Proverbs 26
1 As snow is in summer, and as rain in harvest: so is honor not seemly to a fool.
Abe ale si sno dzanae le dzomeŋɔli alo tsi dzanae le nuŋeɣi ene la, nenemae bubu medze bometsila o.
2 As the bird [cometh] to flit away, as the swallow, to fly off: so will an undeserved curse not come [to fulfillment].
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 is for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
Sɔƒoka li na sɔ, numega li na tedzi nenemae ameƒoti li na bometsila ƒe dzimegbe!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest thou also become equal 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 choppeth off the feet, and drinketh vexation, that sendeth important messages by the hand of a fool.
Dudede asi na bometsila le abe ame ŋutɔ ƒe afɔ lalã alo dzɔgbevɔ̃e nono ene.
7 Too feebly hang down the thighs on a lame man: so is a parable 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 is the one that bindeth a stone fast in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool.
Abe ale si wotsɔa kpe dea akafomee ene la, nenemae bubudede bometsila ŋu le.
9 [As] a thorn that is come into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable 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 injureth all things when he hireth a fool or hireth mere rovers.
Ame si daa aŋutrɔ bometsila dzodzro la le abe ame si dɔa dɔ ame si le eme tsom la ene.
11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so doth a fool repeat to act in his folly.
Abe ale si avu trɔna gayia nu si wòdzɔ gbɔe ene la, nenemae bometsila gawɔa bometsinu si wòwɔ va yi.
12 When thou seest a man wise in his own eyes, then is there more hope for a fool than for him.
Èkpɔ ame aɖe si nye nunyala le eya ŋutɔ ŋkume kpɔa? Mɔkpɔkpɔ geɖe li na bometsila wu eya amea.
13 The slothful saith, There is a leopard in the way: a lion is between the streets.
Kuviatɔ gblɔna be, “Dzata le mɔa dzi, dzata si le gbe tem ŋɔdzitɔe la le tsatsam le ablɔwo me!”
14 As a door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
Abe ale si ʋɔtru trona le eƒe megbega mee ene la, nenemae kuviatɔ nɔa tɔtrɔm le eƒe aba dzii.
15 Hath the slothful hidden his hand in the dish, it wearieth him to bring it back again to his mouth.
Kuviatɔ tsɔ eƒe asi de nuɖugba me gake kuvia ɖoe ale gbegbe be, edede nu me zu dɔ nɛ.
16 The slothful is wiser in his own eyes, than seven men that can give wise answers.
Kuviatɔ nye nunyala le eya ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkume, wu ame adre siwo ɖoa nya ŋu nunyatɔe.
17 As is one that taketh hold of a dog by the ears, so is he that passing by becometh excited about a dispute which concerneth him not.
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 one fatigueth himself shooting off firebrands, arrows, and death:
Abe ale si aɖaʋatɔ daa akakati bibi alo aŋutrɔ si ŋu aɖi le la ene la,
19 So is the man that hath cheated his neighbor, and saith, Behold, I am only jesting.
nenemae nye ame si ble ehavi eye emegbe wògblɔ nɛ be, “Fefem ko mele!”
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out: so where there is no whisperer, strife is silenced.
Ne nake meli o la, dzo tsina; ne sakplitɔ meli o la, dzre kena.
21 As charcoals are added to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man fitted to enkindle a dispute.
Abe ale si aka léa dzo eye nake doa dzo ene la, nenema ŋutsu dzretɔ ƒlɔa dzre ɖoe.
22 The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the body.
Amenyagblɔla ƒe nyawo vivina abe nuɖuɖu vivi si woka de nu me la ene; eyina ɖe ame ƒe dɔgbowo me ke.
23 Like silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips with a bad heart.
Abe ale si wofaa sikatsi ɖe anyikplu ŋu ene la, nenema nuyi xɔdzo si ŋu dzi vɔ̃ɖi kpe ɖo la le.
24 With his lips dissembleth he that hateth, and within himself layeth he up deceit:
Ame baɖa tsɔa eƒe nuyi trɔa eɖokui bubue, gake eɣlaa beble ɖe eƒe dzi me.
25 Though he make his voice sound ever so graciously, 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 If one's hatred be covered by deception, then shall be laid bare his wickedness before a [whole] assembly.
Eƒe susu baɖa aɣla ɖe beble megbe, gake woaʋu go eƒe vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi le amehawo dome.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit will fall therein; and upon him that rolleth a stone, will it return.
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 crushed by it; and a flattering mouth prepareth [others'] downfall.
Alakpaɖe léa fu ame siwo ŋuti wòle abi demii, eye nu si blea ame la hea gbegblẽ vɛ.
