Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
Fia Lemuel ƒe nyawo, nyagblɔɖi si dadaa fiae lae nye esi:
2 “What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
“Oo vinye, O nye dɔmevi, O nye adzɔgbeɖevi,
3 Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
Mègagblẽ wò ŋusẽ ɖe nyɔnuwo ŋu kple wò lãmeka ɖe ame siwo gblẽa fiawo dome la ŋu o.
4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
“O Lemuel, esia menye fiawo tɔ o, menye fiawo tɔ be woano wain o eye menye dziɖulawo tɔ be woadzro aha sesẽ o.
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
Ne menye nenema o la, woamu aha aŋlɔ nu si sea gblɔ la be eye woaxɔ ablɔɖe le ame siwo wote ɖe anyi la si.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Tsɔ aha muame na ame siwo le tsɔtsrɔ̃m kple wain na ane siwo le nuxaxa me,
7 He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
na woanoe aŋlɔ woƒe ahedada be eye womagaɖo ŋku woƒe hiãtuame dzi akpɔ o.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
“Ƒo nu ɖe ame siwo mate ŋu aƒo nu ɖe wo ɖokui nu o la nu eye nàʋli amemanɔsitɔwo ƒe ablɔɖe ta.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
Ƒo nu eye nàdrɔ̃ ʋɔnu dzɔdzɔe, ʋli ame dahewo kple hiãtɔwo ƒe ablɔɖe ta.”
10 [ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
Ame ka akpɔ srɔ̃nyɔnu si ƒe agbe dze ame ŋu? Exɔ asi wu adzagba.
11 The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
Srɔ̃a kana ɖe edzi blibo eye nu sia nu si ŋu asixɔxɔ le la mevena le egbɔ o.
12 She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
Le nyɔnu sia ƒe agbemeŋkekewo katã me la, ehea nyui ko vɛ, ke menye vɔ̃ o.
13 She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
Edia ɖetifu kple avemeka eye wòwɔa dɔ kple eƒe asiwo faa.
14 She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
Ele abe asiʋu ene eye wòhea nuɖuɖu tso didiƒe vaa aƒee.
15 Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
Efɔna ne ŋu mekpɔ ke o, edia nuɖuɖu na eƒe ƒometɔwo eye wòmaa dɔ na eƒe dɔlanyɔnuwo.
16 She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
Ebua ta me le agble ŋu eye wòƒlenɛ, eɖena tso eƒe nukpɔkpɔwo me tsɔna dea waingblee.
17 She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
Ewɔa dɔ kple ŋkubiã eye eƒe alɔwo sẽna ɖe eƒe dɔwo ŋu.
18 She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
Ekpɔa egbɔ be yeƒe asitsatsa ɖe vi geɖe eye yeƒe akaɖi metsina le zã me o.
19 She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
Ɖetifutreti le eƒe asi me eye wòtsɔa eƒe asibidɛwo léa ɖetitrekekee.
20 She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
Eʋua asi na ame dahewo eye wòdoa asi ɖe hiãtɔwo gbɔ.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
Ne snodzaɣi ɖo la, mevɔ̃na ɖe eƒe aƒekɔ nu o elabena wo katã tsyɔ kuntru dzĩ.
22 She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
Elɔ̃a abadzivɔ na eƒe aba eye wòdoa aklala biɖibiɖi ƒe awu kple awu blɔ.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
Wodea bubu srɔ̃a ŋu le dua ƒe agbonu ne enɔ anyigba la dzi dumegãwo dome.
24 She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
Etɔa aklala biɖibiɖi ƒe awuwo dzrana eye wòdzraa alidziblanu na asitsalawo.
25 Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
Edo ŋusẽ kple bubu abe awu ene eye ate ŋu ako ŋkeke siwo gbɔna.
26 She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
Eƒoa nu kple nunya eye nufiame anukwaretɔ le eƒe aɖe dzi.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
Ekpɔa eƒe aƒekɔ ƒe nyawo gbɔ nyuie eye meɖua kuviabolo o.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
Viawo tsona yɔnɛ be yayratɔ, nenemae srɔ̃a hã yɔnɛ, hekafunɛ be,
29 “The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
“‘Nyɔnu siwo wɔa nu ɖɔʋuwo la li fũu, gake wò la, èƒo wo katã ta.’
30 Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
Nyonyo la, beblee, eye tugbedzedze nu hã va yina kaba; gake woakafu nyɔnu si vɔ̃a Yehowa.
31 Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
Mitsɔ fetu si wòdze na la nɛ, eye eƒe dɔwɔwɔwo ahe kafukafu vɛ nɛ le dua ƒe agbowo nu.”
