Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;
Vinye, mègaŋlɔ nye nufiame be o, eye nàlé nye sededewo ɖe wò dzi me,
2 for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.
elabena woadidi wò agbenɔƒewo ɖe edzi ƒe geɖe, eye woahe dzidzedzekpɔkpɔ vɛ na wò.
3 Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
Lɔlɔ̃ kple nuteƒewɔwɔ megate ɖa le gbɔwò gbeɖe o, tsɔ wo de kɔ eye nàŋlɔ wo ɖe wò dzi ƒe nuŋlɔkpe dzi.
4 and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Ekema àkpɔ amenuveve kple ŋkɔ nyui le Mawu kple amewo ŋkume.
5 Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;
Ɖo ŋu ɖe Yehowa ŋu kple wò dzi blibo, mègaku ɖe wò ŋutɔ wò nugɔmesese ŋu o;
6 in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths.
ɖo ŋu ɖe eŋu le wò mɔwo katã dzi ekema awɔ wò toƒewo dzɔdzɔe.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
Mèganye nunyala le wò ŋutɔ wò ŋkume o, ke boŋ vɔ̃ Yehowa eye nàtsri vɔ̃.
8 it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.
Esia ahe dɔyɔyɔ vɛ na wò ŋutilã kple nunyiame vɛ na wò ƒuwo.
9 Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
De bubu Yehowa ŋu kple wò kesinɔnuwo kple wò agblemenukuwo ƒe ŋgɔgbetɔwo,
10 so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
ekema wò avawo ayɔ agbagba, eye wain yeye ayɔ wò ahazewo agbagba.
11 My son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;
Vinye, mègado vlo Yehowa ƒe amehehe o eye mègagbe eƒe mokaname o
12 for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
elabena Yehowa ɖɔa ame siwo wòlɔ̃ la ɖo abe ale si fofo wɔna na vi si ƒe nu dzea eŋu la ene.
13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Woayra ame si ke ɖe nunya ŋu kple ame si si gɔmesese su
14 For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.
elabena nunya xɔ asi wu klosalo eye viɖe geɖe le eme wu sika.
15 She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.
Asixɔxɔ le eŋu wu adzagba eye nu siwo katã dim nèle la, ɖeke mesɔ kplii o.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.
Agbe didi le eƒe ɖusi ƒe asi me, eye kesinɔnuwo kple bubu le eƒe miasi ƒe asi me.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Eƒe mɔwo nye mɔ siwo dzi vivi le eye ŋutifafa le eƒe toƒewo katã.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth her.
Enye agbeti na ame siwo xɔ eya amea eye ame siwo ƒe asi su edzi la woayra wo.
19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.
Nunyae Yehowa tsɔ ɖo anyigba la ƒe gɔmeɖokpe anyii eye wòtsɔ gɔmesese ɖo dziƒowo ɖe wo teƒe.
20 By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
Etsɔ eƒe nunya ma gogloƒewoe eye lilikpowo dzaa zãmu.
21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion:
Vinye, lé afia nyui tsotso kple sidzedze me ɖe asi, mègana woadzo le ŋkuwòme o.
22 so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.
Woanye agbe na wò kple kɔga aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò kɔ.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble;
Ekema àlé wò mɔ atsɔ le dedinɔnɔ me eye wò afɔ maɖiɖi o.
24 when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Ne èmlɔ anyi la, màvɔ̃ o, ne èmlɔ anyi la, àdɔ alɔ̃ vivi.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
Mègavɔ̃ ŋɔdzi si ava kpoyi alo gbegblẽ si vaa ame vɔ̃ɖiwo dzi o
26 for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.
elabena Yehowa anye wò dzideƒo eye mana wò afɔ naɖo mɔ me o.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Mègagbe nyuiwɔwɔ na ame siwo dze nɛ, ne ele wò ŋusẽ me be nàwɔe o.
28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.
Mègagblɔ na wò aƒelika be, “Yi nàtrɔ va, etsɔ matsɔe na wò” esi wòle asiwò fifia o.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Mègaɖo vɔ̃ ɖe wò aƒelika, ame si le gbɔwò le anukwareɖiɖi me la ŋu o.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Mègatsɔ nya ɖe ame aɖeke ŋu dzodzro esi mewɔ vɔ̃ aɖeke ɖe ŋuwò o.
31 Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Mègabiã ŋu ŋutsu nu sesẽ wɔla alo azɔ le eƒe mɔ aɖeke dzi o,
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright.
elabena Yehowa nyɔa ŋu ŋutsu nu tovo wɔla gake elɔ̃a ame siwo wɔa nu dzɔdzɔe.
33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
Yehowa ƒe fiƒode le ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe aƒe dzi, ke eyrana ɖe ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe aƒe dzi.
34 He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
Yehowa ɖua fewu le dadala fewuɖulawo ŋu, ke evea ame siwo bɔbɔa wo ɖokui la nu.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.
Nunyalawo nyia bubu ƒe dome, ke bometsilawo la, etsɔa wo dea asi na ŋukpe.
