Proverbs 22
1 A good reputation is a much better choice than plenty of money; respect is better than silver and gold.
Ŋkɔ nyui didi nyo wu kesinɔnuwo eye ŋudzedzekpɔkpɔ nyo wu klosalo kple sika.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord created them all.
Nu ɖeka siae nàkpɔ le kesinɔtɔ kple ame dahe ŋu: Yehowae nye wo katã Wɔla.
3 If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and pay for it.
Nunyala kpɔ dzɔgbevɔ̃e gbɔna eye wòɣla eɖokui gake bometsila ya yiyim ko wòle eye wòkpea fu ɖe enu.
4 The reward you receive for being humble and respecting the Lord is wealth, honor, and life.
Ɖokuibɔbɔ kple Yehowavɔvɔ̃ hea kesinɔnu, bubu kple agbe vɛ.
5 Thorns and traps lie in the path of crooked people; those who value their lives will stay away 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 Teach children the right way to live, and when they grow up they'll go on doing so.
He ɖevi ɖe mɔ si wòato la dzi eye ne etsi la, mate ɖa le edzi o.
7 The rich rule the poor, and borrowers are slaves to their lenders.
Kesinɔtɔwo ɖua gã ɖe ame dahewo dzi eye nugbanadola zua dɔla na ame si do nugbana la nɛ.
8 Those who sow injustice will reap disaster, and the angry beatings they inflict on others will be stopped.
Ame si ƒã vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi la axa dzɔgbevɔ̃e, eye woatsrɔ eƒe dɔmedzoe ƒe ameƒoti.
9 If you're generous, you'll be blessed, for you share your food with those in need.
Woayra ame si nyoa dɔ me na amewo elabena emaa eƒe nuɖuɖu kple ame dahewo.
10 Get rid of the scornful, and you'll get rid of conflict too—no more arguments or insults!
Nya fewuɖula la do goe eye dzre hã ado go, nenema ke nyahehe kple dzudzu hã awu nu.
11 Anyone who loves sincerity and a gracious way of speaking will have the king as their friend.
Ame si lɔ̃ dzi dzadzɛ kple nuƒoƒo si me nya dzetowo le la, eyae fia la adze xɔ̃e.
12 The Lord watches over true knowledge, but counteracts the words of liars.
Yehowa ƒe ŋkuwo le nugɔmesese ŋu, ke etrɔa gbo nuteƒemawɔlawo ƒe nyawo.
13 Lazy people make claims like, “There's a lion outside! I might be killed if I go out there!”
Kuviatɔ gblɔna be, “Dzata le gota!” alo “Woava wum le ablɔ dzi!”
14 The seductive words of an immoral woman are a dangerous trap—if the Lord's angry with you, then you'll fall right in.
Nyɔnu ahasitɔ ƒe nu la, ʋe globo wònye eye ame si dzi Yehowa ƒe dziku le la eyae age adze eme.
15 Children are naturally foolish; physical correction helps them to see sense.
Wobla bometsitsi ɖe ɖevi ƒe dzi ŋu, ke ɖɔɖɔɖo ƒe ameƒoti ana wòate ɖa xaa tso egbɔ.
16 If you oppress the poor to make yourself rich, or if you're generous to the rich, you'll end up poor yourself.
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 Pay attention and listen to the words of the wise, and think carefully about my teachings—
Ƒu to anyi eye nàse nunyalawo ƒe nyawo, na wò dzi naku ɖe nu si fiam mele ŋuti,
18 for it's good to keep them in mind so you can be ready to share them.
elabena edoa dzidzɔ na ame ne èɣla wo ɖe wò dzi me, eye wo katã nanɔ klalo le wò nuyiwo dzi.
19 I'm explaining this to you today so you can trust in the Lord—yes, you!
Ale be nàɖo dzi ɖe Yehowa ŋu, esia ta mele nu fiam wò ɖo egbea, ɛ̃, wòe mele nu fiam.
20 Haven't I written down for you thirty sayings of advice and wisdom?
Ɖe nyemeŋlɔ nufiamenya blaetɔ̃ na wò, aɖaŋuɖonyawo kple nugɔmesenyawo
21 They are to make it clear to you what's right and true, so you can give a truthful explanation 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 For you shouldn't steal from the poor just because they're poor; and you shouldn't crush those with limited means in court,
Mègaba ame dahewo le esi woda ahe ta o eye mègate hiãtɔ ɖe to le ʋɔnu o,
23 for the Lord will plead their case, and he will take back whatever was stolen from them.
elabena Yehowa axɔ nya ɖe wo nu eye wòaha ame si ha wo.
24 Don't make friends with someone who gets upset easily; don't associate with angry people,
Mègadze xɔ̃ ŋutsu dɔmedzoetɔ o eye mègade ha kple ame si doa dziku kabakaba o,
25 in case you learn to be like them and make a mess of your life.
ne menye nenema o la, àva srɔ̃ eƒe mɔwo eye nàtsɔ ɖokuiwò ade mɔ me.
26 Don't shake hands and guarantee someone's debt,
Mèganye ame si ƒua asi akɔ ɖe fenyila nu alo dea megbe na ame si do nugbana la o;
27 for if you can't pay, why should your bed be taken away from beneath you?
eye ne mèkpɔ ga axe fea o la, woaɖe aba si dzi nèmlɔna la gɔ̃ hã le tewò.
28 Don't move ancient boundary markers that your forefathers put in place.
Mègaɖe blemaliƒokpe si fofowòwo ɖi la ɖa o.
29 If you see someone skilled in what they do, they'll work for kings and not for ordinary people.
Èkpɔ ame si bi ɖe eƒe dɔ me la le dɔ wɔma? Asubɔ le fiawo ŋgɔ eye menye le ame tsɛwo ŋgɔ o.
