Ilu 18
1 Onye ihe mmadụ na-adịghị amasị na-agbaso naanị ọchịchọ nke ya onwe ya, na-alụsokwa ezi nzube niile ọzọ ọgụ.
A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses; but at all times he will be liable to reproach.
2 Nghọta adịghị atọ onye nzuzu ụtọ. Naanị ihe ọ maara bụ ikwu uche ya.
A senseless man feels no need of wisdom, for he is rather led by folly.
3 Mgbe onye ajọ omume na-abata, ka nleda anya na-abata, otu a kwa nkọcha na-eweta ihere.
When an ungodly man comes into a depth of evils, he despises [them]; but dishonor and reproach come upon him.
4 Okwu ọnụ niile bụ mmiri dị omimi, ma amamihe dị ka mmiri iyi na-asọ asọ.
A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.
5 Ọ dịghị mma ime ka ikpe gara onye mere ihe ọjọọ, si otu a gbochie onye aka ya dị ọcha inweta ikpe ziri ezi.
[It is] not good to accept the person of the ungodly, nor [is it] holy to pervert justice in judgment.
6 Egbugbere ọnụ ndị nzuzu na-ebutere ha esemokwu, ọnụ ha na-ebutere ha ihe otiti.
The lips of a fool bring [him] into troubles, and his bold mouth calls for death.
7 Ọnụ onye nzuzu na-etinye ya na nsogbu, egbugbere ọnụ ya bụ ọnya nye mkpụrụobi ya.
A fool's mouth is ruin to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Okwu niile nke onye na-agba asịrị na-ekwu dịka iberibe nri nʼatọ ezi ụtọ, ha na-agbadakwa nʼime ime ala afọ.
Fear casts down the slothful; and the souls of the effeminate shall hunger.
9 Onye dị umengwụ nʼọrụ ya bụ nwanne nke onye mbibi.
A man who helps not himself by his labor is brother of him that ruins himself.
10 Aha Onyenwe anyị bụ ụlọ elu e wusiri ike, ndị ezi omume na-agbaba nʼime ya izere ndụ.
The name of the Lord is of great strength; and the righteous running to it are exalted.
11 Akụ ndị ọgaranya bụrụ ha obodo e wusiri ike, ọ bụkwa mgbidi dị elu nke a na-apụghị ịmafe nʼechiche ha.
The wealth of a rich man is a strong city; and its glory casts a broad shadow.
12 Tupu mmadụ adaa obi ya na-ejupụta na nganga, ma inwe obi umeala na-eweta nsọpụrụ.
Before ruin a man's heart is exalted, and before honor it is humble.
13 Inye ọsịsa okwu tupu mmadụ ege ntị bụ enweghị uche na ihe ihere.
Whoso answers a word before he hears [a cause], it is folly and reproach to him.
14 Ọ bụ mmụọ mmadụ na-akwado ya nʼoge nrịa nrịa, ma mmụọ e tipịara etipịa, onye pụrụ ibuli ya?
A wise servant calms a man's anger; but who can endure a faint-hearted man?
15 Obi onye nwere nghọta na-enweta ihe ọmụma, nʼihi na ntị onye maara ihe na-achọpụta ya.
The heart of the sensible [man] purchases discretion; and the ears of the wise seek understanding.
16 Onyinye mmadụ na-akwara ya ụzọ sara mbara, ọ na-edubakwa ya nʼihu ndị dị elu.
A man's gift enlarges him, and seats him among princes.
17 Nʼikpe onye buru ụzọ kwuo ihe na-ese na-adị ka onye ikpe gaara, tutu ruo mgbe mmadụ bịara bido ịjụ ya ajụjụ.
A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.
18 Ife nza na-akwụsị esemokwu na ndọrọndọrọ dị nʼetiti mmadụ abụọ ndị olu ha na-ala elu.
A silent [man] quells strifes, and determines between great powers.
19 Ọ dị mfe ịlụgbụ obodo karịa ime ka obi nwanne e mehiere tụgharịa. Iwe ya na-adị ike dịka ọnụ ụzọ e jiri igodo tụchie.
A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city; and is [as] strong as a [well]-founded palace.
20 Site na mkpụrụ nke okwu ọnụ mmadụ mịpụtara ka afọ ga-eji ju ya. Sitekwa nʼihe owuwe ubi nke egbugbere ọnụ ha ka ha ga-eji rijuo afọ.
A man fills his belly with the fruits of his mouth; and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.
21 Ike ọnwụ na ndụ dị ire nʼaka. Ndị hụrụ ya nʼanya ga-eri mkpụrụ ya.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue; and they that rule it shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 Nwoke ahụ chọtara nwunye chọtara ezi ihe. Ọ na-anatakwa ihuọma site nʼaka Onyenwe anyị.
He that has found a good wife has found favours, and has received gladness from God. [He that puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.]
23 Onye ogbenye na-arịọ arịrịọ maka ebere; ma ọgaranya na-asa okwu ike ike.
24 Onye nwere ọtụtụ ndị enyi ndị na-ekwesighị ga-abịa nʼịla nʼiyi mgbe na-adịghị anya, ma ọ dị enyi nke na-arapara nso karịa nwanne.
