Advice to Young People
1 My child, listen closely
to my teachings
and learn common sense.
2 My advice is useful,
so don't turn away.
3 When I was still very young
and my mother's favorite child,
my father 4 said to me:
“If you follow my teachings
and keep them in mind,
you will live.
5 Be wise and learn good sense;
remember my teachings
and do what I say.
6 “If you love Wisdom
and don't reject her,
she will watch over you.
7 The best thing about Wisdom
is Wisdom herself;
good sense is more important
than anything else.
8 If you value Wisdom
and hold tightly to her,
great honors will be yours.
9 It will be like wearing
a glorious crown
of beautiful flowers.”
The Right Way and the Wrong Way
10 My child, if you listen
and obey my teachings,
you will live a long time.
11 I have shown you the way
that makes sense;
I have guided you
along the right path.
12 Your road won't be blocked,
and you won't stumble
when you run.
13 Hold firmly to my teaching
and never let go.
It will mean life for you.
14 Don't follow the bad example
of cruel and evil people.
15 Turn aside and keep going.
Stay away from them.
16 They can't sleep or rest
until they do wrong or harm
some innocent victim.
17 Their food and drink
are cruelty and wickedness.
18 The lifestyle of good people
is like sunlight at dawn
that keeps getting brighter
until broad daylight.
19 The lifestyle of the wicked
is like total darkness,
and they will never know
what makes them stumble.
20 My child, listen carefully
to everything I say.
21 Don't forget a single word,
but think about it all.
22 Knowing these teachings
will mean true life
and good health for you.
23 Carefully guard your thoughts
because they are the source
of true life.
24 Never tell lies or be deceitful
in what you say.
25 Keep looking straight ahead,
without turning aside.
26 Know where you are headed,
and you will stay
on solid ground.
27 Don't make a mistake by turning
to the right or the left.
Okuritoororera ounongo
1 Purateneye ku imbi iho mbi me mu hongo, vanatje vandje, yandjeye ko ombango neṋe mamu kara nozondunge. 2 Imbi mbi me mu hongo ovyo oviwa, opu mamu sokuvizemburuka avihe. 3 Tji mba ri okanatje okaṱiṱi, okazandu akeyerike kovanene vandje, 4 tate tjandje u ndji honga. Eye aa tja: “Zemburuka omahongero wandje nu u kare nonḓuviro kuwo, nove mo hupu orure. 5 Paha ounongo nozondunge! O zembi nu o nyengura imbi mbi me hungire. 6 O isa ounongo, nowo mau ku yama; suvera wo, nowo mau ku tjevere nawa. 7 Okurinikorera ounongo otjo otjiṋa otjinanḓengu kove. Ripahera ozondunge poviṋa avihe mbi u na vyo. 8 Suvera ounongo, nowo mau ku neneparisa. U wangata, nowo mau ku etere ondengero. 9 Owo mau rire otja oruzenga oruwa, otja ekori rouhona kove.”
10 Puratena ku ami, muatje wandje! Yakura nawa omambo wandje, nu mo hupu orure. 11 Ami mbe ku honga ounongo, nu me ku hongorere ondjira osemba yomuinyo. 12 Kape notjiṋa tji matji ku tjaere, tji mo ryanga mounongo; nu komoo putara ko tji mo tupuka. 13 Aruhe zemburuka imbi mbi wa hongwa. Omahongero woye owo omuinyo woye; ye tjevera nawa. 14 O i ku maku i ovanauvi. O horere kotjikaro tjawo. 15 O tjiti nao, humburuka nourunde! Panḓa ku wo nu u tware ondjira yoye! 16 Ovanauvi kave rara ngunda ave hiya tjita ourunde. Kave rara ngunda ave ya hihamisa omundu kangamwa. 17 Ouvi owo omboroto yawo ndji ve rya; nokutjita outwe oko omavinu wawo ngu ve nwa.
18 Ondjira mu mu ryanga omusemba i ri otja omapitiro weyuva, ndi mari yere nga ondjerera aihe yaro tji ya hanyanya. 19 Ondjira yovanauvi hapo i ri otja onḓorera youṱuku. Owo ve wa, nungwari kave munu otjiṋa mu va putara.
20 Ṱakamisa imbi mbi me hungire, muatje wandje. Puratena komambo wandje! 21 O ye isa ye kapite pove. Rizemburuka na wo nu u ye ṱize momutima woye. 22 Owo maye yandja omuinyo nomberukiro ku auhe ngu me ye zuu. 23 Tjevera omutima woye poviṋa avihe, orondu imo omu mu nombwiro yomuinyo. 24 O hungire otjiṋa tji tji he ri ouatjiri. O kora ovizeze, nu humburuka komambo omawovise! 25 Tara osemba komurungu nouṱakame nouatjiri; o rekarekisa otjiuru tjoye mohoṋi! 26 Ripura nawa imbi mbi mo tye, nu ngamwa mbi mo tjiti ngavi rire ovisemba. 27 Isa ouvi nu u kayende osemba. O yepisa omukambo umwe mondjira osemba!
