< Proverbs 1 >
1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, King of Israel:
Israel fia Solomo, David ƒe vi ƒe lododowo nye esiawo:
2 For the knowledge of wisdom and correction, for discerning the sayings of intelligence;
na nunya kple amehehe, na nya goglowo gɔmesese,
3 For receiving the correction of prudence, righteousness and justice, and equity;
hena agbe dzɔdzɔe kple agbe ɖevi nɔnɔ, be woawɔ nu si dzɔ, nu si le eteƒe kple nu si nyo,
4 For giving To the simple shrewdness, To the young man, knowledge and discretion.
be ame gblɔewo nadze aɖaŋu eye woana nunya kple sidzedze sɔhɛwo,
5 A wise man, will hear, and will increase learning, and a, discreet man, wise counsels, will acquire,
nunyalawo neɖo to, ne woasrɔ̃ nu akpe ɖe esi wonya xoxo la ŋu eye ame siwo si sidzedze le xoxo la naxɔ aɖaŋu,
6 By gaining discernment of proverb, and satire, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
be woase nunyalawo ƒe lododowo abebubuwo kple adzowo gɔme.
7 The reverence of Yahweh, is the beginning of knowledge, Wisdom and correction, the foolish have despised.
Yehowa vɔvɔ̃e nye nunya ƒe gɔmedzedze, ke bometsilawo doa vlo nunya kple amehehe.
8 Hear, my son, the correction of thy father, and do not reject the instruction of thy mother;
Vinye, ɖo to fofowò ƒe nuxɔxlɔ̃ eye mègagbe nu le dawò ƒe nufiame gbɔ o.
9 For, a wreath of beauty, shall they be to thy head, and chains of ornament, to thy neck.
Anye seƒoƒokuku aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò ta kple kɔga anɔ kɔwò.
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, do not consent.
Vinye, ne nu vɔ̃ wɔlawo le nuwò blem la, mègalɔ̃ na wo o.
11 If they say—Come with us, —Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us watch in secret for him who is needlessly innocent;
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 us engulf them, like hades, alive, While in health, like them who are going down to the pit; (Sheol )
ne míamii agbagbee abe tsiẽƒe ene, eye míamii blibo abe ame siwo ge dze ʋe globo me ene (Sheol )
13 All costly substance, shall we find, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
ekema nu xɔasi vovovowo asu mía si eye míatsɔ afunyinuwo ayɔ míaƒe xɔwo mee
14 Thy lot, shalt thou cast into our midst, One purse, shall there be, for us all.
eya ta de mía dzi ale be míana gakotoku ɖeka wò” la,
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, Withhold thy foot from their path.
vinye, mègakplɔ wo ɖo o, mègaka afɔ woƒe toƒewo o
16 For, their feet, to mischief, do run, and haste to the shedding of blood.
elabena woƒe afɔ ɖea abla ɖe nu vɔ̃ ŋu eye wogona ɖe ʋukɔkɔɖi ŋu.
17 Surely, in vain, is spread the net, in the sight of aught that hath wings!
Enye movidzɔdzɔ be woaɖo ɖɔ ɖi na xeviwo le wo katã ƒe ŋkume!
18 Yet, they, for their own blood, lie in wait, They watch in secret for their own life.
Ame siawo de xa ɖi na woawo ŋutɔ ƒe ʋu eye wole adeklo dzi ɖe woawo ŋutɔ ɖokuiwo ŋu!
19 Such are the ways of every one that graspeth with greed, The life of the owners thereof, it taketh away!
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, in the open place, soundeth forth, in the broadways, she raiseth her voice;
Nunya le ɣli dom le mɔtata dzi eye wòkɔ gbe dzi le ƒuƒoƒewo.
21 At the head of bustling streets, she crieth aloud, —at the openings of the gates in the city—her sayings, she doth utter: —
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, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and, scoffers, in scoffing, delight them? and, dullards, 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 Will ye turn, at my reproof? Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit, 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 called, and ye refused, I stretched out my hand, and no one regarded;
Ke esi miegbe tɔtɔ nam esi meyɔ mi, esi meke nye abɔwo me, mietsɔ ɖeke le eme o
25 But ye dismissed all my counsel, and, to my rebuke, would not yield,
eye miedo toku nye aɖaŋuɖoɖowo, hegbe nye mokaname ta la,
26 I also, at your calamity, will laugh, I will mock, when cometh your dread;
nye hã mako mi le miaƒe gbegblẽ ta eye maɖe alɔme le mia ŋu ne dzɔgbevɔ̃e ƒo ɖe mia dzi,
27 When cometh as a crashing your dread, and, your calamity, as a storm-wind, overtaketh, when there come upon you, distress and anguish.
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 me, but I will not answer, they will seek me diligently, but shall not find me.
“Ekema woayɔm gake nyematɔ o, woadim gake womakpɔm o.
29 Because they hated knowledge, and, the reverence of Yahweh, did not choose;
Le esi wolé fu sidzedze eye wometia Yehowavɔvɔ̃ o,
30 Consented not to my counsel, disdained all my rebuke,
le esi wogbe nye aɖaŋuɖoɖo hedo vlo nye mokaname ta.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and, with their own counsels, be filled.
Azɔ la woaɖu woƒe mɔwo ƒe kutsetse eye woƒe ɖoɖowo ƒe kutsetse aɖi ƒo na wo
32 For, the turning away of the simple, will slay them, —and, the carelessness of dullards, will destroy them.
elabena gegemewo ƒe afɔɖeɖe baɖawo awu wo eye bometsilawo ƒe ɖekematsɔleme atsrɔ̃ wo.
33 Whereas, he that hearkeneth unto me, shall dwell safely, and be at rest, without dread of misfortune.
Ke ame sia ame si ɖoa tom la, anɔ agbe le dedinɔnɔ me eye aɖe dzi ɖi bɔkɔɔ, mavɔ̃ na dzɔgbevɔ̃e o.”