Ilu 22
1 Ihe nhọrọ dị ezi mma ka aha ọma bụ karịa ọtụtụ akụ, ịnata amara ihuọma ka mma karịa ọlaọcha na ọlaedo.
A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.
2 Ma ogbenye ma ọgaranya bụ otu nʼihu Onyenwe anyị onye kere ha niile.
The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 Onye nwere uche na-ahụ nsogbu nke na-abịa nʼihu ma zobe onwe ya, ma onye na-enweghị uche anaghị ele anya, ọ na-adaba nʼime nsogbu ahụ taa ahụhụ so ya.
The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
4 Obi umeala bụ egwu Onyenwe anyị, ụgwọ ọ na-akwụ bụ akụnụba, na nsọpụrụ na ndụ ogologo.
The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
5 Ogwu na igbudu dị nʼụzọ onye na-emebi iwu; ma onye kpọrọ ndụ ya ihe na-asọ ya asọ.
Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.
6 Kuziere nwantakịrị ka ọ họrọ ụzọ ziri ezi, mgbe o tolitere ọ ga-anọgide nʼime ya.
If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.
7 Dịka ọgaranya si achị ogbenye, otu a kwa ka onye na-ebi ego si bụrụ ohu onye na-ebinye ya ego.
The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.
8 Onye na-agha ikpe na-ezighị ezi dịka mkpụrụ, ga-ewe ajọ ihe dịka ihe ubi, mkpanaka nke ikike iwe ha ga-agbajikwa.
By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
9 Onye na-agbasapụ aka enye onyinye ga-abụ onye a gọziri agọzi, nʼihi na ha na ekenyetụ ndị ogbenye nri.
He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Chụpụ onye na-akwa emo, ise okwu ga-akwụsị, e, ịlụ ọgụ na nlelị ga-akwụsịkwa.
Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
11 Onye na-ahụ ịdị ọcha nke obi nʼanya, onye okwu ya jupụtara nʼamara ga-abụ enyi eze.
He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12 Anya Onyenwe anyị na-echebe ihe ọmụma, ma ọ na-emebi atụmatụ niile nke ndị aghụghọ.
The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
13 Onye umengwụ na-asị, “Ọdụm nọ nʼezi! A ga-egbu m nʼama ọha mmadụ!”
The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.
14 Ọnụ nwanyị na-akwa iko bụ oke olulu, nwoke nọ nʼokpuru oke iwe Onyenwe anyị na-adaba nʼime ya.
The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.
15 Obi ụmụntakịrị jupụtara nʼenweghị uche, ma apịpịa ịdọ aka na ntị ga-achụpụ ya nʼebe dị anya.
Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.
16 Onye na-achọ uru site nʼimegbu onye na-enweghị ike, maọbụ onye na-enye ọgaranya onyinye ga-ebi nʼoke ụkọ.
He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.
17 Lezie anya gee ntị nʼokwu niile nke ndị maara ihe, tinye uche gị nʼihe m na-akụzi.
Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
18 Ọ dị ụtọ ma idebe ha nʼobi gị, ma ha dịkwa nʼegbugbere ọnụ gị mgbe niile.
For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
19 Ọ bụ ka ntụkwasị obi gị dị nʼime Onyenwe anyị, ya ka m na-akụziri gị taa, ọbụladị gị onwe gị.
So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
20 Ọ bụ na m edepụtabereghị gị iri ndụmọdụ atọ ndị a, bụ okwu ndụmọdụ na ihe ọmụma?
Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
21 Ha na-ezi gị ihe bụ ikwesi ntụkwasị obi na ikwu eziokwu. Mgbe ahụ ọ bụrụ na-ezie gị sị gị gaa chọta eziokwu ị ga-eji ezi ọsịsa lọghachi.
To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?
22 Emegbula ogbenye nʼihi na ọ bụ ogbenye. Emegidekwala ya nʼụzọ ikpe.
Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:
23 Nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị ga-ekwuchitere ha ọnụ ha ma bibiekwa ndị na-emegide ha.
For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
24 Gị na onye na-ewe oke iwe abụla enyi, gị na onye na-ewe iwe ọsịịsọ emekọkwala ihe,
Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
25 ma ọ bụghị ya, i nwere ike ịmụta ndụ ha, si otu a tinye ndụ gị na nsogbu.
For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
26 Abụla onye otu nʼime ndị na-anara ndị mmadụ akaebe maọbụ kwee nkwa ikwu ụgwọ onye ọzọ ji.
Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
27 Nʼihi na ọ bụrụ na i nweghị ego ị ga-eji kwụọ ụgwọ ahụ, a ga-anapụ gị ọ bụladị ihe ndina gị.
If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
28 Ehigharịla oke ala e tinyere site na mgbe ochie. Nke ndị nna ochie gị ha hiwere.
Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
29 Ị hụrụ mmadụ ahụ nke nwere ǹka nʼịrụ ọrụ ya nke ọma? Ọ ga-eguzo nʼihu ndị eze, ọ gaghị eguzo nʼihu ndị a na-amaghị aha ha.
Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.
