Proverbs 17
1 Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
Ọ ka mma ịta iberibe achịcha kpọrọ nkụ ma ịnọ nʼudo adị ya, karịa nʼụlọ jupụtara nʼoke oriri na ịlụ ọgụ.
2 An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
Ohu nwere uche ga-achị nwa nna ya ukwu na-eweta ihere ma ketakwa oke nʼihe nketa dịka otu nʼime ndị ezinaụlọ ahụ.
3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
Ite eji anụcha ihe dịrị ọlaọcha, oke ọkụ dịkwara ọlaedo ma Onyenwe anyị na-anwale obi.
4 An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
Ajọ mmadụ na-aṅa ntị nʼegbugbere ọnụ na-eduhie, onye ụgha na-aṅakwa ntị nye ire na-ekwu okwu ịla nʼiyi.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
Onye ọbụla na-akwa ogbenye emo ọ bụ Chineke kere ha ka ọ na-elelị anya. Ndị niile na-aṅụrị ọṅụ nʼihi ihe ike dakwasịrị ha aghaghị ịta ahụhụ.
6 The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
Ụmụ ụmụ bụ okpueze ndị okenye. Nne na nna bụ ịnya isi nke ụmụ ha.
7 High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
Egbugbere ọnụ na-ekwu okwu dị mma abụghị nke onye nzuzu, otu a kwa, egbugbere ọnụ na-agha ụgha ekwesighị ịbụ nke onye na-achị achị.
8 As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Nʼanya onye na-enye ngarị ọ na-ahụta ya dịka ọgwụ ịrata mmadụ, ha na-eche nʼebe ọbụla ha chere ihu ihe ga-aga nke ọma.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
Onye ọbụla na-akwado ịhụnanya na-ekpuchi njehie, ma onye na-ekwu ihe mere mgbe na mgbe na-ekewa ezi enyi.
10 A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Ịba mba ntakịrị a baara onye nwere nghọta bara uru karịa narị ụtarị nke a pịara onye nzuzu.
11 Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
Onye ọjọọ na-ebi naanị ndụ nnupu isi megide Chineke. Ọ bụkwa onyeozi nke ọnwụ ka a ga-eziga imegide ya.
12 A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
Ọ ka mma izute nne Bịa a napụrụ ụmụ ya karịa izute onye nzuzu uche ya gbagọrọ agbagọ.
13 Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
Ọ bụrụ na i jiri ihe ọjọọ kwụọ ụgwọ ihe ọma, ọbụbụ ọnụ dịrị ezinaụlọ gị.
14 As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
Esemokwu malite ọ na-esi ike imedo ya, nʼihi ya ekwela ka ọ malite.
15 He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
Onye na-asị onye ikpe maara na ikpe amaghị ya na-amakwa onye aka ya dị ọcha ikpe, Onyenwe anyị na-akpọ omume abụọ a asị.
16 Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
Uru gịnị ka ego bara nʼaka onye nzuzu; ebe ọ bụ na o nweghị ike ịchọ amamihe.
17 A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
Ezi enyi na-egosi ịhụnanya ya nʼoge ọbụla. Otu a kwa, nwanne na-aba uru nʼoge mkpa.
18 A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
Ọ bụ uche ezughị oke ịnara ụgwọ onye ọzọ ji, si otu a ghọọ onye ji ụgwọ.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
Onye na-ahụ esemokwu nʼanya hụrụ mmehie nʼanya. Onye na-ewuli ọnụ ụzọ ama ya elu na-akpọ ntipịa oku.
20 He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
Ọ dịghị aga nʼihu bụ onye obi ya gbagọrọ agbagọ. Onye nwere ire nrafu ga-adanye na nsogbu.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
Ọ bụ naanị iru ụjụ na obi ọjọọ dịịrị nna nke nwa ya na-eme ihe nzuzu.
22 A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
Obi nke na-aṅụrị ọṅụ na-eme ka ahụ sie ike, ma mmụọ na-eru ụjụ oge niile na-akpata ọrịa.
23 A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
Onye ajọ omume na-anara ihe ngarị na nzuzo ka ọ sụgharịa ikpe ziri ezi isi.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.
Onye nwere nghọta na-eche uche amamihe nʼihe ọ na-eme, ma anya onye nzuzu na-elegharị ruo na nsọtụ nke ụwa.
25 A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
Nwa dị nzuzu na-ewetara nna ya mwute, bụrụkwa nne mụrụ ya ihe ilu.
26 To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
Ọ bụrụ na ịra onye ezi omume nra adịghị mma, nʼezie, ịpịa ndị ọrụ ihe nʼihi ezi ọrụ ha ezighị ezi.
27 He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
Nwoke ahụ na-adịghị ekwu ọtụtụ okwu bụ onye maara ihe, onye mmụọ ya dịkwa jụụ bụ onye nwere nghọta.
28 Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
A ga-agụ onye nzuzu nʼonye maara ihe ma ọ bụrụ na ha gba nkịtị, gụọkwa ha na ndị nwere nghọta ma ọ bụrụ na ha e jide ire ha.
