Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon [Peaceable, Recompense], the son of David [Beloved], king of Israel [God prevails]:
Israel fia Solomo, David ƒe vi ƒe lododowo nye esiawo:
2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
na nunya kple amehehe, na nya goglowo gɔmesese,
3 to receive instruction in wisdom, in righteousness, mishpat ·justice·, and equity;
hena agbe dzɔdzɔe kple agbe ɖevi nɔnɔ, be woawɔ nu si dzɔ, nu si le eteƒe kple nu si nyo,
4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:
be ame gblɔewo nadze aɖaŋu eye woana nunya kple sidzedze sɔhɛwo,
5 that the wise man may sh'ma ·hear obey·, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
nunyalawo neɖo to, ne woasrɔ̃ nu akpe ɖe esi wonya xoxo la ŋu eye ame siwo si sidzedze le xoxo la naxɔ aɖaŋu,
6 to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
be woase nunyalawo ƒe lododowo abebubuwo kple adzowo gɔme.
7 The fear of Adonai is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Yehowa vɔvɔ̃e nye nunya ƒe gɔmedzedze, ke bometsilawo doa vlo nunya kple amehehe.
8 My son, sh'ma ·hear obey· your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:
Vinye, ɖo to fofowò ƒe nuxɔxlɔ̃ eye mègagbe nu le dawò ƒe nufiame gbɔ o.
9 for they will be a garland to chen ·grace· your head, and chains around your neck.
Anye seƒoƒokuku aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò ta kple kɔga anɔ kɔwò.
10 My son, if people who sin ·intentionally miss the mark goal· entice you, don’t consent.
Vinye, ne nu vɔ̃ wɔlawo le nuwò blem la, mègalɔ̃ na wo o.
11 If they say, “Come with us, Let’s lay in wait for blood; let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
Ne wogblɔ na wò be, “Va kplɔ mí ɖo, na míade xa ɖe ame aɖe ƒe ʋu ŋuti, na míanɔ xame na luʋɔ maɖifɔ aɖe,
12 let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol ·Place of the dead·, and whole, like those who go down into the pit (of Abbadon, the unrighteous side of Sheol). (Sheol h7585)
ne míamii agbagbee abe tsiẽƒe ene, eye míamii blibo abe ame siwo ge dze ʋe globo me ene (Sheol h7585)
13 We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
ekema nu xɔasi vovovowo asu mía si eye míatsɔ afunyinuwo ayɔ míaƒe xɔwo mee
14 You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse.”
eya ta de mía dzi ale be míana gakotoku ɖeka wò” la,
15 My son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
vinye, mègakplɔ wo ɖo o, mègaka afɔ woƒe toƒewo o
16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
elabena woƒe afɔ ɖea abla ɖe nu vɔ̃ ŋu eye wogona ɖe ʋukɔkɔɖi ŋu.
17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:
Enye movidzɔdzɔ be woaɖo ɖɔ ɖi na xeviwo le wo katã ƒe ŋkume!
18 but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
Ame siawo de xa ɖi na woawo ŋutɔ ƒe ʋu eye wole adeklo dzi ɖe woawo ŋutɔ ɖokuiwo ŋu!
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
Aleae ame siwo tia viɖe ƒoɖi yome la ƒe nuwuwu anɔ, elabena eɖea ame siwo ƒe asi su edzi la ƒe agbe ɖa.
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
Nunya le ɣli dom le mɔtata dzi eye wòkɔ gbe dzi le ƒuƒoƒewo.
21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
Ele ɣli dom le mɔtata siwo dzi zinyenye le la ƒe dzogoewo dzi eye wòle eƒe nyawo gblɔm le dua ƒe agbowo me be,
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you 'ahav ·affectionately love· thoughtless living? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
“Va se ɖe ɣe ka ɣi mi gegemewo mialɔ̃ bometsinuwɔwɔ? Va se ɖe ɣe ka yi fewuɖulawo akpɔ dzidzɔ le fewuɖuɖu ŋu, bometsilawo alé fu sidzedze?
23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
Ne ɖe mietrɔ ɖe nye mokaname ŋu la, anye ne metrɔ nye dzi kɔ ɖe anyi na mi eye mena mienya nye susuwo.
24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
Ke esi miegbe tɔtɔ nam esi meyɔ mi, esi meke nye abɔwo me, mietsɔ ɖeke le eme o
25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
eye miedo toku nye aɖaŋuɖoɖowo, hegbe nye mokaname ta la,
26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;
nye hã mako mi le miaƒe gbegblẽ ta eye maɖe alɔme le mia ŋu ne dzɔgbevɔ̃e ƒo ɖe mia dzi,
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.
ɛ̃, ne eƒo ɖe mia dzi abe ahom sesẽ ene, gbegblẽ hã zɔ to mia dzi abe yali ene, eye xaxa kple hiã va mia dzi kpoyi!
28 Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
“Ekema woayɔm gake nyematɔ o, woadim gake womakpɔm o.
29 because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Adonai.
Le esi wolé fu sidzedze eye wometia Yehowavɔvɔ̃ o,
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
le esi wogbe nye aɖaŋuɖoɖo hedo vlo nye mokaname ta.
31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
Azɔ la woaɖu woƒe mɔwo ƒe kutsetse eye woƒe ɖoɖowo ƒe kutsetse aɖi ƒo na wo
32 For the backsliding apostasy and willful rejection of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
elabena gegemewo ƒe afɔɖeɖe baɖawo awu wo eye bometsilawo ƒe ɖekematsɔleme atsrɔ̃ wo.
33 But whoever sh'ma ·hears obeys· me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Ke ame sia ame si ɖoa tom la, anɔ agbe le dedinɔnɔ me eye aɖe dzi ɖi bɔkɔɔ, mavɔ̃ na dzɔgbevɔ̃e o.”
