Proverbs 22
1 A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.
Ŋkɔ nyui didi nyo wu kesinɔnuwo eye ŋudzedzekpɔkpɔ nyo wu klosalo kple sika.
2 The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.
Nu ɖeka siae nàkpɔ le kesinɔtɔ kple ame dahe ŋu: Yehowae nye wo katã Wɔla.
3 The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.
Nunyala kpɔ dzɔgbevɔ̃e gbɔna eye wòɣla eɖokui gake bometsila ya yiyim ko wòle eye wòkpea fu ɖe enu.
4 The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
Ɖokuibɔbɔ kple Yehowavɔvɔ̃ hea kesinɔnu, bubu kple agbe vɛ.
5 Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.
Ŋu kple mɔkawo le ame vɔ̃ɖi la ƒe mɔ dzi, ke ame si dzɔ eƒe luʋɔ ŋuti la, ate ɖa xaa tso wo gbɔ.
6 The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.
He ɖevi ɖe mɔ si wòato la dzi eye ne etsi la, mate ɖa le edzi o.
7 The rich rule over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender.
Kesinɔtɔwo ɖua gã ɖe ame dahewo dzi eye nugbanadola zua dɔla na ame si do nugbana la nɛ.
8 Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
Ame si ƒã vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi la axa dzɔgbevɔ̃e, eye woatsrɔ eƒe dɔmedzoe ƒe ameƒoti.
9 Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.
Woayra ame si nyoa dɔ me na amewo elabena emaa eƒe nuɖuɖu kple ame dahewo.
10 Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.
Nya fewuɖula la do goe eye dzre hã ado go, nenema ke nyahehe kple dzudzu hã awu nu.
11 Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
Ame si lɔ̃ dzi dzadzɛ kple nuƒoƒo si me nya dzetowo le la, eyae fia la adze xɔ̃e.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.
Yehowa ƒe ŋkuwo le nugɔmesese ŋu, ke etrɔa gbo nuteƒemawɔlawo ƒe nyawo.
13 The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.”
Kuviatɔ gblɔna be, “Dzata le gota!” alo “Woava wum le ablɔ dzi!”
14 The mouth of a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it.
Nyɔnu ahasitɔ ƒe nu la, ʋe globo wònye eye ame si dzi Yehowa ƒe dziku le la eyae age adze eme.
15 Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
Wobla bometsitsi ɖe ɖevi ƒe dzi ŋu, ke ɖɔɖɔɖo ƒe ameƒoti ana wòate ɖa xaa tso egbɔ.
16 Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need.
Ame si tea ame dahewo ɖe anyi be yeadzi yeƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖe edzi kple ame si naa nu kesinɔtɔ la siaa age ɖe hiã me.
17 Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
Ƒu to anyi eye nàse nunyalawo ƒe nyawo, na wò dzi naku ɖe nu si fiam mele ŋuti,
18 It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,
elabena edoa dzidzɔ na ame ne èɣla wo ɖe wò dzi me, eye wo katã nanɔ klalo le wò nuyiwo dzi.
19 so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.
Ale be nàɖo dzi ɖe Yehowa ŋu, esia ta mele nu fiam wò ɖo egbea, ɛ̃, wòe mele nu fiam.
20 Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,
Ɖe nyemeŋlɔ nufiamenya blaetɔ̃ na wò, aɖaŋuɖonyawo kple nugɔmesenyawo
21 so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to those who sent you.
be woafia nyateƒe kple kakaɖedzinyawo wò be nàtsɔ nunyanyawo aɖo nya ŋu na ame si dɔ wò la oa?
22 Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.
Mègaba ame dahewo le esi woda ahe ta o eye mègate hiãtɔ ɖe to le ʋɔnu o,
23 For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
elabena Yehowa axɔ nya ɖe wo nu eye wòaha ame si ha wo.
24 Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
Mègadze xɔ̃ ŋutsu dɔmedzoetɔ o eye mègade ha kple ame si doa dziku kabakaba o,
25 lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
ne menye nenema o la, àva srɔ̃ eƒe mɔwo eye nàtsɔ ɖokuiwò ade mɔ me.
26 Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.
Mèganye ame si ƒua asi akɔ ɖe fenyila nu alo dea megbe na ame si do nugbana la o;
27 For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed?
eye ne mèkpɔ ga axe fea o la, woaɖe aba si dzi nèmlɔna la gɔ̃ hã le tewò.
28 Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
Mègaɖe blemaliƒokpe si fofowòwo ɖi la ɖa o.
29 Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.
Èkpɔ ame si bi ɖe eƒe dɔ me la le dɔ wɔma? Asubɔ le fiawo ŋgɔ eye menye le ame tsɛwo ŋgɔ o.
