Abụ Ọma 127

1 Abụ nrigo, nke Solomọn. Ọ bụrụ na Onyenwe anyị ewughị ụlọ, ndị na-ewu ya na-adọgbu onwe ha nʼọrụ nʼefu. Ọ bụrụ na Onyenwe anyị echeghị obodo, nʼefu ka ndị nche na-amụ anya.

If people are building a house without [knowing whether] it is Yahweh’s [will to build it], they are building it in vain. [Similarly], if Yahweh does not protect a city, it is useless for guards/sentries to stay awake [to tell people if their enemies come to attack it].

2 Ọ bụ nʼefu ka ị na-ebili nʼisi ụtụtụ na-adọgbu onwe gị nʼọrụ ịchọta ihe ị ga-eri ruo nʼabalị, nʼihi na ọ na-eme ka ndị niile ọ hụrụ nʼanya hie ụra nʼudo.

It is [also] useless to arise very early and go to sleep late at night in order that you can work hard [all day] to [earn money to buy] food, because Yahweh gives food to those whom he loves.

3 Ụmụntakịrị bụ ihe nketa si nʼaka Onyenwe anyị, ụmụntakịrị bụ ụgwọ ọrụ ọ na-enye.

Children are a gift [that comes to parents] from Yahweh; they are a reward/blessing from him.

4 Dịka àkụ nʼaka dike nʼagha, otu a, ka ụmụ a mụtaara na mgbe okorobịa dị.

If a man has sons while he is still young, [when they grow up, they will be able to help him defend his family] like [SIM] a soldier [can defend himself if] he has [a bow and] arrows in his hand.

5 Onye a gọziri agọzi ka nwoke ahụ bụ onye kpojuru àkụ ndị a nʼakpa àkụ ya. Ihere agaghị eme ha mgbe ha na ndị iro na-arụrịta ụka nʼama.

A man [who has many sons] is [very] happy, like [MET] [a soldier who has many arrows] in his quiver is very happy. If a man [with his many grown sons is taken] by his enemies to the place where they decide matters, his enemies will never be able to defeat that man, [because his sons will help to defend him].