Trust God
1 My child, remember
my teachings and instructions
and obey them completely.
2 They will help you live
a long and prosperous life.
3 Let love and loyalty
always show like a necklace,
and write them in your mind.
4 God and people will like you
and hold you in high esteem.
5 With all your heart
you must trust the Lord
and not your own judgment.
6 Always let him lead you,
and he will clear the road
for you to follow.
7 Don't ever think that you
are wise enough,
but respect the Lord
and stay away from evil.
8 This will make you healthy,
and you will feel strong.
9 Honor the Lord by giving him
your money and the first part
of all your crops.
10 Then you will have
more grain and grapes
than you will ever need.
11 My child, don't turn away
or become bitter
when the Lord corrects you.
12 The Lord corrects
everyone he loves,
just as parents correct
a child they dearly love.
The Value of Wisdom
13 God blesses everyone
who has wisdom
and common sense.
14 Wisdom is worth more
than silver;
it makes you much richer
than gold.
15 Wisdom is more valuable
than precious jewels;
nothing you want
compares with her.
16 In her right hand
Wisdom holds a long life,
and in her left hand
are wealth and honor.
17 Wisdom makes life pleasant
and leads us safely along.
18 Wisdom is a life-giving tree,
the source of happiness
for all who hold on to her.
19 By his wisdom and knowledge
the Lord created
heaven and earth.
20 By his understanding
he let the ocean break loose
and clouds release the rain.
21 My child, use common sense
and sound judgment!
Always keep them in mind.
22 They will help you to live
a long and beautiful life.
23 You will walk safely
and never stumble;
24 you will rest without a worry
and sleep soundly.
25 So don't be afraid
of sudden disasters
or storms that strike
those who are evil.
26 You can be sure that the Lord
will protect you from harm.
27 Do all you can for everyone
who deserves your help.
28 Don't tell your neighbor
to come back tomorrow,
if you can help today.
29 Don't try to be mean
to neighbors who trust you.
30 Don't argue just to be arguing,
when you haven't been hurt.
31 Don't be jealous
of cruel people
or follow their example.
32 The Lord doesn't like
anyone who is dishonest,
but he lets good people
be his friends.
33 He places a curse on the home
of everyone who is evil,
but he blesses the home
of every good person.
34 The Lord sneers at those
who sneer at him,
but he is kind to everyone
who is humble.
35 You will be praised
if you are wise,
but you will be disgraced
if you are a stubborn fool.
Omaronga komitanda
1 Muatje wandje, o zembi omahongero wandje nu aruhe kara nonḓuviro kuwo. 2 Omahongero wandje maye ku pe omuinyo omure nouṋingandu. 3 Orusuvero nouṱakame avi ku esa ko. Vi kuta mosengo yoye; vi tjanga momutima woye. 4 Tji wa tjiti nai, mo munu ondjingonekero nonyuṋe komurungu wa Ndjambi na kovandu.
5 Ṱakama mu Muhona nomutima woye auhe. O riyameke ku imbi mbi mo tjangovasi mo tjiwa. 6 Zemburuka Muhona mu avihe mbi mo tjiti, neye otji me ku sembamisire ondjira yoye.
7 O tjangovasi ove omuini oove onongo komurungu waindu tji u ri, nungwari tjinene kara nonḓuviro ku Muhona, nu u panḓe okutjita ouvi. 8 Tji wa tjiti nai, mape sana otja omuti omuwa omupange, mbu mau verukisa ovirwaro vyoye nu mbu mau porisa omihihamo vyoye. 9 Yozika Muhona mokumupunguhira ovitengakuhora vyovihape vyoye avihe. 10 Tjinangara mo tjiti nai, ovipwikiro vyoye mavi ura novikokotwa, nu mo kara nomavinu omengi tjinene nai nga tji u hi nokuyenena okuyepwika aehe.
11 Muatje wandje, Muhona tji me ku vyura, puratena nawa nu u yakure omavyuriro we. 12 Muhona u vyura imba mba suvera otja ihe tje vyura omuzandu we me nonyuṋe. 13 Omuṋingandu omundu ngu rira onongo, nomuṋingandu omundu ngu muna ozondunge. 14 Orondu mounongo muna ouwa okukapita osilveri; nowo ounanḓengu tjinene pongoldo, 15 na pomawe omahuze, nu kape notjiṋa tji mo sokuzera tji matji sasanekwa na wo. 16 Ounongo u ku pa omuinyo omure, nu wina u ku pa outumbe nondjozikiro. 17 Ounongo mau yorokisa omuinyo woye, nu mau ku hongorere mondjira yohange. 18 Ounongo owo omuti mbu yandja omuinyo ku imba mbe u wangata; novaṋingandu imba mbe kakatera kuwo.
19 Muhona wa zikamisa ehi mounongo we;
nu mondjiviro ye, eye wa zikamisa evaverwa.
20 Ounongo we ombu pupisa ozonḓonḓu,
nu ombu tjita kutja ovikamba vi roke ombura kombanda yehi.
21 Kakatera kounongo na kozondunge, muatje wandje. O vi esa kutja vi ze po pove. 22 Ovyo mavi ku pe omuinyo, nu mavi rire otja oviharekwa mosengo yoye. 23 Mo yenene okutwara ondjira yoye nokuhinatjipo, nu komoo putara. 24 Komoo tira ooma tji mo karara, nu mo rara noupore ouṱuku auhe. 25 Ko nokutira ko oviwonga vya tjimanga tjimuna imbi mbi mavi ya kovanauvi otja otjivepo. 26 Muhona eye ondjamo yoye; eye ke nokutwa ombaze yoye mombate.
27 Tji mo sora, tjita ouwa ku imba mbu mave u hepa. 28 O raere omuraranganda kutja nga undje nga komuhuka tji mo sora okumuvatera nambano. 29 O ripura notjiṋa ngamwa tji matji hihamisa omuraranganda woye, eye ngunda a tura meṋe yoye mohange. 30 O patasana nomundu moviṋa vya kauriri eye tje hiye ku tjita otjipo.
31 O ṱeruru novatjite voutwe, nu o ripura okutjita otja owo tji mave tjiti, 32 Muhona tjinga a tonda ovandu mbe tjita ourunde, nungwari eye u yakura ovasemba nouṱakame. 33 Muhona u senga ozonganda zovanauvi, nungwari u sera inḓa zovasemba ondaya. 34 Eye u nyekerera ovanyekerere, nungwari u raisa otjari tje koverisusuparise. 35 Ovanaunongo mave munu ondjozikiro, nungwari omayova mave riyambururire ko oveni.
