< Proverbs 16 >
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
Amegbetɔ tɔe nye dzi ƒe nuɖoɖowo, ke nyaŋuɖoɖo na aɖe tsoa Yehowa gbɔ.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Fɔɖiɖi menɔa ame ŋutɔ ƒe mɔwo ŋu le eya ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkume o, ke Yehowa daa susuwo kpɔ.
3 Commit thy works to the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Tsɔ nu sia nu si nèwɔna la de Yehowa ƒe asi me, ekema wò ɖoɖowo adze edzi na wò.
4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Yehowa wɔ nu sia nu le eƒe ŋudɔwɔnu ta, eɖo ame vɔ̃ɖi la gɔ̃ hã ɖi hena dzɔgbevɔ̃eŋkeke la.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Dadalawo katã nye ŋunyɔnu na Yehowa. Maka ɖe edzi na wò be, womagbe tohehe na wo o.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Woɖea nu vɔ̃ ɖa to lɔlɔ̃ kple nuteƒewɔwɔ me eye ame ƒoa asa na nu vɔ̃ɖi to Yehowavɔvɔ̃ me.
7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Ne ame aɖe ƒe mɔwo nyo Yehowa ŋu la, enana eƒe futɔwo gɔ̃ hã nɔa anyi kplii le ŋutifafa me.
8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Nu sue si ŋu dzɔdzɔenyenye kpe ɖo la nyo wu nu geɖe si ŋu madzɔmadzɔ kpe ɖo.
9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Ame wɔa ɖoɖo ɖe ale si wòazɔe ŋu le eƒe dzi me, gake Yehowae fiaa ale si wòaɖe afɔe.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
Fia ƒe nuyiwo ƒoa nu abe nya gblɔm wòle ɖi ene eya ta eƒe nu megatso afia gbegblẽ o.
11 A just weight and balance are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.
Nudakpe kple nudanu vavãwo tso Yehowa gbɔ eye nenema ke nudakpe siwo katã le akplo me hã nye eƒe nuwɔwɔ.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
Nu tovo wɔwɔ nye ŋunyɔnu na fiawo elabena woɖoa fiazikpui anyi ɖe dzɔdzɔenyenye dzi.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
Nuyi siwo dzi alakpa mele o la, doa dzidzɔ na fiawo, wodea asixɔxɔ ame si toa nyateƒe la ŋu.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
Fia ƒe dziku nye ku ƒe dɔla, ke nunyala alé avui.
15 In the light of a king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
Ne fia ɖo mo kɔkɔe la, egɔmee nye agbe eye eƒe amenuveve le abe tsiɖoɖo le adame ene.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Aleke nunyaxɔxɔ mehenyo wu sikae o, eye gɔmesesetiatia mehenyo wu klosaloe o!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
Ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe mɔtata ƒoa asa na nu vɔ̃ɖi eye ame si dzɔa eƒe mɔ ŋu la dzɔa eƒe agbe ŋuti.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Dada doa ŋgɔ na gbegblẽ eye ɖokuidodoɖedzi doa ŋgɔ na anyidzedze.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Enyo be woabɔbɔ ame ɖokui ɖe anyi le hiãtɔwo dome wu be woama afunyinuwo kple dadalawo.
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoever trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
Nu dzea edzi na ame si ɖoa to nufiame eye woayra ame si tsɔ eƒe mɔkpɔkpɔ da ɖe Yehowa dzi.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
Woyɔa ame siwo nunya le woƒe dzi me la be sidzelawo, eye nya vivi doa nufiame ɖe ŋgɔ.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
Gɔmesese nye agbetsidzidzi na ame siwo ke ɖe eŋuti, ke bometsitsi hea tohehe vɛ na bometsilawo.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
Nunyala ƒe dzi dzɔa eƒe nu ŋuti eye eƒe nuyiwo doa nufiame ɖe ŋgɔ.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Nya nyuiwo nye anyitsito, enana luʋɔ sea vivi, eye wòhea dɔyɔyɔ vɛ na ƒuwo.
25 There is a way that seemeth right to a man, but the end of it is the way of death.
Mɔ aɖe li si le dzɔdzɔe le ame ƒe ŋkume, ke le nuwuwua la, ekplɔa ame yia ku mee.
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
Agbatedɔwɔla ƒe nudzodzro wɔa dɔ nɛ, dɔwuame doa ŋusẽe be wòayi edzi.
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
Yakame le nu vɔ̃ɖi ɖom eye eƒe nuƒoƒo le abe dzo si le bibim sesĩe la ene.
28 A perverse man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi dea dzre aƒe eye amenyagblɔla maa xɔlɔ̃ veviwo dome.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
Ame dzeaglã blea eƒe aƒelika nu, eye wòkplɔnɛ toa mɔ gɔglɔ̃ dzi.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Ame si le ŋku trom la le nu vɔ̃ɖi aɖe ɖom, eye ame si mia eƒe nu ɖe nu dzi la awɔ vɔ̃ godoo.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness.
Ta si ƒo wɔ la nye atsyɔ̃fiakuku, agbe dzɔdzɔe nɔnɔe henɛ vɛ.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Enyo be nànye ŋutsu dzigbɔɖitɔ wu kalẽtɔ, ame si ɖu eƒe dziku dzi la nyo wu ame si xɔ du.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but its whole disposing is from the LORD.
Wolɔa hotsui ɖe akɔ hetsɔna kaa nui, ke nyametsotso ɖe sia ɖe tso Yehowa gbɔ.