Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
Abe ale si sno dzanae le dzomeŋɔli alo tsi dzanae le nuŋeɣi ene la, nenemae bubu medze bometsila o.
2 As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
Abe ale si atsutsrɔe dzonae alo sagbadrɛ saa agbae ene la, nenemae ɖiŋu si wodo na ame ɖe madzɔmadzɔ dzi la tsia yamee.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
Sɔƒoka li na sɔ, numega li na tedzi nenemae ameƒoti li na bometsila ƒe dzimegbe!
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Mègaɖo nya ŋu na bometsila le eƒe bometsitsi nu o, ne menye nenema o la, wò ŋutɔ hã ànɔ abe eya amea ene.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Ɖo nya ŋu na bometsila le eƒe bometsitsi nu, ne menye nenema o la ava bu eɖokui nunyalae le eɖokui gbɔ.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
Dudede asi na bometsila le abe ame ŋutɔ ƒe afɔ lalã alo dzɔgbevɔ̃e nono ene.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Abe ale si atatututɔ ƒe afɔ nɔa yamee ene la, nenemae lododo le le bometsila ƒe nu mee.
8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Abe ale si wotsɔa kpe dea akafomee ene la, nenemae bubudede bometsila ŋu le.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Abe ale si ŋuti nɔna le ahamula ƒe asimee ene la, nenemae lododo nɔna le bometsila ƒe nu mee.
10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
Ame si daa aŋutrɔ bometsila dzodzro la le abe ame si dɔa dɔ ame si le eme tsom la ene.
11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
Abe ale si avu trɔna gayia nu si wòdzɔ gbɔe ene la, nenemae bometsila gawɔa bometsinu si wòwɔ va yi.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Èkpɔ ame aɖe si nye nunyala le eya ŋutɔ ŋkume kpɔa? Mɔkpɔkpɔ geɖe li na bometsila wu eya amea.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
Kuviatɔ gblɔna be, “Dzata le mɔa dzi, dzata si le gbe tem ŋɔdzitɔe la le tsatsam le ablɔwo me!”
14 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
Abe ale si ʋɔtru trona le eƒe megbega mee ene la, nenemae kuviatɔ nɔa tɔtrɔm le eƒe aba dzii.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
Kuviatɔ tsɔ eƒe asi de nuɖugba me gake kuvia ɖoe ale gbegbe be, edede nu me zu dɔ nɛ.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
Kuviatɔ nye nunyala le eya ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkume, wu ame adre siwo ɖoa nya ŋu nunyatɔe.
17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Ame si le eme tsom gake de nu dzrenya si metsɔ egbɔ o me la le abe ame si lé towo kple eve na avu ene.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Abe ale si aɖaʋatɔ daa akakati bibi alo aŋutrɔ si ŋu aɖi le la ene la,
19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
nenemae nye ame si ble ehavi eye emegbe wògblɔ nɛ be, “Fefem ko mele!”
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
Ne nake meli o la, dzo tsina; ne sakplitɔ meli o la, dzre kena.
21 [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
Abe ale si aka léa dzo eye nake doa dzo ene la, nenema ŋutsu dzretɔ ƒlɔa dzre ɖoe.
22 The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Amenyagblɔla ƒe nyawo vivina abe nuɖuɖu vivi si woka de nu me la ene; eyina ɖe ame ƒe dɔgbowo me ke.
23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Abe ale si wofaa sikatsi ɖe anyikplu ŋu ene la, nenema nuyi xɔdzo si ŋu dzi vɔ̃ɖi kpe ɖo la le.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
Ame baɖa tsɔa eƒe nuyi trɔa eɖokui bubue, gake eɣlaa beble ɖe eƒe dzi me.
25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Togbɔ be eƒe nyawo nya le sesem hã la, mègaxɔ edzi se o elabena ŋunyɔnu adre le eƒe dzi me.
26 Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
Eƒe susu baɖa aɣla ɖe beble megbe, gake woaʋu go eƒe vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi le amehawo dome.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
Ne ame aɖe ɖe ʋe la, eya ŋutɔ age adze eme eye ame si amli kpe la, kpe si wòmli la age adze eya ŋutɔ dzi.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Alakpaɖe léa fu ame siwo ŋuti wòle abi demii, eye nu si blea ame la hea gbegblẽ vɛ.
