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 desirable than great riches, and loving favour is better than silver and gold.
2 Ma ogbenye ma ọgaranya bụ otu nʼihu Onyenwe anyị onye kere ha niile.
The rich and the poor have this in common: 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.
A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 Obi umeala bụ egwu Onyenwe anyị, ụgwọ ọ na-akwụ bụ akụnụba, na nsọpụrụ na ndụ ogologo.
The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, 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 snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever guards his soul stays far from them.
6 Kuziere nwantakịrị ka ọ họrọ ụzọ ziri ezi, mgbe o tolitere ọ ga-anọgide nʼime ya.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart 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 rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Onye na-agha ikpe na-ezighị ezi dịka mkpụrụ, ga-ewe ajọ ihe dịka ihe ubi, mkpanaka nke ikike iwe ha ga-agbajikwa.
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 Onye na-agbasapụ aka enye onyinye ga-abụ onye a gọziri agọzi, nʼihi na ha na ekenyetụ ndị ogbenye nri.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
10 Chụpụ onye na-akwa emo, ise okwu ga-akwụsị, e, ịlụ ọgụ na nlelị ga-akwụsịkwa.
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 Onye na-ahụ ịdị ọcha nke obi nʼanya, onye okwu ya jupụtara nʼamara ga-abụ enyi eze.
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
12 Anya Onyenwe anyị na-echebe ihe ọmụma, ma ọ na-emebi atụmatụ niile nke ndị aghụghọ.
The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 Onye umengwụ na-asị, “Ọdụm nọ nʼezi! A ga-egbu m nʼama ọha mmadụ!”
The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed 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 an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.
15 Obi ụmụntakịrị jupụtara nʼenweghị uche, ma apịpịa ịdọ aka na ntị ga-achụpụ ya nʼebe dị anya.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Onye na-achọ uru site nʼimegbu onye na-enweghị ike, maọbụ onye na-enye ọgaranya onyinye ga-ebi nʼoke ụkọ.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Lezie anya gee ntị nʼokwu niile nke ndị maara ihe, tinye uche gị nʼihe m na-akụzi.
Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
18 Ọ dị ụtọ ma idebe ha nʼobi gị, ma ha dịkwa nʼegbugbere ọnụ gị mgbe niile.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are 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.
I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the LORD.
20 Ọ bụ na m edepụtabereghị gị iri ndụmọdụ atọ ndị a, bụ okwu ndụmọdụ na ihe ọmụma?
Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel 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 teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
22 Emegbula ogbenye nʼihi na ọ bụ ogbenye. Emegidekwala ya nʼụzọ ikpe.
Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
23 Nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị ga-ekwuchitere ha ọnụ ha ma bibiekwa ndị na-emegide ha.
for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 Gị na onye na-ewe oke iwe abụla enyi, gị na onye na-ewe iwe ọsịịsọ emekọkwala ihe,
Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbours anger,
25 ma ọ bụghị ya, i nwere ike ịmụta ndụ ha, si otu a tinye ndụ gị na nsogbu.
lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
26 Abụla onye otu nʼime ndị na-anara ndị mmadụ akaebe maọbụ kwee nkwa ikwu ụgwọ onye ọzọ ji.
Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral 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 don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Ehigharịla oke ala e tinyere site na mgbe ochie. Nke ndị nna ochie gị ha hiwere.
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.
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.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
