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.
Dead flies cause the precious oil of the apothecary to become stinking and foaming; so doth a little folly him that is valued for 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.
The heart of a wise man is at his right hand; but the heart of a fool is at his 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.
Yea also, on whatever way the fool walketh, doth he lack proper sense, and he saith to all 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 spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for submissiveness causeth great offences to be avoided.
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 which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Ahụrụ m ka ndị nzuzu na-enweta ọkwa dị elu, ma ndị ọgaranya adịghị enweta ọnọdụ ruuru ha.
Folly is set in great high places, and the rich sit in lowness.
7 Ahụla m ka ohu na-agba ịnyịnya, ma ụmụ eze ji ụkwụ na-aga dịka ụmụ ohu.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants upon the ground.—
8 Onye gwuru olulu ga-adaba nʼime ya! Onye na-etida mgbidi ka agwọ ga-atagbu.
He that diggeth a pit will fall into it; and him who breaketh down a fence—a serpent will bite him.
9 Onye na-arụ ọrụ nʼebe a na-awa nkume ka nkume ga-adakwasị. Onye na-awa nkụ nọ nʼize ndụ site na ha.
Whoso removeth stones will be hurt through them; and he that cleaveth wood will be endangered thereby.
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 iron be blunt, and man do not whet the edge, then must he exert more strength; but the advantage of making it properly sharp is wisdom.
11 Ọ bụrụ na agwọ ataa mmadụ tupu e kechie ya ọnụ, ọ dịkwaghị uru ọ bara na e kechiri ya ọnụ.
If the serpent do bite because no one uttered a charm, then hath the man that can use his tongue [in charming] no preference.—
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 [bring] grace; but the lips of a fool will destroy himself.
13 Nʼihi na mmalite okwu ya bụ nzuzu, ọgwụgwụ okwu ya bụkwa naanị mmebi iwu na ịyị ara.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the last that cometh out of his mouth is evil-bringing 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?
The fool also multiplieth words; [but] a man cannot know what is to be; and what is to be after him, who can tell him?
15 Ọrụ nke ndị nzuzu na-agwụ ya ike, ha makwaghị ụzọ ijeru obodo.
The toil of the foolish will weary every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go 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 thee, O land, when thy king is lowminded, and when thy princes eat 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.
Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is noble-spirited, and thy princes eat in proper time, for strengthening, and not for gluttony!—
18 Ọ bụ umengwụ na-eme ka ụlọ hie mmiri; ọ bụkwa umengwụ na-eme ka elu ụlọ malite ize eze.
Through slothful hands the rafters will sink; and through idleness of the hands the house will become leaky.
19 Ịkpọ oriri na-eweta ọnụ ọchị, mmanya na-enye obi ụtọ, ma ego bụ ọsịsa nye ihe niile.
For gay pleasure they prepare a feast, and wine is to make the living joyful; but money procureth all things.
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.
Even in thy thought thou must not curse a king; and in thy bed-chambers do not curse the rich; for a bird of the air can carry the sound, and that which hath wings can tell the word.
