Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed:
Esiawoe nye Solomo ƒe lododo bubu siwo Yuda fia Hezekia ƒe dɔdzikpɔlawo ŋlɔ da ɖi.
2 The glory of God [is] to hide a thing, And the glory of kings [is] to search out a matter.
Enye Mawu ƒe ŋutikɔkɔe be wòaɣla nya; eye fiawo ƒe bubue nye be woaku nya me.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings—[are] unsearchable.
Abe ale si dziƒo kɔe eye anyigba gogloe ene la, nenemae womate ŋu adzro fiawo ƒe dzi me o.
4 Take away dross from silver, And a vessel goes forth for the refiner,
Ɖe ɖi ɖa le klosalo ŋu, ekema klosalonutula kpɔ dɔwɔnu.
5 Take away the wicked before a king, And his throne is established in righteousness.
Ɖe ame vɔ̃ɖi ɖa le fia la ŋkume ekema eƒe fiazikpui ali ke to dzɔdzɔenyenye me.
6 Do not honor yourself before a king, And do not stand in the place of the great.
Mègado ɖokuiwò ɖe dzi le fia la ŋkume o eye mègaʋli nɔƒe le amegãwo dome o.
7 For better [that] he has said to you, “Come up here,” Than [that] he humbles you before a noble, Whom your eyes have seen.
Enyo be wòagblɔ na wò be, “Va dzime le afii” wu be wòaɖiɖi wò le bubumewo ŋkume. Nu si nèkpɔ kple wò ŋkuwo la,
8 Do not go forth to strive, hurry, turn, What do you do in its latter end, When your neighbor causes you to blush?
mègatsɔ dzitsitsi ahee va ʋɔnui o elabena nu ka nàwɔ le nuwuwua ne hawòvi la do ŋukpe wò?
9 Plead your cause with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret counsel of another,
Ne èle nya hem kple hawòvi la, mègaʋu go ame bubu ƒe nya ɣaɣla o,
10 Lest the hearer put you to shame, And your evil report not turn back.
ne menye nenema o la, ame si see la ado ŋukpe wò eye ŋkɔ baɖa si le ŋuwò la maɖe ɖa akpɔ gbeɖe o.
11 Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
Nya si wogblɔ dedie la, le abe “sikaplu” le klosalogba me ene.
12 A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
Ŋutsu nunyala ƒe mokaname le na to si le esem la abe sikatogɛ alo sikatsyɔ̃ɖonu aɖe ene.
13 As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Dɔla nuteƒewɔla le na ame siwo dɔe la abe ale si sno fanae le nuŋeɣi ene; enana eƒe aƒetɔwo ƒe gbɔgbɔ gbɔna ɖe eme.
14 Clouds and wind without rain, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
Ŋutsu si ƒoa adegbe le nunana siwo mena o ŋu la le abe lilikpododo kple ya si medzaa tsi o la ene.
15 A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering, And a soft tongue breaks a bone.
Dzigbɔɖie wotsɔna blea fia nue eye aɖe bɔbɔe ate ŋu agbã ƒu.
16 You have found honey—eat your sufficiency, Lest you are satiated [with] it, and have vomited it.
Ne èke ɖe anyitsi ŋu la, no esi sinu nàte ŋui ko, ne ènoe fũu akpa la, àdzɔe.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, Lest he is satiated [with] you, and has hated you.
Mègaƒo afɔɖi hawòvi ƒe aƒe me o, ne èle egbɔ dem kabakaba la, ava tsri wò.
18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying a false testimony against his neighbor.
Ŋutsu si ɖi aʋatsoɖase ɖe ehavi ŋu la le abe kpo, yi alo aŋutrɔ ɖaɖɛ ene.
19 A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
Dziɖoɖo ɖe nuteƒemawɔla ŋu le xaxaɣiwo le abe aɖu vovo alo afɔ tutu ene.
20 Whoever is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on natron, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
Ame si dzi ha na dzi kpekpe tɔ la le abe ame si ɖe awu kpekpe ɖi le vuvɔwɔgbe alo “vinigae” wokɔ ɖe “soɖa” dzi ene.
21 If he who is hating you hungers, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirsts, cause him to drink water.
Ne dɔ le wò ketɔ wum la, na nui wòaɖu, ne tsikɔ le ewum la, na tsii wòano.
22 For you are putting coals on his head, And YHWH gives repayment to you.
Ne èwɔ esia la, àƒo dzoka xɔxɔwo nu ƒu ɖe eƒe ta dzi, eye Yehowa ŋutɔ aɖo eteƒe na wò.
23 A north wind brings forth rain, And a secret tongue—indignant faces.
Abe ale si anyieheya hea tsidzadza vɛ ene la, nenema amenyagblɔɖe dea adã mo na amee.
24 Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
Enyo be woanɔ dzogoe dzi le xɔta wu be woanɔ aƒe ɖeka me kple srɔ̃nyɔnu dzrewɔla.
25 [As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
Abe ale si tsi fafɛ faa akɔ na luʋɔ gbɔdzɔe ene la, nenema kee nya nyui tso duta hã nɔna.
26 A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
Ame dzɔdzɔe si na mɔ ame vɔ̃ɖi la le abe tsitsetse si me blu alo vudo si me wolɔ gbe kɔ ɖo la ene.
27 The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one’s own honor—honor.
Menyo be woano anyitsi fũu alo wònye nu dzeame be ame nadi eya ŋutɔ ƒe bubu o.
28 A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
Ame si meɖua eɖokui dzi o la le abe du si ŋu wogbã gli le la ene.
