Proverbs 4
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
Ụmụ m ndị ikom, geenụ ntị na ndụmọdụ nke nna unu, lezienụ anya ka unu nwee nghọta.
2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
Ṅaanụ ntị, nwee uche, nʼihi na ọ bụ ezi ozizi ka m na-ezi unu; ya mere, unu ahapụkwala iwu m.
3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
Mgbe m bụ nwantakịrị nʼụlọ nna m, mgbe m ka dị ntakịrị, bụrụkwa naanị otu nwa nne m ji,
4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
ọ ziri m ihe, sịkwa m, “Ka obi gị jidesie okwu m niile ike, debe nʼiwu niile, ị ga-adịkwa ndụ.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
Nweta amamihe, nwetakwa nghọta, echezọkwala okwu m, maọbụ site na ya wezuga onwe gị.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
Ahapụla amamihe, ọ ga-echebe gị, hụ ya nʼanya, nʼihi na ọ ga-eduzi gị.
7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
Mmalite amamihe bụ nke a, nweta amamihe, ihe ọbụla o ga-efu gị, nweta nghọta.
8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
Ọ bụrụ na i bulie amamihe elu, o ga-ebulikwa gị elu. Jidesie ya ike, ọ ga-ewetara gị oke nsọpụrụ.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
Ọ ga-eji okpueze okoko osisi chọọ isi gị mma nyekwa gị okpueze mara mma nʼisi gị.”
10 Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
Nwa m, ṅaa m ntị, meekwa ihe m gwara gị; ị ga-enwekwa ndụ ogologo.
11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
M ga-edu gị nʼụzọ nke amamihe, duokwa gị nʼụzọ ziri ezi.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
Ọ bụrụ na i bie ụdị ndụ dị otu a, ihe agaghị akpọ gị nʼụkwụ nʼije gị, ị gaghị asụkwa ngọngọ mgbe ị na-agba ọsọ.
13 Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
Mee ihe niile m gwara gị, echefukwala ha, nʼihi na ọ ga-eduba gị na ndụ zuruoke.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
Emela dịka ndị na-emebi iwu. Esokwala ụzọ ha.
15 Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
Zeere ha, ejekwala nʼụzọ ha; chepu ihu gị nʼụzọ ahụ,
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
nʼihi na ndị na-emebi iwu adịghị arahụ ụra tutu ha emee arụ nke ụbọchị ahụ. Ha anaghị ezu ike tutu ha emee ka otu onye maa nʼọnya.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Ha na-eri ihe oriri nke mmebi iwu, na-aṅụkwa ihe ọṅụṅụ nke ọgbaaghara.
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
Ma ụzọ ndị ezi omume dị ka anyanwụ na-awa nʼisi ụtụtụ, nke na-enwuwakwa dịka ìhè nʼetiti ehihie ụbọchị.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Ma ụzọ onye na-emebi iwu dị ka itiri nke ọchịchịrị, ha anaghị ama ihe na-eme ka ha sụọ ngọngọ.
20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Gee ntị nwa m, nʼihe m na-ekwu. Gee ntị nke ọma.
21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
Doo ihe ndị a nʼuche gị mgbe niile; ka ha bamiekwa nʼime obi gị,
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
nʼihi na ha bụ ndụ nye ndị chọtara ha, bụrụkwa ahụ ike nye mmadụ.
23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
Nke ka nke, lezie echiche uche gị niile anya, nʼihi na ha na-emetụta ndụ gị niile.
24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
Ka ụgha ọbụla ghara isi gị nʼọnụ pụta; kpọọ ịgha ụgha niile na okwu rụrụ arụ niile asị.
25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
Legide anya nʼihu ime ihe bụ eziokwu; atụgharịkwala isi gị ile ihe ọbụla.
26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
Leruo ije ụkwụ gị anya, doziekwa ụzọ gị niile ka ọ guzozie.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
Ewezugala onwe gị site nʼaka nri maọbụ nʼaka ekpe; si nʼihe ọjọọ wezuga ụkwụ gị.
