Proverbs 18
1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom.
Ɖokuitɔdila dia eɖokui ko tɔ eye meɖoa to nunyanya siwo gblɔm wole la o.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
Bometsila medoa vivi ɖe gɔmesese ŋu o, ke boŋ ekpɔa dzidzɔ le eya ŋutɔ ƒe susuɖegblɔ ŋu.
3 When the wicked cometh, [then] cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
Ne vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi va la, vlododo kplɔnɛ ɖo eye ne alɔmeɖeɖe va la, ŋukpe dzea eyome.
4 The words of a man’s mouth [are as] deep waters, [and] the wellspring of wisdom [as] a flowing brook.
Ame ƒe numenyawo nye tɔ goglo, ke nunya ƒe vudo nye ta si le dzidzim.
5 [It is] not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
Menyo be woade ame vɔ̃ɖi dzi alo atrɔ ame maɖifɔ ƒe nya dzɔdzɔe atsyɔ anyi o.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
Bometsila ƒe nuyiwo denɛ dzre me eye eƒe nu hea ƒoƒo vaa edzii.
7 A fool’s mouth [is] his destruction, and his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
Nu si bometsila ƒe nu gblɔ la, metso eya ŋutɔ gbɔ o, eye eƒe nuyi nye mɔka na eƒe luʋɔ.
8 The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, 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; woyina ɖe ame ƒe dɔgbowo me ke.
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Ame si wɔa alɔgblɔdɔ le eƒe dɔ ŋuti la nye nugblẽla nɔvi.
10 The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Yehowa ƒe ŋkɔ nye mɔ sesẽ, ame dzɔdzɔewo sina yia eme eye wonɔa dedie.
11 The rich man’s wealth [is] his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Kesinɔtɔwo ƒe kesinɔnuwo nye woƒe du sesẽ eye wobuna be wonye gli kɔkɔ si ame aɖeke mate ŋu aflɔ o.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour [is] humility.
Hafi ame aɖe nadze anyi la, dada nɔa eƒe dzi me, ke ɖokuibɔbɔ doa ŋgɔ na bubu.
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth [it], it [is] folly and shame unto him.
Enye bometsitsi kple ŋukpe na ame, be wòaɖo nya ŋu hafi ase nu si gblɔm wole.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Ame ƒe gbɔgbɔ lénɛ ɖe te le dɔléle me, ke ame ka ate ŋu atsɔ gbɔgbɔ si gbã gudugudu?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Sidzela ƒe dzi kpɔa gɔmesese eye nunyala ƒe to dia gɔmesese.
16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Nunana ʋua mɔ na nunala eye wòkplɔnɛ gena ɖe amegã la ƒe ŋkumee.
17 [He that is] first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
Ame gbãtɔ si to eƒe nya la dzena dzɔdzɔetɔe va se ɖe esime ame aɖe va bia gbee.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
Nudzidze tsia dzre nu eye wòtsoa nya me na ame sesẽ siwo le dzre wɔm.
19 A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city: and [their] contentions [are] like the bars of a castle.
Nɔviŋutsu si dzi wodze agɔ le la sẽ wu du si ŋu woɖo gli sesẽ ɖo eye dzrewɔwɔ le abe fiasã si ƒe agbowo ŋu wode gameti sesẽwoe ene.
20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; [and] with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Ame ƒe numekutsetse ɖia ƒo nɛ eye nuŋeŋe si doa go tso eƒe nuyiwo me la ana eƒe dzi nadze eme.
21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Ku kple agbe ƒe ŋusẽ le aɖe si, eye ame siwo lɔ̃e la aɖu eƒe kutsetse.
22 [Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Ame si si srɔ̃nyɔnu su la ke ɖe nu nyui ŋu eye wòxɔa amenuveve tso Yehowa gbɔ.
23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
Ame dahe ɖea kuku biaa nublanuikpɔkpɔ, ke kesinɔtɔ ya ɖoa nya ŋu adãtɔe.
24 A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
Ame si si xɔlɔ̃ geɖe le la ate ŋu awu nu le gbegblẽ me, gake xɔlɔ̃ aɖe li si kuna ɖe ame ŋu wu dadavi gɔ̃ hã.
