 Be sure you have sound advice
before making plans
or starting a war.
19 Stay away from gossips—
they tell everything.
20 Children who curse their parents
will go to the land of darkness
long before their time.
21 Getting rich quick
may turn out to be a curse.
22 Don't try to get even.
Trust the Lord,
and he will help you.
23 The Lord hates dishonest scales
and dishonest weights.
So don't cheat!
24 How can we know
what will happen to us
when the Lord alone decides?
25 Don't fall into the trap
of making promises to God
before you think!
26 A wise ruler severely punishes
every criminal.
27 Our inner thoughts are a lamp
from the Lord,
and they search our hearts.
28 Rulers are protected
by God's mercy and loyalty,
but they must be merciful
for their kingdoms to last.
29 Young people take pride
in their strength,
but the gray hairs of wisdom
are even more beautiful.
30 A severe beating can knock all
of the evil out of you!
1 Okunwa omavinu tjinene ku ku rokohisa na ku ku ririsa eyova. Okupurukisiwa i omavinu ouyova.
2 Tira ombara tji ya pindike otja tji mo tira ovimboro vyongeyama; okupindikisa ombara kwa sana nokurizepa omuini.
3 Eyova arihe ri uta oviposa, nungwari otjiṋa otjiwa tji tja pwira ondjozikiro, okukara ohumburuko noviposa.
4 Omunatjirweyo tje hi nakutaura ehi re romakunino moruveze orusemba, kamaa kakara notjiṋa tji ma kondo moruveze rwomakondero.
5 Omeripuriro womundu momutima we ye ri otja omeva mondjombo onde; nungwari ingwi ngu nozondunge ma yenene okuyeteka.
6 Ovandu ovengi ve rihiva kutja owo ovaṱakame, nungwari owaṋi ngu ma kamuna omundu omuṱakame?
7 Ovaṋingandu ovanatje mbe na ihe omuṱakame nu ngu tjita ihi tji tjiri otjisemba.
8 Ombara ndja haama kotjihavero tjayo tjombanguriro, i muna ouvi auhe nai u sisa.
9 Owaṋi ngu ma yenene okutja nai: “Ami mba ṱakamisa omutima wandje u kare nokuhinatjipo, mba poka kourunde wandje?”
10 Muhona wa tonda ovandu mbe ungurisa ozondjinda novisanekero ovihasemba.
11 Nandarire omuatje u raisa movitjitwa vye kutja eye omukendu; ove mo yenene okuserekarera kutja eye omuṱakame nomukohoke.
12 Muhona we tu pa omatwi okuzuva nomeho okumuna.
13 Tji wa suvera okurara, mo rire omusyona; tji u kara katumba, mo kara novingi okurya.
14 Omurande aruhe u unauna kutja ovirandisiwa vi ningira ovimariva ovingi; nungwari tja i tjandje ma yende ame rihivire imbi mbya randa.
15 Tji una ondjiviro, una otjiṋa otjinanḓengu komeho yongoldo nomawe omahuze.
16 Auhe ngu ri eyova na kwizike kutja ma sutire owozonganda ozondjo ze, ouini we u sokuṱiziwa otja otjisuta tjomoruveze.
17 Mbi mo pewa motjiwova mo ri otja ovikurya ovitjate; nungwari kombunda mavi kasana otja eheke motjinyo tjoye.
18 Paha ondunge ombwa kovandu varwe nove mo toṋa; okarwa ovita nokuhinomerirongerisiro omawa.
19 Humburuka kokure nomundu ngu taka omambo, eye tjinga eha horeke oviundikwa.
20 Ngu ma tukana ihe poo ina omuinyo we mau yanda otja emunine ndi mari zemi monḓorera.
21 Outumbe mbu munika oupupu, korusenina kau nakukaserwa ondaya.
22 O rityere omuini kutja mo sutisa ingwi ngwa tataiza; riyameka ku Muhona a rire ngwe ku vatere.
23 Muhona wa tonda ovandu mbe ungurisa ozondjinda novisanekero ovihasemba.
24 Muhona u zikamisa ozondambo zomundu; omundu ma yenene vi okutjiwa ondjira ye omuini?
25 Rutenga ripura nawa ngunda au hiya kwizikira Muhona ombunguhiro, tjapo mo ripatere ombate.
26 Ombara onongo i vera imba mbe tjita ouvi nokuhinondjenda.
27 Ombepo yomundu oyo emunine ra Muhona; oyo i konḓonona ourekoto womundu auhe.
28 Orusuvero nouṱakame vi yama ombara; ouhona wayo mau zikama tji mai honapara nousemba nouatjiri.
29 Ourenga womitanda owo omasa wavyo, nomaharekero wovakurundu owo zonḓi zawo.
30 Ozongora nḓe hihamisa ozo omuti omuwa omupange, nomatoneno ye eta omberukiro mourekoto womundu.
