Use Good Sense
1 If you keep being stubborn
after many warnings,
you will suddenly discover
you have gone too far.
2 When justice rules a nation,
everyone is glad;
when injustice rules,
everyone groans.
3 If you love wisdom
your parents will be glad,
but chasing after bad women
will cost you everything.
4 An honest ruler
makes the nation strong;
a ruler who takes bribes
will bring it to ruin.
5 Flattery is nothing less
than setting a trap.
6 Your sins will catch you,
but everyone who lives right
will sing and celebrate.
7 The wicked don't care
about the rights of the poor,
but good people do.
8 Sneering at others is a spark
that sets a city on fire;
using good sense can put out
the flames of anger.
9 Be wise and don't sue a fool.
You won't get satisfaction,
because all the fool will do
is sneer and shout.
10 A murderer hates everyone
who is honest
and lives right.
11 Don't be a fool
and quickly lose your temper—
be sensible and patient.
12 A ruler who listens to lies
will have corrupt officials.
13 The poor and all who abuse them
must each depend on God
for light.
14 Kings who are fair to the poor
will rule a long time.
15 Correct your children,
and they will be wise;
children out of control
disgrace their mothers.
16 Crime increases
when crooks are in power,
but law-abiding citizens
will see them fall.
17 If you correct your children,
they will bring you peace
and happiness.
18 Without guidance from God
law and order disappear,
but God blesses everyone
who obeys his Law.
19 Even when servants are smart,
it takes more than words
to make them obey.
20 There is more hope for a fool
than for someone who speaks
without thinking.
21 Slaves that you treat kindly
from their childhood
will cause you sorrow.
22 A person with a quick temper
stirs up arguments
and commits a lot of sins.
23 Too much pride brings disgrace;
humility leads to honor.
24 If you take part in a crime
you are your worst enemy,
because even under oath
you can't tell the truth.
25 Don't fall into the trap
of being a coward—
trust the Lord,
and you will be safe.
26 Many try to make friends
with a ruler,
but justice comes
from the Lord.
27 Good people and criminals
can't stand each other.
1 ǂGōǀauhe-i ga xawe ǃaruǀî ǀgui ra karokarosen khoe-i ge aitsama ra hîkākāsen tsî tātsē ǂuru ǁkhā tide.
2 ǂHanu-ai khoen ga ǂgaeǂguis ǃnâ hâ, on ge khoena ra ǃgâiaǂgao; eloxoresa khoen ga ǂgaeǂguis ǃnâ hâ, on ge khoena ǀkhomǀkhomsa mâsib ǃnâ ra hâ.
3 Gā-aisiba ǀnam ǀgôab hoab ge ǁîb îra ra ǃgâiaǂgao kai.
ǀAi-aodi ǀkha ra ǂharugub hoab ge ǃkhūsib âba ra hîǀhuru.
4 ǂHanu-aisiba ra dī gao-ao-i ge ǃhūb di ǁaesa ra ǀgaiǀgai, xawe ǀhôagao ǁaxasiga ǀnam gao-ao-i ge ǃhūba ra hîkākā.
5 ǁÎ-i ǀgūkhoe-e ra ǂgaeǂhapu khoe-i ge ǁî-aitsama āsa ra khaobasen.
6 ǂKhabadī-ao-i ge ǁî-i ǁoren ǂûn xa ǃnuihe hâ, xawe ǂhanu-ai khoen ge ǁnae tsî ra dâ.
7 ǂHanu-ai khoen ge ǀgâsa khoen ǂhanuga ǂan; eloxoresa khoen ge ǁnāti ī ǁnâuǃāba ūhâ tama hâ.
8 ǃHō-aon ge ǃāsa ǂkhabab ǀkha ra ǀgomǀgom, xawe gā-ai khoen ge ǂkhababa ra ǁkhaebē.
9 Gā-ai khoe-i ga gâre khoe-i ǀkha ǀgoraǃgâǃkhaib tawa sī, o-i ge gâre khoe-e âi tamas ka io ǂkhî-e ūhâ tama hâ.
10 ǃGamaon ge ǂhauǃnâ khoena ra ǁkhan; ǂhanu-ai khoen ge ǁîn ûiba ra ǃgôa.
11 Gâre khoe-i ge ǁî-i ǁaiba ǀhûhâsib ǃnâ ra ǃāǂui, xawe gā-ai khoe-i ge ǁaib â-e ra ǃkhō-oa.
12 ǂGaeǂgui-ao-i ga ǂhumiba ǃgâ, on ge ǁî-i ǃnaka hâ ǂgaeǂgui-aon hoana nî eloxoresa.
13 ǀGâsa khoe-i tsî ǃkhū hâ khoe-i tsîn hoan ge nēsa ūhâ: ǃKhūb ge hoa ǀgamna ǃnâba ra mû kai.
14 Gao-ao-i ga ǀgâsa khoe-e amab ǀkha ǀgoraǃgâ, o i ge ǁî-e ǀamose trons ai nî ǂnû.
15 ǃNabas tsî ǂgōǀaus tsîra ge gā-aisiba ra mā, xawe ǁae-ūhe tama ǀgôa-i ge ǁî-i îs taosib ase ī.
16 Eloxoresa khoen ga ǂgaeǂguis ǃnâ hâ, ob ge ǂkhābadība ra aiǃgû; xawe ǂhanu-ai khoen ge ǁîn ǁnāsa nî kōǀî.
17 Sa ôana ǂgōǀau, ots ge sâba nî ūhâ; ǁîn ge nî ǃgâiaǂgao kai tsi.
18 Eloba xu hâ kēbos xa ǂgaeǂguihe tama khoen ge ǂâikorobese ra ûi, xawe ǀkhaehesan ge ǁnā khoen ǂhanuba ra ǁnâuǀnamna.
19 Mîdi ǀkha ǀguits ge khobo-e ǂgōǀau ǁoa, ǁnâuǃā-i ga xawe i ǁae tama xui-ao.
20 ǂÂi tama ra ǃhoa khoe-e mûts ge? Gâre khoe-i ǀkhats ge ǃnāsa ǃâubasensa ǁî-i ǃgâ-ai ūhâ.
21 Sa ǃgā-ets ga ǂkhamsis â-e xu ǂgao i ra xū-i hoa-e mā, o i ge ǁî-e ǀams ai sa xūna sī nî ǀhana tsi .
22 ǁAiǁaisen xa khoe-i ge ǂkhabab ǀguiba ra ǃaroma, tsî ǂkhabaxa khoe-i ge ǃnāsa ǂkhabadīb ǀguiba ra ǃaroma.
23 ǀGapiǂâixasib ge sa khoesisa nî ǀhana tsi, xawe ǃgamǃgamsensa gagasa ūhâ khoe-i ge ǃgôasiba nî hōbasen.
24 ǃNari-ao-i di ǀhōsa-i ge aitsama ra ǁkhansen; ǁî-i ai ǁgoe ǀâxarebats ǂan, xawets ge amaba ra sâu.
25 Khoenats ga ǃao, ots ge aitsama ra ǃnuisen, xawe ǃKhūb aits ga ǂgomaiǂnûi, ots ge a ǃnorasa.
26 ǂGui khoen ge ǂgaeǂgui-ao-i ǃgâiba ra ôa, xawe ǃKhūba xus ge ǂhanu-aisibats ra hōsa.
27 ǂHanuoǃnâ ûiga ūhâ khoen ge ǂhanu-ai khoen aiǃâ a ui-uisa, xawe ǂhauǃnâse ra ûi khoen ge eloxoresa khoen aiǃâ a ui-uisa.
