Ilu 2
1 Nwa m, ọ bụrụ na ị nabata okwu ọnụ m niile zobekwa iwu m niile nʼime obi gị,
My son, if thou wouldst but accept my words, and treasure up my commandments with thee;
2 tọọ ntị gị nʼala nye amamihe, wepụta obi gị inwe nghọta.
To let thy ear listen unto wisdom: [if] thou wouldst incline thy heart to understanding.
3 E, ọ bụrụ na ọ bụ ihe ọmụma ka ị na-akpọku, ọ bụrụkwa na ọ bụ nghọta ka ị na-eweliri olu gị,
For if thou wilt call after intelligence; if after understanding thou wilt lift up thy voice;
4 ọ bụrụ na ị na-achọ ya dịka i si achọ ọlaọcha maọbụ akụ nke zoro ezo,
If thou wilt seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:
5 mgbe ahụ, ị ga-aghọtakwa ihe bụ ịtụ egwu Onyenwe anyị chọtakwa ihe ọmụma nke Chineke.
Then wilt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of God wilt thou find.
6 Nʼihi na ọ bụ Onyenwe anyị na-enye amamihe; nʼebe ọ nọ ka nghọta na ihe ọmụma na-esi abịa.
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [come] knowledge and understanding.
7 Ọ na-edebere ndị ụzọ ha ziri ezi nzube ọganihu, ọ bụ ọta nye ndị na-eje ije nʼizuoke.
He treasureth up sound wisdom for the righteous, as a shield to those that walk in integrity:
8 Ọ na-echebekwa ụzọ nke ndị na-eme ezi ihe na-agbaso, na-elekọtakwa ụzọ nke ndị hụrụ ya nʼanya na-agbaso.
That men may keep the paths of justice; and the way of his pious servants doth he guard.
9 Mgbe ahụ ka ị ga-aghọta ihe ziri ezi na ihe dị mma na ezi ụzọ niile.
Then wilt thou understand righteousness, and justice, and equity: yea, every track of goodness.
10 Nʼihi na amamihe ga-enwe ọnọdụ nʼime obi gị, ihe ọmụma ga-adịkwa mkpụrụobi gị ụtọ.
For wisdom will enter thy heart, and knowledge will be pleasant unto thy soul;
11 Izuzu zuruoke ga-echebe gị, nghọta ga na-eche gị nche.
Discretion will watch over thee, understanding will keep thee;
12 Amamihe ga-azọpụta gị site nʼụzọ ndị mmehie, sitekwa na mmadụ ndị okwu ha jọrọ njọ,
To deliver thee from the way of the bad, from the man that speaketh perverse things;
13 ndị hapụrụ ụzọ niile ziri ezi nke Chineke na-agbaso ụzọ niile nke ọchịchịrị,
[From those] who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
14 ndị na-aṅụrị ọṅụ nʼihe ọjọọ, nʼihi na mmehie ha na-atọ ha ụtọ.
Who rejoice to do evil, who are delighted in the perverseness of the bad;
15 Ihe ọbụla ha na-eme gbagọrọ agbagọ, jọọkwa njọ.
Who as regardeth their paths are crooked, and froward in their tracks.
16 Ọ bụ naanị amamihe ga-anapụta gị nʼaka nwanyị akwụna, na nwanyị na-abụghị nwunye gị nke na-ekwu okwu nrafu.
To deliver thee from the adulteress, from the alien woman that useth flattering speeches;
17 Onye na-ahapụ di ọ lụrụ nʼagbọghọ, nke chefuru ọgbụgba ndụ ọ gbara nʼihu Chineke.
That forsaketh the friend of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
18 Ụlọ nwanyị dị otu a dị nʼokporoụzọ nke na-eduba nʼọnwụ na nʼọkụ ala mmụọ. (questioned)
For she sinketh unto death—her house, and unto the departed [lead] her tracks.
19 Ndị ikom niile banyere nʼụlọ ha na-ala nʼiyi. Ha adịghị alọtakwa nʼokporoụzọ nke na-eduba na ndụ.
All that come unto her return not again, and they will not reach the paths of life.
20 Nʼihi nke a, ị ga-aga ije nʼụzọ ndị ezi omume, debekwa ụkwụ gị nʼokporoụzọ niile nke ndị ezi omume,
In order that thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and observe the paths of the righteous.
21 nʼihi na ọ bụ naanị ndị ziri ezi ga-ebi nʼala ahụ, ndị na-enweghị ịta ụta ga-afọdụkwa nʼime ya.
For the upright will dwell on the earth, and the perfect will be left remaining on it.
22 Ma ndị na-emebi iwu ka a ga-ebipụ site nʼala ahụ, ọ bụkwa ndị na-ekwesighị ntụkwasị obi ka a ga-ewezuga na ya.
But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous shall be plucked up therefrom.
