Ilu 21
1 Iyi dị iche iche nke jupụtara na mmiri ka obi eze bụ nʼaka Onyenwe anyị, nke ọ na-ahazi nʼụzọ ọbụla dị ya mma.
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
2 Ọrụ niile bụ ihe ziri ezi nʼanya onye na-arụ ya, ma Onyenwe anyị bụ onye na-eleba anya nʼechiche obi anyị niile.
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 Ime ezi omume na ihe ziri ezi ka Onyenwe anyị na-anabata karịa ịchụ aja.
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Nganga na mpako na agụụ ihe ọjọọ nke bụ ọrụ ndị ajọ omume, bụ mmehie.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
5 Echiche niile nke onye na-arụsị ọrụ ike na-eweta uru, dịka echiche onye ome ngwangwa na-enweta naanị ụkọ.
The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6 Uru niile enwetara nʼụzọ na-ezighị ezi adịghị adịgide, ha bụ nkuume ifufe na-efesa, ndị na-achọ ya na-achọ ọnwụ.
Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
7 Nʼihi na ndị na-emebi iwu anaghị eme ihe ọma, ihe ọjọọ ha na-eme na-alaghachi laa ha nʼiyi.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
8 Ụzọ onye na-emebi iwu bụ ihe gbagọrọ agbagọ, ma omume onye aka ya dị ọcha ziri ezi.
The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Ọ ka mma ibi nʼotu akụkụ elu ụlọ karịa ibinyere nwanyị na-ese okwu.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Ihe na-atọ onye ọjọọ ụtọ bụ imerụ ndị ọzọ ahụ; ọ maghị imere mmadụ ibe ya ebere.
The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 Mgbe a na-ata onye na-akwa emo ahụhụ, onye na-enweghị uche na-enweta amamihe, ma mgbe a na-akụziri onye maara ihe ihe ọ na-enweta ihe ọmụma.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
12 Onye ezi omume na-amụta ihe site nʼile ụlọ onye ajọ omume anya na-emekwa ka ndị ajọ omume laa nʼiyi.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Onye na-adịghị ege ntị na mkpu onye ogbenye, ya onwe ya ga-akpọkwa mkpu ma agaghị aza ya.
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
14 Onyinye enyere na nzuzo na-eme ka iwe dajụọ, otu a kwa, ngarị ezonyere nʼime uwe na-eme ka oke ọnụma dajụọ.
A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
15 Onye ezi omume na-aṅụrị ọṅụ mgbe e kpere ikpe ziri ezi, ma bụrụ ihe oke egwu dịrị ndị na-eme ajọ ihe.
Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 Onye ọbụla si nʼụzọ nghọta wezuga onwe ya ga-eso nʼotu ndị nwụrụ anwụ.
The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Nwoke hụrụ ibi ndụ nganga nʼanya na-ada ụkpa; ịṅụ mmanya na oke oriri abụghị ụzọ esi akpata akụ.
He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18 Onye ajọ omume ga-abụ ihe mgbapụta maka onye ezi omume, onye aghụghọ ga-abụkwa ihe mgbapụta maka onye ndụ ya ziri ezi.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
19 Ọ ka mma ibi nʼọzara karịa ibinyere nwanyị na-atamu ntamu na-esekwa okwu.
Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
20 Onye maara ihe na-edebe ezi ihe oriri na mmanụ oliv nʼụlọ ya, ma onye nzuzu na-eloda ihe niile nʼọnụ ya.
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
21 Onye na-achụso ezi omume na ịhụnanya ga-achọta ndụ, na ugwu na ọganihu.
He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Onye maara ihe nwere ike megide obodo ndị dike, kwatuokwa ebe ewusiri ike nke ha tụkwasịrị obi ha.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 Onye na-echekwa ire ya na ọnụ ya na-egbochiri onwe ya ọdachi.
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
24 Onye nganga na onye mpako, onye na-akwa emo bụ aha ya. Ọ na-eji oke nganga eme ihe niile.
Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
25 Oke ọchịchọ nke onye umengwụ na-ewetara ya ọnwụ nʼihi na ọ jụrụ ịrụ ọrụ.
The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
26 Kwa ụbọchị ka ọ na-achọ inwe karịa, ma onye ezi omume na-enye na-akpaghị oke.
All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
27 Chineke kpọrọ aja ndị na-emebi iwu asị, nke ka nke, ma ọ bụrụ na ha na-enye onyinye a site na nzube ọjọọ.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
28 Onyeama ụgha ga-ala nʼiyi, ma onye ọbụla na-ege ya ntị ka a ga-ebibi ruo ebighị ebi.
A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
29 Ndị ajọ omume na-ebi ndụ atụghị egwu, ma ndị omume ha ziri ezi na-atụgharị uche nʼụzọ ha niile.
A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
30 O nweghị amamihe dị, o nweghị nghọta dị, o nwekwaghị atụmatụ ọbụla, nke pụrụ iguzosi ike megide Onyenwe anyị.
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
31 E nwere ike jikere ịnyịnya, kwadokwaa maka agha, maọbụ naanị Onyenwe anyị na-enye mmeri.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
