< Proverbs 21 >
1 The king's heart is in the LORD's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
Fia la ƒe dzi le Yehowa ƒe asi me; efiaa mɔe wòtoa afi sia afi si wòlɔ̃ la abe ale si woɖea toƒe na tsi si si tso tsidzɔtsoƒe ene.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.
Ŋutsu ƒe mɔwo katã dzea eŋu gake Yehowae daa dziwo kpɔ.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Nu dzɔdzɔe kple nu si le eteƒe wɔwɔ doa dzidzɔ na Yehowa wu vɔsa.
4 A high look, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Ŋku gã kple dzi si me dada le lae nye ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe akaɖi, evɔ wòhenye nu vɔ̃.
5 The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
Vevidonula ƒe ɖoɖoɖowo hea viɖe vɛ nenema kee dzitsitsi hea ahedada vɛ.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
Kesinɔnu si wotsɔ alakpaɖe kpɔe la nu va yina kaba abe ƒuƒu ene eye wònye mɔ si ŋu aɖi vɔ̃ɖi le.
7 The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
Ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe ŋutasẽnuwɔwɔ ahe wo adzoe elabena wogbe be yewomawɔ nu nyui o.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Fɔɖila ƒe mɔ le gɔdɔ̃gɔdɔ̃ gake fɔmaɖila ƒe nuwɔwɔ le dzɔdzɔe.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Enyo be woanɔ dzogoe dzi le xɔta wu be woanɔ xɔ ɖeka me kple srɔ̃nyɔnu dzrewɔla.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
Nu vɔ̃ɖi wɔwɔ dzroa ame vɔ̃ɖi vevie, mekpɔa nublanui na ehavi o.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Ne wohe to na fewuɖula la, bometsilawo dzea nunya; ne wofia nu nunyala la, sidzedze sua esi.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
Dzɔdzɔetɔ la ɖea ŋku ɖe ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe aƒe ŋu, eye wòhea gbegblẽ vaa ame vɔ̃ɖi la dzi.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
Ne ame aɖe do toku ame dahe ƒe ɣlidodo la, ne eya hã do ɣli la, ame aɖeke masee nɛ o.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger; and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
Nunana si wona le adzame la faa dziku nu eye zãnu si woɣla ɖe awu ʋlaya te hafi tsɔ vɛ la léa avu dziku helĩhelĩ.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to evildoers.
Afia nyui tsotso hea dzidzɔ vɛ na ame dzɔdzɔe, ke ehea ŋɔdzi vɛ na vɔ̃ wɔlawo.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
Ŋutsu si tra tso gɔmesese ƒe mɔ dzi la va dzudzɔna le ame kukuwo ƒe ha me.
17 He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
Ame si lɔ̃a agbeɖuɖu la azu hiãtɔ eye ame si lɔ̃a wain kple ami la makpɔ hotsui o.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; the treacherous for the upright.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi zua avulénu ɖe ame dzɔdzɔe teƒe eye nenema ke nuteƒemawɔla ɖea nuteƒewɔla nu.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
Enyo be nànɔ dzogbe wu be nànɔ anyi kple srɔ̃nyɔnu dzrewɔla kple dɔmedzoedola.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.
Nuɖuɖu vivi kple ami bɔ ɖe nunyala ƒe aƒe me fũu, gake bometsila ɖua nu sia nu si le esi.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Ame si tia dzɔdzɔenyenye kple lɔlɔ̃ la, tia agbe, dzidzedze kple bubu.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
Nunyala dze kalẽtɔ ƒe du dzi eye wòmu mɔ sesẽ si ŋu wole dzi ɖom ɖo la ƒu anyi.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Ame si kpɔa eƒe nu kple eƒe aɖe dzi la, ɖea eɖokui tso dzɔgbevɔ̃e me.
24 The proud and haughty man, "scoffer" is his name; he works in the arrogance of pride.
Ŋutsu dadala, ɖokuiŋudzela, si wɔa nu tovo kple dada la, eyae woyɔna be, “Fewuɖula.”
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
Kuviatɔ ƒe nudzodzro ahe ku vɛ nɛ, elabena eƒe asiwo gbe be yewomawɔ dɔ o.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and do not withhold.
Ele nu dzrom ŋkeke blibo la, ke ame dzɔdzɔe la nana faa, eye metea ame o.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe vɔsa nye ŋunyɔnu, kaka wòahanye be etsɔe vɛ kple susu vɔ̃ɖi.
28 A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.
Aʋatsoɖasefo atsrɔ̃ eye ame si ɖoa toe la atsrɔ̃ gbidigbidi.
29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi ɖoa mo kplala ɖi, ke dzɔdzɔetɔ léa ŋku ɖe eƒe mɔwo ŋu.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
Nunya, gɔmesese kple ɖoɖo aɖeke meli si adze edzi o, ne etsi tsitre ɖe Yehowa ŋu.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.
Woblaa akpa na sɔ ɖe aʋakpegbe ŋu, gake Yehowa ƒe asimee dziɖuɖu ya le.