Ilu 9
1 Amamihe ewuola ụlọ ukwu ya nʼelu ogidi asaa.
Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars.
2 O doziela oriri ya nʼusoro, o gbuola anụ ya, gwaakwa mmanya.
She hath slain her victims, mingled 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 hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls of the city:
4 “Bịanụ nʼụlọ m, unu ndị niile na-enweghị uche” Ma nye ndị amamihe kọrọ, ọ na-asị,
Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise she said:
5 “Bịanụ, rie nri m, ṅụọkwa mmanya m gwakọtara.
Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for you.
6 Hapụnụ ụzọ enweghị uche unu, ka unu were dị ndụ; gbasokwanụ ụzọ mmụọ ịghọta ihe.”
Forsake 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.
He that teacheth a scorner, doth an injury to himself: and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot.
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.
Rebuke not a scorner lest he hate thee. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
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.
Give an occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach a just man, and he shall make haste 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 the knowledge of the holy 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 shall thy days be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.
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 thou be wise, thou shalt be so to thyself: and if a scorner, thou alone shalt bear the evil.
13 Nwanyị dị nzuzu na-eme mkpọtụ, o nweghị uche; ihere adịghịkwa eme ya.
A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and knowing nothing at all,
14 Ọ na-anọ ọdụ nʼọnụ ụzọ ụlọ ya, nʼelu oche nʼebe dịkarịsịrị elu nʼobodo,
Sat at the door of her house, upon a seat, in a high place of the city,
15 na-akpọ ndị na-aga nʼụzọ oku, bụ ndị na-aga mkpa ha,
To call them that pass by the way, and go on their journey:
16 “Ka ndị niile amamihe kọrọ bịa nʼụlọ m.” Ọ na-asịkwa ndị na-enweghị uche,
He that is a little one, let him turn to me. And to the fool she said:
17 “Mmiri e zutere nʼohi na-atọ ụtọ, nri e riri na nzuzo na-atọkarịkwa nʼụtọ.”
Stolen waters are sweeter, and hid den bread is more pleasant.
