Proverbs 1
1 The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
Israel fia Solomo, David ƒe vi ƒe lododowo nye esiawo:
2 in order to know wisdom and discipline,
na nunya kple amehehe, na nya goglowo gɔmesese,
3 to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
hena agbe dzɔdzɔe kple agbe ɖevi nɔnɔ, be woawɔ nu si dzɔ, nu si le eteƒe kple nu si nyo,
4 so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
be ame gblɔewo nadze aɖaŋu eye woana nunya kple sidzedze sɔhɛwo,
5 By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
nunyalawo neɖo to, ne woasrɔ̃ nu akpe ɖe esi wonya xoxo la ŋu eye ame siwo si sidzedze le xoxo la naxɔ aɖaŋu,
6 He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
be woase nunyalawo ƒe lododowo abebubuwo kple adzowo gɔme.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
Yehowa vɔvɔ̃e nye nunya ƒe gɔmedzedze, ke bometsilawo doa vlo nunya kple amehehe.
8 Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
Vinye, ɖo to fofowò ƒe nuxɔxlɔ̃ eye mègagbe nu le dawò ƒe nufiame gbɔ o.
9 so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
Anye seƒoƒokuku aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò ta kple kɔga anɔ kɔwò.
10 My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.
Vinye, ne nu vɔ̃ wɔlawo le nuwò blem la, mègalɔ̃ na wo o.
11 If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against the innocent, without cause.
Ne wogblɔ na wò be, “Va kplɔ mí ɖo, na míade xa ɖe ame aɖe ƒe ʋu ŋuti, na míanɔ xame na luʋɔ maɖifɔ aɖe,
ne míamii agbagbee abe tsiẽƒe ene, eye míamii blibo abe ame siwo ge dze ʋe globo me ene (Sheol h7585)
13 We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
ekema nu xɔasi vovovowo asu mía si eye míatsɔ afunyinuwo ayɔ míaƒe xɔwo mee
14 Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
eya ta de mía dzi ale be míana gakotoku ɖeka wò” la,
15 My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
vinye, mègakplɔ wo ɖo o, mègaka afɔ woƒe toƒewo o
16 For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
elabena woƒe afɔ ɖea abla ɖe nu vɔ̃ ŋu eye wogona ɖe ʋukɔkɔɖi ŋu.
17 But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
Enye movidzɔdzɔ be woaɖo ɖɔ ɖi na xeviwo le wo katã ƒe ŋkume!
18 Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
Ame siawo de xa ɖi na woawo ŋutɔ ƒe ʋu eye wole adeklo dzi ɖe woawo ŋutɔ ɖokuiwo ŋu!
19 Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
Aleae ame siwo tia viɖe ƒoɖi yome la ƒe nuwuwu anɔ, elabena eɖea ame siwo ƒe asi su edzi la ƒe agbe ɖa.
20 Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
Nunya le ɣli dom le mɔtata dzi eye wòkɔ gbe dzi le ƒuƒoƒewo.
21 She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
Ele ɣli dom le mɔtata siwo dzi zinyenye le la ƒe dzogoewo dzi eye wòle eƒe nyawo gblɔm le dua ƒe agbowo me be,
22 “Little ones, how long will you choose to be childish, and how long will the foolish desire what is harmful to themselves, and how long will the imprudent hate knowledge?
“Va se ɖe ɣe ka ɣi mi gegemewo mialɔ̃ bometsinuwɔwɔ? Va se ɖe ɣe ka yi fewuɖulawo akpɔ dzidzɔ le fewuɖuɖu ŋu, bometsilawo alé fu sidzedze?
23 Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
Ne ɖe mietrɔ ɖe nye mokaname ŋu la, anye ne metrɔ nye dzi kɔ ɖe anyi na mi eye mena mienya nye susuwo.
24 For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
Ke esi miegbe tɔtɔ nam esi meyɔ mi, esi meke nye abɔwo me, mietsɔ ɖeke le eme o
25 You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
eye miedo toku nye aɖaŋuɖoɖowo, hegbe nye mokaname ta la,
26 Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
nye hã mako mi le miaƒe gbegblẽ ta eye maɖe alɔme le mia ŋu ne dzɔgbevɔ̃e ƒo ɖe mia dzi,
27 When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome you,
ɛ̃, ne eƒo ɖe mia dzi abe ahom sesẽ ene, gbegblẽ hã zɔ to mia dzi abe yali ene, eye xaxa kple hiã va mia dzi kpoyi!
28 then they will call to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.
“Ekema woayɔm gake nyematɔ o, woadim gake womakpɔm o.
29 For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
Le esi wolé fu sidzedze eye wometia Yehowavɔvɔ̃ o,
30 they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
le esi wogbe nye aɖaŋuɖoɖo hedo vlo nye mokaname ta.
31 Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
Azɔ la woaɖu woƒe mɔwo ƒe kutsetse eye woƒe ɖoɖowo ƒe kutsetse aɖi ƒo na wo
32 The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
elabena gegemewo ƒe afɔɖeɖe baɖawo awu wo eye bometsilawo ƒe ɖekematsɔleme atsrɔ̃ wo.
33 But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
Ke ame sia ame si ɖoa tom la, anɔ agbe le dedinɔnɔ me eye aɖe dzi ɖi bɔkɔɔ, mavɔ̃ na dzɔgbevɔ̃e o.”
