Ilu 17
1 Ọ ka mma ịta iberibe achịcha kpọrọ nkụ ma ịnọ nʼudo adị ya, karịa nʼụlọ jupụtara nʼoke oriri na ịlụ ọgụ.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting [with] strife.
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 a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Ite eji anụcha ihe dịrị ọlaọcha, oke ọkụ dịkwara ọlaedo ma Onyenwe anyị na-anwale obi.
The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the 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-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
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.
Whoso mocketh a poor [man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.
6 Ụmụ ụmụ bụ okpueze ndị okenye. Nne na nna bụ ịnya isi nke ụmụ ha.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are 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.
Excellent speech becometh not a vile [man]; how much less do lying lips a noble!
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.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.
9 Onye ọbụla na-akwado ịhụnanya na-ekpuchi njehie, ma onye na-ekwu ihe mere mgbe na mgbe na-ekewa ezi enyi.
He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.
10 Ịba mba ntakịrị a baara onye nwere nghọta bara uru karịa narị ụtarị nke a pịara onye nzuzu.
A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Onye ọjọọ na-ebi naanị ndụ nnupu isi megide Chineke. Ọ bụkwa onyeozi nke ọnwụ ka a ga-eziga imegide ya.
An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Ọ ka mma izute nne Bịa a napụrụ ụmụ ya karịa izute onye nzuzu uche ya gbagọrọ agbagọ.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Ọ bụrụ na i jiri ihe ọjọọ kwụọ ụgwọ ihe ọma, ọbụbụ ọnụ dịrị ezinaụlọ gị.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Esemokwu malite ọ na-esi ike imedo ya, nʼihi ya ekwela ka ọ malite.
The beginning of contention is [as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.
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.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.
16 Uru gịnị ka ego bara nʼaka onye nzuzu; ebe ọ bụ na o nweghị ike ịchọ amamihe.
To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?
17 Ezi enyi na-egosi ịhụnanya ya nʼoge ọbụla. Otu a kwa, nwanne na-aba uru nʼoge mkpa.
The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 Ọ bụ uche ezughị oke ịnara ụgwọ onye ọzọ ji, si otu a ghọọ onye ji ụgwọ.
A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.
19 Onye na-ahụ esemokwu nʼanya hụrụ mmehie nʼanya. Onye na-ewuli ọnụ ụzọ ama ya elu na-akpọ ntipịa oku.
He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.
20 Ọ dịghị aga nʼihu bụ onye obi ya gbagọrọ agbagọ. Onye nwere ire nrafu ga-adanye na nsogbu.
He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.
21 Ọ bụ naanị iru ụjụ na obi ọjọọ dịịrị nna nke nwa ya na-eme ihe nzuzu.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy.
22 Obi nke na-aṅụrị ọṅụ na-eme ka ahụ sie ike, ma mmụọ na-eru ụjụ oge niile na-akpata ọrịa.
A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Onye ajọ omume na-anara ihe ngarị na nzuzo ka ọ sụgharịa ikpe ziri ezi isi.
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, to 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.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 Nwa dị nzuzu na-ewetara nna ya mwute, bụrụkwa nne mụrụ ya ihe ilu.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Ọ bụrụ na ịra onye ezi omume nra adịghị mma, nʼezie, ịpịa ndị ọrụ ihe nʼihi ezi ọrụ ha ezighị ezi.
To punish a righteous [man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [their] uprightness.
27 Nwoke ahụ na-adịghị ekwu ọtụtụ okwu bụ onye maara ihe, onye mmụọ ya dịkwa jụụ bụ onye nwere nghọta.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool 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.
Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.
