Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Esiawoe nye Solomo ƒe lododo bubu siwo Yuda fia Hezekia ƒe dɔdzikpɔlawo ŋlɔ da ɖi.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but 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 heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Abe ale si dziƒo kɔe eye anyigba gogloe ene la, nenemae womate ŋu adzro fiawo ƒe dzi me o.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the finer:
Ɖe ɖi ɖa le klosalo ŋu, ekema klosalonutula kpɔ dɔwɔnu.
5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Ɖe ame vɔ̃ɖi ɖa le fia la ŋkume ekema eƒe fiazikpui ali ke to dzɔdzɔenyenye me.
6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Mègado ɖokuiwò ɖe dzi le fia la ŋkume o eye mègaʋli nɔƒe le amegãwo dome o.
7 For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine 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 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
mègatsɔ dzitsitsi ahee va ʋɔnui o elabena nu ka nàwɔ le nuwuwua ne hawòvi la do ŋukpe wò?
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself], and disclose not the secret of another:
Ne èle nya hem kple hawòvi la, mègaʋu go ame bubu ƒe nya ɣaɣla o,
10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
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 A word fitly spoken is [like] apples of gold in baskets of silver.
Nya si wogblɔ dedie la, le abe “sikaplu” le klosalogba me ene.
12 [As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Ŋutsu nunyala ƒe mokaname le na to si le esem la abe sikatogɛ alo sikatsyɔ̃ɖonu aɖe ene.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him; for he refresheth 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 [As] clouds and wind without rain, [so is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
Ŋutsu si ƒoa adegbe le nunana siwo mena o ŋu la le abe lilikpododo kple ya si medzaa tsi o la ene.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Dzigbɔɖie wotsɔna blea fia nue eye aɖe bɔbɔe ate ŋu agbã ƒu.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee; lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Ne èke ɖe anyitsi ŋu la, no esi sinu nàte ŋui ko, ne ènoe fũu akpa la, àdzɔe.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Mègaƒo afɔɖi hawòvi ƒe aƒe me o, ne èle egbɔ dem kabakaba la, ava tsri wò.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Ŋutsu si ɖi aʋatsoɖase ɖe ehavi ŋu la le abe kpo, yi alo aŋutrɔ ɖaɖɛ ene.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Dziɖoɖo ɖe nuteƒemawɔla ŋu le xaxaɣiwo le abe aɖu vovo alo afɔ tutu ene.
20 [As] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy 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 thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
Ne dɔ le wò ketɔ wum la, na nui wòaɖu, ne tsikɔ le ewum la, na tsii wòano.
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Ne èwɔ esia la, àƒo dzoka xɔxɔwo nu ƒu ɖe eƒe ta dzi, eye Yehowa ŋutɔ aɖo eteƒe na wò.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
Abe ale si anyieheya hea tsidzadza vɛ ene la, nenema amenyagblɔɖe dea adã mo na amee.
24 It is better to dwell in the comer of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
Enyo be woanɔ dzogoe dzi le xɔta wu be woanɔ aƒe ɖeka me kple srɔ̃nyɔnu dzrewɔla.
25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news 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 [As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [so is] a righteous man that giveth way 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 It is not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search out their own glory is [not] glory.
Menyo be woano anyitsi fũu alo wònye nu dzeame be ame nadi eya ŋutɔ ƒe bubu o.
28 He whose spirit is without restraint is [like] a city that is broken down and hath no wall.
Ame si meɖua eɖokui dzi o la le abe du si ŋu wogbã gli le la ene.
