1Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
1 Ma si canse boro laaley gaa, Ma si anniya ka goro i banda.
2for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.
2 Zama i biney goono ga toonye dabariyaŋ te no, I meyey mo goono ga hasaraw hariyaŋ fakaaray.
3Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
3 Laakal do no boro ga windi cina, Fahamay do mo no i g'a sinji.
4by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
4 Bayray do mo no i ga fu-izey toonandi nda arzaka kulu kaŋ gonda darza, Kaŋ yaŋ ga kaan mo.
5A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
5 Laakalkooni gonda gaabi, Oho, boro kaŋ gonda bayray ga tonton da gaabi.
6for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.
6 Zama laakal saaware do no ni ga ni wongo te, Saawarekoy jama ra zaama go no.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
7 Laakal go beene, a bisa saamo hina, A si nga me fiti faada meyey ra mo.
8One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
8 Boro kaŋ ga laala dabari te, borey ga ne a se zambante.
9The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
9 Laakal-jaŋay dabarey teeyaŋ ya zunubi no, Dondako mo ya fanta hari no borey se.
10If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
10 Da ni gaa ga yay kankami zaari ra, Ni gaabo ya ikayna fo no.
11Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
11 Ma borey kaŋ yaŋ i go ga konda buuyaŋ do faaba, Ngey kaŋ yaŋ ga tatanji ka koy wiyaŋ do mo, Kala ni m'i gaay.
12If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this”; doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
12 Da ni ne: «A go, iri mana woodin bay.» Manti biney neesiyaŋ Koyo go ga laakal? Ni fundo kurukwa mo, a mana bay no? A si bana boro kulu se nga goyo alhakku no?
13My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
13 Ay izo, ma yu ŋwa, zama a ga boori. Yu fanta haro mo ga kaan ni meyo ra.
14so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, your hope will not be cut off.
14 Yaadin cine no ni ma bay kaŋ laakal ga bara ni fundo se. Da ni n'a gar, suba hanno go no, Hay kulu si ni beeja kaa ni se mo.
15Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place:
15 Ya nin, boro laalo, Ma si gum ka lamba adilante nangora se, Ni ma si a fulanzamyaŋo do halaci mo.
16for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
16 Zama adilante ga kaŋ sorro iyye, A ga ye ka tun koyne, Amma masiiba ga boro laalo zeeri.
17Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
17 Ma si farhã da ni ibara kaŋ, Ni bina mo ma si maa kaani d'a kati.
18lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
18 Zama Rabbi ma si di, a ma dukur mo, A ma bare ka fay da nga bine tuna a boŋ.
19Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:
19 Ma si ni bina taabandi goy laalo teekoy sabbay se, Ma si canse boro laaley gaa mo.
20for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
20 Zama boro laalo sinda suba hanno, I ga boro laalo fitilla wi mo.
21My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious:
21 Ay izo, ma humburu Rabbi, da bonkooni mo, Ma si hangasinay da ngey kaŋ ga bara-ne-bara-ne.
22for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?
22 Zama i masiiba ga kaa korab! folloŋ. May no ga bay halaciyaŋ kaŋ ihinka kulu ga kande?
23These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
23 Sanni woone yaŋ mo laakalkooney wane yaŋ no. Baar'a-baar'a si boori ciiti do.
24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous”; peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—
24 Boro kaŋ ne boro laalo se: «Nin wo adilante no,» Dumey g'a laali, kundey g'a fanta.
25but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
25 Amma ngey kaŋ ga deeni a gaa, Woodin ga boori. Albarka hanno mo ga zumbu i gaa.
26An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
26 Nga kaŋ ga tu da mate kaŋ ga saba ga hima baakasinay sunsumyaŋ da me-kuurey.
27Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
27 Ma ni goyo soola taray, Ma soola ni boŋ se mo fari ra, Kokor banda mo ma ni windo cina.
28Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
28 Ma si goro seeda ni gorokasino boŋ daliili kulu si, Ni ga ba ni ma fafagay te da ni meyo, wala?
29Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”
29 Ma si ne: «Kal ay ma te a se mate kaŋ cine a te ay se, Ay ga bora bana nga goyo boŋ.»
30I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
30 Ay na hawfuno fari fonda gana, Boro kaŋ sinda laakal reyzin* kalo no ay casu.
31Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
31 A go, a kulu goono ga daabu nda karji, A batama go ga daabu nda ganda karji, A tondi windo mo kaŋ.
32Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
32 Saaya din ay guna, ay laakal mo hal a boori, Ay di, woodin n'ay gooji mo.
33a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;
33 A cindi jirbi kayna jina, A cindi dusungu kayna, A cindi kambe koliyaŋ kayna hala ni ma jirbi,
34so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.
34 Yaadin cine gaa no talkataray ga kaa ni gaa danga kosarayko, Ni jaŋa mo ga kaa danga wongaari.