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 Omaviinyu, oo omusheki, noikolwifa, oyo omuweeleli, ndele kaku na ou ta kolwa kuo, e neendunge. 2 Etilifo lohamba, olo la fa okukumba kwonghoshi yonyasha, ou te i handukifa, ota nyono po omwenyo waye. 3 Efimano lomunhu olo okukukuma eemhata, ndelenee elai keshe tali pendula eemhata. 4 Omundede ita pulula mokulombo; ndele mokufu ngeenge ta hadahada mefimbo leteyo, kaku na sha. 5 Eemhangela domutima womunhu di li ngaashi omeva malemale, ndelenee omulumenhu omunaendunge te ke di teka mo. 6 Ovanhu vahapu tave litangele ouwa wavo, ndelenee olyelye ta mono omulumenhu e shii kulineekelwa? 7 Omuyuki ha ende ehe noshipo, ovana vaye tave mu shikula vo ovanelao. 8 Ohamba tai kala omutumba kolukalwa letokolo, otai tokolifa omesho ayo nokutongola mo owii. 9 Olyelye ta dulu okutya: “Omutima wange nde u kosha, ame nda koshwa, ndihe nomatimba?” 10 Oiyelekifo i lili nai lili noiyelekifombale i lili nai lili oyo oixuna koshipala shOmwene. 11 Nokamati take liholola nokuli pakukala kwako, oilonga yako ngeenge ya yela noya yuka. 12 Okutwi haku udu ko, neisho tali mono ko, oyo aishe ivali Omwene e i ninga. 13 Ino kala u hole eemhofi, uha ninge ohepele; pashuka, opo u likutife nomungome. 14 Omulandi ta ti: “Shii, shii!” Ndelenee omulandifi eshi a dja po, ote litange. 15 Oku noshingoldo neekorali, ndelenee ewapeko li nondilo, olo omilungu di neshiivo. 16 Kufa oshikutu shaye, osheshi ye a ninga omuponhele woifuta, ndele u mu kufe ngaashi ombabyona molwavakwao. 17 Omungome womokunyeka omunyenye komunhu, ndelenee komesho okanya kaye ka yada omawe. 18 Eenghundafana tadi pameke eemhangela; hano mokushiva oita, diladila shili nawa. 19 Ou ta endaenda nomalundilo, ota holola oshiholekwa, hano ino litula pwaau e nomilungu da makuka. 20 Ou ta tulomutima xe naina, olamba yaye otai dimi momulaulu fokofoko. 21 Oinima tai hakanwa unene pehovelo, oxuuninwa itai eta enangeko noupuna. 22 Ino tya: “Nda hala okukwatela owii onghone!” Teelela Omwene, Ye ote ku yakula! 23 Oiyelekifo yomaludi avali, oyo oixuna koshipala shOmwene, noshiyelekifo inashi yuka ke shiwa. 24 Eenghatu domulumenhu tadi endifwa kOmwene; omunhu ta dulu ngahelipi okuuda eendjila daye? 25 Omunhu te litele omwiyo mokuhadiladila kwaye, ta udanekele Omuyapuki oshali ndelenee komesho ta ka diladila eudaneko. 26 Ohamba i neendunge otai duda mo ovahenakalunga, ndele tai alangatifa oshilei shokuxwa kombada yavo. 27 Omhepo yomunhu oyo olamba yOmwene, tai konakona oukololo aveshe vomutima. 28 Ohole noudiinini tai amene ohamba, nomolwohole yo otai yambidida olukalwapangelo layo. 29 Ewapeko lovamati, olo eenghono davo. Newapeko lovaxungu olo eenghwakutoka. 30 Omatoshaulo e nohonde taa yelifa omunawii, nomadengo taa yelifa oukololo vomutima.
