Ekiliziastis 10
1 Ijiji nwụrụ anwụ ga-eme ka mmanụ isi ụtọ sie isi ọjọọ. Otu a kwa, nzuzu nta pụrụ ime ka amamihe dị ukwuu ghara inwe nsọpụrụ.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 Obi onye maara ihe na-eme ka o mee ihe ziri ezi, ma obi onye nzuzu na-eduba ya na mmehie.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Ị ga-ama onye nzuzu site nʼije ụkwụ ya, nʼihi na o maghị ihe. Ọ bụladị onye ọbụla na-achọpụta onye nzuzu ọsịịsọ.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 Ọ bụrụ na iwe onye ọchịchị ebilie megide gị, ahapụla ọnọdụ gị, nʼihi na mmụọ dị nwayọọ ga-eme ka mmehie ukwu dị iche iche dajụọ.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Ọ dịkwa ihe ọjọọ ọzọ m hụrụ nʼokpuru anyanwụ, dịka njehie nke ndị eze na ndị na-achị achị na-ejehie.
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Ahụrụ m ka ndị nzuzu na-enweta ọkwa dị elu, ma ndị ọgaranya adịghị enweta ọnọdụ ruuru ha.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 Ahụla m ka ohu na-agba ịnyịnya, ma ụmụ eze ji ụkwụ na-aga dịka ụmụ ohu.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 Onye gwuru olulu ga-adaba nʼime ya! Onye na-etida mgbidi ka agwọ ga-atagbu.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Onye na-arụ ọrụ nʼebe a na-awa nkume ka nkume ga-adakwasị. Onye na-awa nkụ nọ nʼize ndụ site na ha.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 Ọ bụrụ na anyụike adịghị nkọ, ọ bụrụkwa na-amụghị ihu ya amụ, a ga-etinye ike karịa, ma ịma eme ihe na-eme ka ihe gazie agazi.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 Ọ bụrụ na agwọ ataa mmadụ tupu e kechie ya ọnụ, ọ dịkwaghị uru ọ bara na e kechiri ya ọnụ.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 Okwu onye maara ihe na-ejupụta nʼamara, ma okwu onye nzuzu na-eduba ya nʼịla nʼiyi
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 Nʼihi na mmalite okwu ya bụ nzuzu, ọgwụgwụ okwu ya bụkwa naanị mmebi iwu na ịyị ara.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 Onye nzuzu na-ekwu ọtụtụ okwu. Ma o nweghị onye ma ihe na-aga ime, onye pụrụ ịgwa ya ihe gaje ime mgbe ọ nwụrụ?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 Ọrụ nke ndị nzuzu na-agwụ ya ike, ha makwaghị ụzọ ijeru obodo.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Ahụhụ ga-adịrị ala nke eze ya bụ nwantakịrị, nke ndị na-achị achị bụ ndị na-akpọ oriri nʼụtụtụ.
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Ngọzị na-adịrị ala ahụ nke eze ya bụ onye a na-asọpụrụ, nke ụmụ eze ya na-eri ihe mgbe o kwesiri nʼihi inweta ike, ọ bụghị maka ịṅụbiga mmanya oke.
Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 Ọ bụ umengwụ na-eme ka ụlọ hie mmiri; ọ bụkwa umengwụ na-eme ka elu ụlọ malite ize eze.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 Ịkpọ oriri na-eweta ọnụ ọchị, mmanya na-enye obi ụtọ, ma ego bụ ọsịsa nye ihe niile.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Akọchala eze, ọ bụladị nʼechiche obi gị; maọbụ bụọ ọgaranya ọnụ nʼime ụlọ ndina gị, nʼihi na anụ ufe nọ nʼelu nwere ike buru okwu gị nwa nnụnụ nwere nku ga-akọ ihe i kwuru.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
