Ilu 9
1 Amamihe ewuola ụlọ ukwu ya nʼelu ogidi asaa.
Wisdom has built a house for herself. She has hewn seven columns.
2 O doziela oriri ya nʼusoro, o gbuola anụ ya, gwaakwa mmanya.
She has immolated her victims. She has mixed her wine and set forth her table.
3 O zipụkwala ndị ozi ya ka ha gaa kpọọ mmadụ niile, site nʼebe dị elu nke obodo ka ha nọ na-akpọ oku na-asị,
She has sent her maids to call out to the tower and to the fortified walls of the city,
4 “Bịanụ nʼụlọ m, unu ndị niile na-enweghị uche” Ma nye ndị amamihe kọrọ, ọ na-asị,
“If anyone is little, let him come to me.” And to the unwise, she has said:
5 “Bịanụ, rie nri m, ṅụọkwa mmanya m gwakọtara.
“Approach. Eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed for you.
6 Hapụnụ ụzọ enweghị uche unu, ka unu were dị ndụ; gbasokwanụ ụzọ mmụọ ịghọta ihe.”
Leave behind childishness. And live and walk by the ways of prudence.”
7 Onye ọbụla na-adọ onye na-akwa emo aka na ntị na-ewetara onwe ya nlelị; onye na-abara mmadụ ọjọọ mba na-enweta nkọcha.
Whoever teaches a mocker causes injury to himself. And whoever argues with the impious produces a blemish on himself.
8 Abarala ndị na-akwa emo mba, ma ọ bụghị ya, ha ga-akpọ gị asị; baara ndị maara ihe mba, ha ga-ahụ gị nʼanya.
Do not be willing to argue with a mocker, lest he hate you. Dispute with the wise, and he will love you.
9 Kuziere onye maara ihe ihe o kwesiri ịmụta, ọ ga-ama ihe karịa, kuziere onye ziri ezi ihe ọ ga-atụkwasị ihe ọ mụtara nʼamamihe ya.
Present an opportunity to the wise, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach the just, and he will hurry to receive it.
10 Nʼihi na ịtụ egwu Onyenwe anyị bụ mmalite amamihe, inwe ihe ọmụma banyere onye Nsọ ahụ bụkwa nghọta.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of holiness is prudence.
11 Nʼihi na ọ bụ site na amamihe, ka ụbọchị gị ga-adị ogologo. A ga-etinyekwara gị ọtụtụ afọ na ndụ gị.
For by me, your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you.
12 Ị bụrụ onye nwere amamihe, amamihe gị ga-abara gị uru, ma ị bụrụ onye na-akwa emo, naanị gị ga-ata ahụhụ ya.
If you would be wise, you will be so for yourself. But if you would be one who ridicules, you alone shall carry the evil.
13 Nwanyị dị nzuzu na-eme mkpọtụ, o nweghị uche; ihere adịghịkwa eme ya.
A foolish and loud woman, who is full of enticements and who knows nothing at all,
14 Ọ na-anọ ọdụ nʼọnụ ụzọ ụlọ ya, nʼelu oche nʼebe dịkarịsịrị elu nʼobodo,
sat at the entrance of her house on a seat, in a high place of the city,
15 na-akpọ ndị na-aga nʼụzọ oku, bụ ndị na-aga mkpa ha,
so as to call to those who were passing by the way and continuing on their journey:
16 “Ka ndị niile amamihe kọrọ bịa nʼụlọ m.” Ọ na-asịkwa ndị na-enweghị uche,
“Whoever is little, let him turn aside to me.” And to the frenzied, she said,
17 “Mmiri e zutere nʼohi na-atọ ụtọ, nri e riri na nzuzo na-atọkarịkwa nʼụtọ.”
“Stolen waters are more soothing, and secret bread is more pleasant.”
