Proverbs 19
1 Better is a poor [man] that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Anyo be nànye ame dahe si ƒe zɔzɔme ŋu fɔɖiɖi mele o, wu bometsila si ƒe nuyiwo gblɔa nya tovo.
2 Also that a person be without knowledge is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet maketh false steps.
Menyo be dzo nanɔ mewò ɖe nuwo wɔwɔ ŋu gɔmesesemanɔmee alo atsi dzi ahabu mɔ o.
3 The folly of man distorteth his way, and his heart is irritated against Jehovah.
Ame ŋutɔ ƒe bometsitsie gblẽa eƒe agbe dome, evɔ eƒe dzi bina ɖe Yehowa ŋu.
4 Wealth addeth many friends; but the poor is separated from his friend.
Kesinɔnunɔamesi dzea xɔlɔ̃ geɖe na ame, gake ame dahe ƒe xɔlɔ̃wo kakana le eŋu.
5 A false witness shall not be held innocent, and he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
Womagbe tohehe na aʋatsoɖasefo o eye ame si trɔa alakpa kɔna ɖi bababa la, madzo le ablɔɖe me o.
6 Many court the favour of a noble; and every one is friend to a man that giveth.
Ame geɖewo wɔa nu be woadze fia ŋu, eye ame si naa nu ame faa la, ame sia ame dzea xɔ̃e.
7 All the brethren of a poor [man] hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him: he pursueth [them] with words, — they are not [to be found].
Ame dahe ƒe ƒometɔwo katã ɖea kɔ ɖa le eŋu, aleke exɔlɔ̃wo magbee geɖe wu o! Togbɔ be etia wo yome nɔa kuku ɖem na wo hã la, womedea nu eme nɛ o.
8 He that getteth sense loveth his own soul; he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
Ame si, si nunya su la lɔ̃a eya ŋutɔ ƒe luʋɔ eye ame si melɔ̃a nu le gɔmesese gbɔ o la, nu dzea edzi nɛ.
9 A false witness shall not be held innocent, and he that uttereth lies shall perish.
Womagbe tohehe na aʋatsoɖasefo o eye ame si trɔa alakpa kɔna ɖi bababa la atsrɔ̃.
10 Good living beseemeth not a fool; how much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
Agbe vivi nɔnɔ medze bometsila ʋuu keke wòahanye be kluvi ɖu aƒetɔ ɖe dumegãwo dzi o.
11 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Ame ƒe nunya nana wògbɔa dzi ɖi eye ŋutikɔkɔe wònye nɛ ne eŋe aɖaba ƒu dzidada dzi.
12 The king's displeasure is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
Fia ƒe dziku le abe dzata ƒe gbetete ene, ke eƒe amenuveve le abe zãmu le gbedzi ene.
13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father; and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
Viŋutsu tsibome nye fofoa ƒe gbegblẽ eye srɔ̃nyɔnu dzrewɔla le abe tsitrɔnu si le ɖuɖum ɖaa ene.
14 House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers; but a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
Aƒewo kple kesinɔnuwo nye domenyinu tso dzilawo gbɔ, ke srɔ̃nyɔnu nyanu ya, Yehowa gbɔe wòtsona.
15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Kuvia nana ame dɔa alɔ̃ yia eme ʋĩi eye dɔ wua ƒomewɔla.
16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; he that is careless of his ways shall die.
Ame si wɔna ɖe sedede dzi la dzɔa eƒe agbe ŋu, ke ame si metsɔ ɖeke le eƒe mɔwo ŋu o la aku.
17 He that is gracious to the poor lendeth unto Jehovah; and what he hath bestowed will he repay unto him.
Ame si nyo dɔ me na hiãtɔ la, do nugbana na Yehowa, aɖo nu si wòwɔ la teƒe nɛ.
18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; but set not thy soul upon killing him.
He to na viwò ŋutsuvi elabena eya mee mɔkpɔkpɔ le; ke mègakpe ɖe ame siwo le eƒe ku dim la ŋuti o.
19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment; for if thou deliver [him], yet thou must do it again.
Ame si dzi kuna helĩhelĩ la, axe eŋutife; ne èɖee le eme la, agawɔe ake.
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Ɖo to aɖaŋuɖoɖo, nàxɔ amehehe eye le nuwuwua la, àdze nunya.
21 Many are the thoughts in a man's heart, but the counsel of Jehovah, that doth stand.
Nu geɖewo ame ɖo ɖe eƒe dzi me, gake Yehowa ƒe ɖoɖo koe vaa eme.
22 The charm of a man is his kindness; and a poor [man] is better than a liar.
Nu si ame dina lae nye lɔlɔ̃ si meʋãna o; enyo be nànye ame dahe wu alakpatɔ.
23 The fear of Jehovah [tendeth] to life, and he [that hath it] shall rest satisfied without being visited with evil.
Yehowavɔvɔ̃ kplɔa ame yia agbe gbɔe. Ekema ànɔ anyi aɖe dzi ɖi eye kuxi aɖeke maƒo go wò o.
24 A sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it to his mouth again.
Ne kuviatɔ de asi nuɖugba me la, maɖee ɖa atsɔ yi nu gbɔe teti gɔ̃ hã o!
25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware; reprove the intelligent, and he will understand knowledge.
Ƒo fewuɖula kple ati, ekema gegemewo adze nunya; ka mo na ame si si sidzedze le, ekema gɔmesese asu esi.
26 He that ruineth [his] father and chaseth away [his] mother is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
Ame si daa adzo fofoa, nyaa dada doa goe lae nye viŋutsu si hea ŋukpe kple vlododo vɛ.
27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction which causeth to stray from the words of knowledge.
Vinye, ne èdzudzɔ amehenyawo sese la, ekema àtra tso gɔmesese ƒe nyawo gbɔ.
28 A witness of Belial scorneth judgment, and the mouth of the wicked swalloweth down iniquity.
Aʋatsoɖasefo ɖua fewu le afia nyui tsotso ŋu eye ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe nu miaa nu vɔ̃ɖi.
29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of the foolish.
Woɖo tohehe ɖi na fewuɖulawo eye woɖo ƒoƒo ɖi na bometsilawo ƒe dzime.
