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 oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh 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 is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart 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.
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to 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 spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness 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 which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which 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 set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
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 on the earth.
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 whoever breaks through 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.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
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 ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings 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, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
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 a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
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 end of his talk is mischievous 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?
A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 Ọrụ nke ndị nzuzu na-agwụ ya ike, ha makwaghị ụzọ ijeru obodo.
The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know 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 you, land, when your king is a child, and your 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 are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, 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.
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands 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 made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for 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.
Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
