Proverbs 18
1 He who desires to separate himself seeks excuses, and rages against all sound wisdom.
Ɖokuitɔdila dia eɖokui ko tɔ eye meɖoa to nunyanya siwo gblɔm wole la o.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
Bometsila medoa vivi ɖe gɔmesese ŋu o, ke boŋ ekpɔa dzidzɔ le eya ŋutɔ ƒe susuɖegblɔ ŋu.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, and with disgrace, reproach.
Ne vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi va la, vlododo kplɔnɛ ɖo eye ne alɔmeɖeɖe va la, ŋukpe dzea eyome.
4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters. The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
Ame ƒe numenyawo nye tɔ goglo, ke nunya ƒe vudo nye ta si le dzidzim.
5 To respect the person of a wicked man is not good, nor to turn aside a righteous man in judgment.
Menyo be woade ame vɔ̃ɖi dzi alo atrɔ ame maɖifɔ ƒe nya dzɔdzɔe atsyɔ anyi o.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for stripes.
Bometsila ƒe nuyiwo denɛ dzre me eye eƒe nu hea ƒoƒo vaa edzii.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Nu si bometsila ƒe nu gblɔ la, metso eya ŋutɔ gbɔ o, eye eƒe nuyi nye mɔka na eƒe luʋɔ.
8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
Amenyagblɔla ƒe nyawo vivina abe nuɖuɖu vivi si woka de nu me la ene; woyina ɖe ame ƒe dɔgbowo me ke.
9 He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
Ame si wɔa alɔgblɔdɔ le eƒe dɔ ŋuti la nye nugblẽla nɔvi.
10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. A righteous man runs into it, and is safe.
Yehowa ƒe ŋkɔ nye mɔ sesẽ, ame dzɔdzɔewo sina yia eme eye wonɔa dedie.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
Kesinɔtɔwo ƒe kesinɔnuwo nye woƒe du sesẽ eye wobuna be wonye gli kɔkɔ si ame aɖeke mate ŋu aflɔ o.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
Hafi ame aɖe nadze anyi la, dada nɔa eƒe dzi me, ke ɖokuibɔbɔ doa ŋgɔ na bubu.
13 He who gives answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.
Enye bometsitsi kple ŋukpe na ame, be wòaɖo nya ŋu hafi ase nu si gblɔm wole.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?
Ame ƒe gbɔgbɔ lénɛ ɖe te le dɔléle me, ke ame ka ate ŋu atsɔ gbɔgbɔ si gbã gudugudu?
15 The heart of a prudent man gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Sidzela ƒe dzi kpɔa gɔmesese eye nunyala ƒe to dia gɔmesese.
16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Nunana ʋua mɔ na nunala eye wòkplɔnɛ gena ɖe amegã la ƒe ŋkumee.
17 He who pleads his case first seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.
Ame gbãtɔ si to eƒe nya la dzena dzɔdzɔetɔe va se ɖe esime ame aɖe va bia gbee.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease, and decides between the mighty.
Nudzidze tsia dzre nu eye wòtsoa nya me na ame sesẽ siwo le dzre wɔm.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Nɔviŋutsu si dzi wodze agɔ le la sẽ wu du si ŋu woɖo gli sesẽ ɖo eye dzrewɔwɔ le abe fiasã si ƒe agbowo ŋu wode gameti sesẽwoe ene.
20 A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the increase of his lips he shall be satisfied.
Ame ƒe numekutsetse ɖia ƒo nɛ eye nuŋeŋe si doa go tso eƒe nuyiwo me la ana eƒe dzi nadze eme.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it.
Ku kple agbe ƒe ŋusẽ le aɖe si, eye ame siwo lɔ̃e la aɖu eƒe kutsetse.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from Jehovah.
Ame si si srɔ̃nyɔnu su la ke ɖe nu nyui ŋu eye wòxɔa amenuveve tso Yehowa gbɔ.
23 A poor man uses entreaties, but a rich man answers roughly.
Ame dahe ɖea kuku biaa nublanuikpɔkpɔ, ke kesinɔtɔ ya ɖoa nya ŋu adãtɔe.
24 He who makes many friends does it to his own destruction, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Ame si si xɔlɔ̃ geɖe le la ate ŋu awu nu le gbegblẽ me, gake xɔlɔ̃ aɖe li si kuna ɖe ame ŋu wu dadavi gɔ̃ hã.
