Proverbs 22
1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
Ŋkɔ nyui didi nyo wu kesinɔnuwo eye ŋudzedzekpɔkpɔ nyo wu klosalo kple sika.
2 Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.
Nu ɖeka siae nàkpɔ le kesinɔtɔ kple ame dahe ŋu: Yehowae nye wo katã Wɔla.
3 The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
Nunyala kpɔ dzɔgbevɔ̃e gbɔna eye wòɣla eɖokui gake bometsila ya yiyim ko wòle eye wòkpea fu ɖe enu.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
Ɖokuibɔbɔ kple Yehowavɔvɔ̃ hea kesinɔnu, bubu kple agbe vɛ.
5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoever is keeping his soul is far 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 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
He ɖevi ɖe mɔ si wòato la dzi eye ne etsi la, mate ɖa le edzi o.
7 The rich rules over the poor, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
Kesinɔtɔwo ɖua gã ɖe ame dahewo dzi eye nugbanadola zua dɔla na ame si do nugbana la nɛ.
8 Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
Ame si ƒã vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi la axa dzɔgbevɔ̃e, eye woatsrɔ eƒe dɔmedzoe ƒe ameƒoti.
9 The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
Woayra ame si nyoa dɔ me na amewo elabena emaa eƒe nuɖuɖu kple ame dahewo.
10 Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
Nya fewuɖula la do goe eye dzre hã ado go, nenema ke nyahehe kple dzudzu hã awu nu.
11 Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
Ame si lɔ̃ dzi dzadzɛ kple nuƒoƒo si me nya dzetowo le la, eyae fia la adze xɔ̃e.
12 The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
Yehowa ƒe ŋkuwo le nugɔmesese ŋu, ke etrɔa gbo nuteƒemawɔlawo ƒe nyawo.
13 The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
Kuviatɔ gblɔna be, “Dzata le gota!” alo “Woava wum le ablɔ dzi!”
14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
Nyɔnu ahasitɔ ƒe nu la, ʋe globo wònye eye ame si dzi Yehowa ƒe dziku le la eyae age adze eme.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of discipline puts it far from him.
Wobla bometsitsi ɖe ɖevi ƒe dzi ŋu, ke ɖɔɖɔɖo ƒe ameƒoti ana wòate ɖa xaa tso egbɔ.
16 He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
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 Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
Ƒu to anyi eye nàse nunyalawo ƒe nyawo, na wò dzi naku ɖe nu si fiam mele ŋuti,
18 For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
elabena edoa dzidzɔ na ame ne èɣla wo ɖe wò dzi me, eye wo katã nanɔ klalo le wò nuyiwo dzi.
19 That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
Ale be nàɖo dzi ɖe Yehowa ŋu, esia ta mele nu fiam wò ɖo egbea, ɛ̃, wòe mele nu fiam.
20 Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
Ɖe nyemeŋlɔ nufiamenya blaetɔ̃ na wò, aɖaŋuɖonyawo kple nugɔmesenyawo
21 To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
be woafia nyateƒe kple kakaɖedzinyawo wò be nàtsɔ nunyanyawo aɖo nya ŋu na ame si dɔ wò la oa?
22 Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
Mègaba ame dahewo le esi woda ahe ta o eye mègate hiãtɔ ɖe to le ʋɔnu o,
23 For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
elabena Yehowa axɔ nya ɖe wo nu eye wòaha ame si ha wo.
24 Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
Mègadze xɔ̃ ŋutsu dɔmedzoetɔ o eye mègade ha kple ame si doa dziku kabakaba o,
25 Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
ne menye nenema o la, àva srɔ̃ eƒe mɔwo eye nàtsɔ ɖokuiwò ade mɔ me.
26 Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Mèganye ame si ƒua asi akɔ ɖe fenyila nu alo dea megbe na ame si do nugbana la o;
27 If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
eye ne mèkpɔ ga axe fea o la, woaɖe aba si dzi nèmlɔna la gɔ̃ hã le tewò.
28 Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
Mègaɖe blemaliƒokpe si fofowòwo ɖi la ɖa o.
29 Have you seen a man speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, He does not station himself before obscure men!
Èkpɔ ame si bi ɖe eƒe dɔ me la le dɔ wɔma? Asubɔ le fiawo ŋgɔ eye menye le ame tsɛwo ŋgɔ o.
