Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting with strife.
Abolo ƒuƒlu sue ɖuɖu si ŋu ŋutifafa kple dziɖeɖi kpe ɖo la nyo wu aƒe si me yɔ fũu kple agbeɖuɖu eye dzre kpe ɖe eŋu.
2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that dealeth shamefully, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Dɔla nyanu aɖu aƒetɔ ɖe viŋutsu ŋukpenanuwɔla dzi eye ama domenyinu la kpli wo abe wo nɔviŋutsu wònye ene.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Sonu li na klosalo eye dzokpo li na sika, ke Yehowae doa dziwo katã kpɔ.
4 A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi ɖoa to nuyi vɔ̃ɖiwo eye aʋatsotɔ ƒua to anyi ɖe aɖe si gblẽa ame ŋu la ŋu.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker; and he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Ame si ɖea alɔme le ame dahe ŋuti la doa vlo woƒe Wɔla eye ame si kpɔa dzidzɔ be dzɔgbevɔ̃e dzɔ la, womagbe tohehe nɛ o.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Ame si ku amegã la ƒe fiakukue nye viawo ƒe viwo eye dzilawo nye atsyɔ̃ na wo viwo.
7 Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; much less do lying lips a prince.
Nuyi siwo doa wo ɖokuiwo ɖe dzi la medzena bometsila kaka alakpanuyiwo nahayi dziɖula dze ge o!
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth.
Zãnu nye kpe xɔasi na ame si nae, afi sia afi si wòayi la, edzea dzi nɛ.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that harpeth on a matter estrangeth a familiar friend.
Ame si tsɔ nu tsyɔ vodada dzi la doa lɔlɔ̃ ɖe ŋgɔ eye ame si gawɔ nu si wòwɔ va yi la maa xɔlɔ̃ veviwo dome.
10 A rebuke entereth deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Mokaname dea ta me na ame si si sidzedze le wu nu si ƒoƒo alafa ɖeka nye na bometsila.
11 A rebellious man seeketh only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi la ɖoe kplikpaa be yeadze aglã eya ta woadɔ dumegã sẽŋuta ɖe eŋu.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Enyo be nàdo go sisiblisi si ŋu woɖe viwo le wu esi nàdo go bometsila le eƒe bometsitsi me.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Ne ŋutsu tsɔ vɔ̃ ɖo nyui teƒe la, vɔ̃ madzo ɖa le eƒe aƒe me kpɔ gbeɖe o.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention, before the quarrel break out.
Dzregɔmetoto le abe ale si woŋɔa tɔʋu ene; eya ta ɖe asi le nya ŋu hafi wòava zu dzre.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are an abomination to the LORD.
Afiatsotso na agɔdzela, kple fɔbubu agɔmadzela siaa nye nu si Yehowa tsri.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
Ŋudɔwɔnu ka ga nye le bometsila ƒe asi me, esi didi aɖeke mele eme ɖe nunyadidi ŋuti o?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Xɔlɔ̃ lɔ̃a ame ɣeawo katã ɣi, ke wodzi nɔviŋutsu hena hiãgbe.
18 A man void of understanding is he that striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.
Ame manyanu ƒua asi akɔ eye wòdoa ŋugbe tsɔa eɖokui daa megbee na ehavi si nyi fe.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife; he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Ame si lɔ̃ dzrewɔwɔ la lɔ̃a nu vɔ̃ eye ame si de agbo kɔkɔ eƒe aƒe nu la le gbegblẽ dim.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good; and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into evil.
Ame si si dzi dovo le la nu medzea edzi nɛ o eye ame si si alakpaɖe le la gena ɖe fukpekpe me.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; and the father of a churl hath no joy.
Viŋutsu si tsi bome la hea veve vɛ, eye fofo si, si vi tsibome le la makpɔ dzidzɔ o.
22 A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Dzi si kpɔa dzidzɔ la nye atike nyui, ke gbɔgbɔ si wote ɖe to la nana ƒu tome ƒuna kplakplakpla.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi xɔa zãnu le bebeme be wòatrɔ nya dzɔdzɔe atsyɔ anyi.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Ame si si sidzedze le la ƒe ŋku nɔa nunya ŋu, ke bometsila ƒe ŋkuwo tsana, dona ɖe anyigba ƒe mlɔenu ke.
25 A foolish son is vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
Viŋutsu tsibome hea nuxaxa vɛ na fofoa kple veve vɛ na ame si dzii.
26 To punish also the righteous is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
Menyo be woahe to na fɔmaɖila alo aƒo dɔnunɔla ɖe eƒe nuteƒewɔwɔ ta o.
27 He that spareth his words hath knowledge; and he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.
Ame si si sidzedze su la nya vlowo medona le enu o eye ame si si gɔmesese le la ɖɔa ŋu ɖo, medoa dziku dzodzro o.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.
Wobua bometsila gɔ̃ hã nunyalae nenye be ezi ɖoɖoe, eye wobunɛ sidzelae ne ekpɔ eƒe aɖe dzi nyuie.
