Ilu 9
1 Amamihe ewuola ụlọ ukwu ya nʼelu ogidi asaa.
Wisdom has built her house; she has prepared its seven pillars.
2 O doziela oriri ya nʼusoro, o gbuola anụ ya, gwaakwa mmanya.
She has slaughtered her animals for meat; she has mixed her wine; and she has set 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 out her servant girls with invitations. She calls out from the highest places of the town,
4 “Bịanụ nʼụlọ m, unu ndị niile na-enweghị uche” Ma nye ndị amamihe kọrọ, ọ na-asị,
“Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
5 “Bịanụ, rie nri m, ṅụọkwa mmanya m gwakọtara.
“Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Hapụnụ ụzọ enweghị uche unu, ka unu were dị ndụ; gbasokwanụ ụzọ mmụọ ịghọta ihe.”
Leave your foolish ways and you will live; follow the path that makes sense.”
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.
If you correct a mocker all you get are insults; if you argue with the wicked all you get is abuse.
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.
So don't argue with mockers or they'll only hate you; argue with the wise and they'll 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.
Educate the wise and they'll become even wiser; teach those who live right and they will increase their learning.
10 Nʼihi na ịtụ egwu Onyenwe anyị bụ mmalite amamihe, inwe ihe ọmụma banyere onye Nsọ ahụ bụkwa nghọta.
Honoring the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; knowledge of the Holy One brings insight.
11 Nʼihi na ọ bụ site na amamihe, ka ụbọchị gị ga-adị ogologo. A ga-etinyekwara gị ọtụtụ afọ na ndụ gị.
Through wisdom you'll have many more days, increasing the years of your life.
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 are wise, you are the one to profit from it; if you scoff, you alone will have to suffer the consequences.
13 Nwanyị dị nzuzu na-eme mkpọtụ, o nweghị uche; ihere adịghịkwa eme ya.
Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant woman who doesn't know anything.
14 Ọ na-anọ ọdụ nʼọnụ ụzọ ụlọ ya, nʼelu oche nʼebe dịkarịsịrị elu nʼobodo,
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the town,
15 na-akpọ ndị na-aga nʼụzọ oku, bụ ndị na-aga mkpa ha,
calling out to those passing by, going about their business,
16 “Ka ndị niile amamihe kọrọ bịa nʼụlọ m.” Ọ na-asịkwa ndị na-enweghị uche,
“Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
17 “Mmiri e zutere nʼohi na-atọ ụtọ, nri e riri na nzuzo na-atọkarịkwa nʼụtọ.”
“Stolen water is sweet, and food eaten in secret tastes good!”
