< Proverbs 28 >
1 The ungodly [man] flees when no one pursues: but the righteous is confident as a lion.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi la léa du tsɔna, evɔ ame aɖeke menyae ɖe du nu o, ke dzi le ame dzɔdzɔe ƒo abe dzata ene.
2 By reason of the sins of ungodly men quarrels arise; but a wise man will quell them.
Dziɖulawo sɔ gbɔ ɖe dukɔ si me aglãdzedze le, ke ŋutsu si si gɔmesese kple sidzedze le la hea ɖoɖodziwɔwɔ vɛ.
3 A bold man oppresses the poor by ungodly deeds. As an impetuous and profitable rain,
Dziɖula si tea hiãtɔwo ɖe anyi la le abe tsidzadza si ɖe anyigba eye megblẽ nuɖuɖu aɖeke ɖi o la ene.
4 so they that forsake the law praise ungodliness; but they that love the law fortify themselves with a wall.
Ame siwo gbe nu le sea gbɔ la kafua ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ke sedziwɔlawo tsia tsitre ɖe wo ŋu.
5 Evil men will not understand judgement: but they that seek the Lord will understand everything.
Ame vɔ̃ɖiwo mesea afiatsotso nyui gɔme o gake ame siwo dia Yehowa ya sea egɔme nyuie.
6 A poor man walking in truth is better than a rich liar.
Enyo be nànye hiãtɔ si ƒe zɔzɔme ŋu fɔɖiɖi mele o, wu nànye kesinɔtɔ si ƒe mɔwo to vo.
7 A wise son keeps the law: but he that keeps up debauchery dishonours his father.
Ame si léa sea me ɖe asi la nye vi nyanu gake ame si dea ha kple nutsuɖulawo la doa ŋukpe fofoa.
8 He that increases his wealth by usuries and [unjust] gains, gathers it for him that pities the poor.
Ame si dzi eƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖe edzi to demegaxɔxɔ me la, le kɔ lim nuwo na ame bubu si anyo dɔ me na ame dahewo.
9 He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even he has made his prayer abominable.
Ne ame aɖe doa toku sea la, eƒe gbedodoɖawo gɔ̃ hã zua ŋunyɔnu.
10 He that causes upright men to err in an evil way, himself shall fall into destruction: transgressor also shall pass by prosperity, but shall not enter into it.
Ame si kplɔ nu dzɔdzɔe wɔla to mɔ vɔ̃ dzi la, age ɖe eya ŋutɔ ƒe mɔ me. Ke ame siwo ŋu fɔɖiɖi mele o la, axɔ domenyinu nyui.
11 A rich man is wise in his own conceit; but an intelligent poor man will condemn him.
Kesinɔtɔ nye nunyala le eya ŋutɔ gbɔ gake hiãtɔ si si sidzedze le la kpɔa egɔme.
12 By reason of the help of righteous men great glory arises: but in the places of the ungodly men are caught.
Ne ame dzɔdzɔe ɖu dzi la, dzidzɔkpɔkpɔ teƒe mekɔna o, ke ne ame vɔ̃ɖi zu fia la, amewo sina bena.
13 He that covers his own ungodliness shall not prosper: but he that blames [himself] shall be loved.
Nu medzea edzi na ame si ɣla eƒe nu vɔ̃ o, ke wokpɔa nublanui na ame si ʋu eƒe nu vɔ̃wo me eye wògbe nu le wo gbɔ.
14 Blessed is the man who religiously fears always: but the hard of heart shall fall into mischiefs.
Woayra ŋutsu si vɔ̃a Yehowa ɣe sia ɣi, ke ame si sẽa eƒe dzi me la gena ɖe xaxa me.
15 A hungry lion and a thirsty wolf [is he], who, being poor, rules over a poor nation.
Ŋutasẽla si le ame dahewo dzi ɖum la le abe dzata si le gbe tem alo sisiblisi si le ade tam ene.
16 A king in need of revenues is a great oppressor: but he that hates injustice shall live a long time.
Dziɖula tamesesẽtɔ menyaa nu o, ke ame si lé fu kesinɔnu ƒoɖi la anɔ agbe didi, ase vivi.
17 He that becomes surety for a man charged with murder shall be an exile, and not in safety. Chasten your son, and he shall love you, and give honour to your soul: he shall not obey a sinful nation.
Hlɔ̃dola si hlɔ̃dodo la zu agba na la anye tsatsala va se ɖe eƒe kugbe; ame aɖeke megakpe ɖe eŋu o.
18 He that walks justly is assisted: but he that walks in crooked ways shall be entangled [therein].
Ame si fɔɖiɖi mele eƒe zɔzɔme ŋu o la anɔ dedie, ke ame si ƒe mɔwo to vo la adze anyi kpata.
19 He that tills his own land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that follows idleness shall have plenty of poverty.
Ame si ŋlɔ eƒe agble la akpɔ nuɖuɖu geɖe, ke ame si ƒe susu le nu manyatalenuwo yome la, ahedada axɔ aƒe nɛ.
20 A man worthy of credit shall be much blessed: but the wicked shall not be unpunished.
Woayra ŋutsu nuteƒewɔla fũu, ke womagbe tohehe na ame si tsi dzi ɖe kesinɔnuwo kpɔkpɔ ŋuti o.
21 He that reverences not the persons of the just is not good: such a one will sell a man for a morsel of bread.
Amedzidede menyo o gake ame ayi aɖawɔ vɔ̃ ɖe abolo kakɛ ta.
22 An envious man makes haste to be rich, and knows not that the merciful man will have the mastery over him.
Ŋutsu nuvela tsi dzi ɖe hotsuikpɔkpɔ ŋu, evɔ mehenya be ahedada le ye lalam o.
23 He that reproves a man's ways shall have more favour than he that flatters with the tongue.
Ame si ka mo na ŋutsu la, axɔ amenuveve ɖe amenuveve dzi wu ame si alakpaɖe le nume na.
24 He that casts off father or mother, and thinks he sins not; the same is partaker with an ungodly man.
Ame si da adzo fofoa alo dadaa hegblɔ be, “Medze vɔ̃ o” la, nye kpeɖeŋutɔ na nugblẽla.
25 An unbelieving man judges rashly: but he that trusts in the Lord will act carefully.
Ŋutsu ŋubiala hea mama vɛ ke ame si ɖoa dzi ɖe Yehowa ŋu la, nu adze edzi nɛ.
26 He that trusts to a bold heart, such an one is a fool: but he that walks in wisdom shall be safe.
Ame si ɖoa dzi ɖe eɖokui ŋu la, bometsilae, ke ame si zɔna le nunya me la anɔ dedie.
27 He that gives to the poor shall not be in lack: but he that turns away his eye [from him] shall be in great distress.
Ame si naa nu hiãtɔ la, naneke mahiãe o, ke ame si miaa ŋku ɖe woƒe hiahiãwo dzi la, axɔ fiƒode geɖe.
28 In the places of ungodly [men] the righteous mourn: but in their destruction the righteous shall be multiplied.
Ne tamesesẽtɔ zu dziɖula la, amewo sina bena, ke ne ame vɔ̃ɖiwo tsrɔ̃ la, ame dzɔdzɔewo tsina.