The Value of a Good Reputation
1 A good reputation and respect
are worth much more
than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor
are all created
by the Lord.
3 When you see trouble coming,
don't be stupid
and walk right into it—
be smart and hide.
4 Respect and serve the Lord!
Your reward will be wealth,
a long life, and honor.
5 Crooks walk down a road
full of thorny traps.
Stay away from there!
6 Teach your children
right from wrong,
and when they are grown
they will still do right.
7 The poor are ruled by the rich,
and those who borrow
are slaves of moneylenders.
8 Troublemakers get in trouble,
and their terrible anger
will get them nowhere.
9 The Lord blesses everyone
who freely gives food
to the poor.
10 Arguments and fights
will come to an end,
if you chase away those
who insult others.
11 The king is the friend of all
who are sincere
and speak with kindness.
12 The Lord watches over everyone
who shows good sense,
but he frustrates the plans
of deceitful liars.
13 Don't be so lazy that you say,
“If I go to work,
a lion will eat me!”
14 The words of a bad woman
are like a deep pit;
if you make the Lord angry,
you will fall right in.
15 All children are foolish,
but firm correction
will make them change.
16 Cheat the poor to make profit
or give gifts to the rich—
either way you lose.
Thirty Wise Sayings
17 Here are some sayings
of people with wisdom,
so listen carefully
as I teach.
18 You will be glad
that you know these sayings
and can recite them.
19 I am teaching them today,
so that you
may trust the Lord.
20 I have written thirty sayings
filled with sound advice.
21 You can trust them completely
to give you the right words
for those in charge of you.
–1–
22 Don't take advantage
of the poor
or cheat them in court.
23 The Lord is their defender,
and what you do to them,
he will do to you.
–2–
24 Don't make friends with anyone
who has a bad temper.
25 You might turn out like them
and get caught in a trap.
–3–
26 Don't guarantee to pay
someone else's debt.
27 If you don't have the money,
you might lose your bed.
–4–
28 Don't move a boundary marker
set up by your ancestors.
–5–
29 If you do your job well,
you will work for a ruler
and never be a slave.
1 Edina li nondilo li dule oupuna uhapu, nohokwe i dule oshisiliveli noshingoldo. 2 Oshipuna nohepele otava pumhakana. Omwene e va shita vo aveshe. 3 Omunaendunge ota tale oshiponga ndele ta hondama, ndelenee ovashima tava ehene ko ndele tava hangika koshiponga. 4 Ondjabi yelininipiko noyokutila Omwene oyo oupuna nefimano nomwenyo. 5 Omakiya neemwiyo di li mondjila yomunaipupulu, ou ta kala kokule nayo, ota amene omwenyo waye. 6 Omona woye omumati, mu ikifa ondjila yaye ya yuka, opo nee ita ka yapuka muyo, eshi a kula. 7 Oshipuna tashi pangele eehepele. Naau e noikolo ta ningi omupika waau e mu pa eengele. 8 Ou ta kunu owii, ota ka teya omupya, noshiti shoupyuhandu waye otashi nyonauka po. 9 Ou e nehalo liwa ota ka nangekwa noupuna, osheshi ota yandje komukwanaluhepo omungome waye. 10 Taataa omusheki, opo nee eemhata tadi xulu po; neshilafano nesheko tali pu po. 11 Ou e hole oukoshoki womutima, ndele e nomilungu da wapala, ohamba otai ningi kaume kaye. 12 Omesho Omwene taa amene eshiivo. Onghee hano ta pengifa eendjovo dovaliteeki. 13 Omundede ta ti: “Pondje ope nonghoshi. Fiku limwe tai dipaa nge mokati komapandavanda!” 14 Okanya komukainhu wovanhu oko elambo lile. Ou ta hangika kehandu lOmwene, ota wile mo mulo. 15 Oulai owa kanyatela momutima wokaana, ndelenee outekushiti tau u taataa mo. 16 Ou ta fininike ohepele, ote i kwafa. Ou ta pe oshipuna, ye ote shi ningi ohepele.
Eendjovo dovanongo
17 Pakaleka omatwi u pwilikine eendjovo dovalumenhu ovanongo, u koneke eshiivo lange. 18 Osheshi sha wapala ngeenge to di tuvikile momwenyo woye. Do adishe nadi kale da longekidilwa omilungu doye. 19 Opo u kale nokulineekela Omwene, onghee handi ku longo nena eli, heeno, ove ho longwa. 20 Inandi ku shangela omayeletumbulo, nde ku pa nomapukululo neshiivo. 21 Opo ndi ku longe oshili, eendjovo di shii kulineekelwa, u shiive neendjovo odo doshili okunyamukula omutumi woye. 22 Ino hepeka omukwanaluhepo, shaashi ye omukwanaluhepo; ndele ino lyata ohepele moshivelo. 23 Osheshi Omwene ta popile eendjovo davo, ndele ta kufa omwenyo wovahepeki vavo. 24 Ino ninga kaume komuhandunhu ndele ino endafana naau e hole eemhata, 25 opo uha ike eendjila daye ndele uha twale omwenyo woye momwiyo. 26 Ino kala mokati kaava hava paafana eke, ava tava ningi ovaponhele yoifuta. 27 Ngeenge uhe na sha okufuta, ombete tave i kufa koshi yoye. 28 Ongaba ikulweelela ino i lundulula, yo oya tulwa po kooxe. 29 Ngeenge to mono omulumenhu e nomayele mokulonga kwaye; ye ota dulu okukala ofika moipafi yeehamba, hamokulongela ovafyoona.
