Ilu 17
1 Ọ ka mma ịta iberibe achịcha kpọrọ nkụ ma ịnọ nʼudo adị ya, karịa nʼụlọ jupụtara nʼoke oriri na ịlụ ọgụ.
A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict.
2 Ohu nwere uche ga-achị nwa nna ya ukwu na-eweta ihere ma ketakwa oke nʼihe nketa dịka otu nʼime ndị ezinaụlọ ahụ.
A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and he will divide the inheritance among brothers.
3 Ite eji anụcha ihe dịrị ọlaọcha, oke ọkụ dịkwara ọlaedo ma Onyenwe anyị na-anwale obi.
Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.
4 Ajọ mmadụ na-aṅa ntị nʼegbugbere ọnụ na-eduhie, onye ụgha na-aṅakwa ntị nye ire na-ekwu okwu ịla nʼiyi.
The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.
5 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.
Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.
6 Ụmụ ụmụ bụ okpueze ndị okenye. Nne na nna bụ ịnya isi nke ụmụ ha.
Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 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.
Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.
8 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.
The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.
9 Onye ọbụla na-akwado ịhụnanya na-ekpuchi njehie, ma onye na-ekwu ihe mere mgbe na mgbe na-ekewa ezi enyi.
Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.
10 Ịba mba ntakịrị a baara onye nwere nghọta bara uru karịa narị ụtarị nke a pịara onye nzuzu.
A correction benefits more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 Onye ọjọọ na-ebi naanị ndụ nnupu isi megide Chineke. Ọ bụkwa onyeozi nke ọnwụ ka a ga-eziga imegide ya.
The evil one continually seeks conflicts. But a cruel Angel shall be sent against him.
12 Ọ ka mma izute nne Bịa a napụrụ ụmụ ya karịa izute onye nzuzu uche ya gbagọrọ agbagọ.
It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly.
13 Ọ bụrụ na i jiri ihe ọjọọ kwụọ ụgwọ ihe ọma, ọbụbụ ọnụ dịrị ezinaụlọ gị.
Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.
14 Esemokwu malite ọ na-esi ike imedo ya, nʼihi ya ekwela ka ọ malite.
Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.
15 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.
Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.
16 Uru gịnị ka ego bara nʼaka onye nzuzu; ebe ọ bụ na o nweghị ike ịchọ amamihe.
What does it profit the foolish to have riches, when he is not able to buy wisdom? Whoever makes his house high seeks ruin. And whoever shuns learning shall fall into evils.
17 Ezi enyi na-egosi ịhụnanya ya nʼoge ọbụla. Otu a kwa, nwanne na-aba uru nʼoge mkpa.
Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.
18 Ọ bụ uche ezughị oke ịnara ụgwọ onye ọzọ ji, si otu a ghọọ onye ji ụgwọ.
A foolish man will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.
19 Onye na-ahụ esemokwu nʼanya hụrụ mmehie nʼanya. Onye na-ewuli ọnụ ụzọ ama ya elu na-akpọ ntipịa oku.
Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.
20 Ọ dịghị aga nʼihu bụ onye obi ya gbagọrọ agbagọ. Onye nwere ire nrafu ga-adanye na nsogbu.
Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns his tongue shall fall into evil.
21 Ọ bụ naanị iru ụjụ na obi ọjọọ dịịrị nna nke nwa ya na-eme ihe nzuzu.
A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.
22 Obi nke na-aṅụrị ọṅụ na-eme ka ahụ sie ike, ma mmụọ na-eru ụjụ oge niile na-akpata ọrịa.
A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.
23 Onye ajọ omume na-anara ihe ngarị na nzuzo ka ọ sụgharịa ikpe ziri ezi isi.
The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 Onye nwere nghọta na-eche uche amamihe nʼihe ọ na-eme, ma anya onye nzuzu na-elegharị ruo na nsọtụ nke ụwa.
Prudence shines from the face of the wise. The eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 Nwa dị nzuzu na-ewetara nna ya mwute, bụrụkwa nne mụrụ ya ihe ilu.
A foolish son is the anger of the father and the grief of the mother who conceived him.
26 Ọ bụrụ na ịra onye ezi omume nra adịghị mma, nʼezie, ịpịa ndị ọrụ ihe nʼihi ezi ọrụ ha ezighị ezi.
It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.
27 Nwoke ahụ na-adịghị ekwu ọtụtụ okwu bụ onye maara ihe, onye mmụọ ya dịkwa jụụ bụ onye nwere nghọta.
Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has a precious spirit.
28 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.
If he would remain silent, even the foolish would be considered wise, and if he closes his lips, intelligent.
