Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Abolo ƒuƒlu sue ɖuɖu si ŋu ŋutifafa kple dziɖeɖi kpe ɖo la nyo wu aƒe si me yɔ fũu kple agbeɖuɖu eye dzre kpe ɖe eŋu.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Dɔla nyanu aɖu aƒetɔ ɖe viŋutsu ŋukpenanuwɔla dzi eye ama domenyinu la kpli wo abe wo nɔviŋutsu wònye ene.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Sonu li na klosalo eye dzokpo li na sika, ke Yehowae doa dziwo katã kpɔ.
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi ɖoa to nuyi vɔ̃ɖiwo eye aʋatsotɔ ƒua to anyi ɖe aɖe si gblẽa ame ŋu la ŋu.
5 He that mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Ame si ɖea alɔme le ame dahe ŋuti la doa vlo woƒe Wɔla eye ame si kpɔa dzidzɔ be dzɔgbevɔ̃e dzɔ la, womagbe tohehe nɛ o.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children is their fathers.
Ame si ku amegã la ƒe fiakukue nye viawo ƒe viwo eye dzilawo nye atsyɔ̃ na wo viwo.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Nuyi siwo doa wo ɖokuiwo ɖe dzi la medzena bometsila kaka alakpanuyiwo nahayi dziɖula dze ge o!
8 A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: wherever it turneth, it prospereth.
Zãnu nye kpe xɔasi na ame si nae, afi sia afi si wòayi la, edzea dzi nɛ.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Ame si tsɔ nu tsyɔ vodada dzi la doa lɔlɔ̃ ɖe ŋgɔ eye ame si gawɔ nu si wòwɔ va yi la maa xɔlɔ̃ veviwo dome.
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Mokaname dea ta me na ame si si sidzedze le wu nu si ƒoƒo alafa ɖeka nye na bometsila.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi la ɖoe kplikpaa be yeadze aglã eya ta woadɔ dumegã sẽŋuta ɖe eŋu.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Enyo be nàdo go sisiblisi si ŋu woɖe viwo le wu esi nàdo go bometsila le eƒe bometsitsi me.
13 Whoever rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Ne ŋutsu tsɔ vɔ̃ ɖo nyui teƒe la, vɔ̃ madzo ɖa le eƒe aƒe me kpɔ gbeɖe o.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.
Dzregɔmetoto le abe ale si woŋɔa tɔʋu ene; eya ta ɖe asi le nya ŋu hafi wòava zu dzre.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Afiatsotso na agɔdzela, kple fɔbubu agɔmadzela siaa nye nu si Yehowa tsri.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
Ŋudɔwɔnu ka ga nye le bometsila ƒe asi me, esi didi aɖeke mele eme ɖe nunyadidi ŋuti o?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Xɔlɔ̃ lɔ̃a ame ɣeawo katã ɣi, ke wodzi nɔviŋutsu hena hiãgbe.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Ame manyanu ƒua asi akɔ eye wòdoa ŋugbe tsɔa eɖokui daa megbee na ehavi si nyi fe.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Ame si lɔ̃ dzrewɔwɔ la lɔ̃a nu vɔ̃ eye ame si de agbo kɔkɔ eƒe aƒe nu la le gbegblẽ dim.
20 He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Ame si si dzi dovo le la nu medzea edzi nɛ o eye ame si si alakpaɖe le la gena ɖe fukpekpe me.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Viŋutsu si tsi bome la hea veve vɛ, eye fofo si, si vi tsibome le la makpɔ dzidzɔ o.
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Dzi si kpɔa dzidzɔ la nye atike nyui, ke gbɔgbɔ si wote ɖe to la nana ƒu tome ƒuna kplakplakpla.
23 A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi xɔa zãnu le bebeme be wòatrɔ nya dzɔdzɔe atsyɔ anyi.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Ame si si sidzedze le la ƒe ŋku nɔa nunya ŋu, ke bometsila ƒe ŋkuwo tsana, dona ɖe anyigba ƒe mlɔenu ke.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
Viŋutsu tsibome hea nuxaxa vɛ na fofoa kple veve vɛ na ame si dzii.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
Menyo be woahe to na fɔmaɖila alo aƒo dɔnunɔla ɖe eƒe nuteƒewɔwɔ ta o.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Ame si si sidzedze su la nya vlowo medona le enu o eye ame si si gɔmesese le la ɖɔa ŋu ɖo, medoa dziku dzodzro o.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Wobua bometsila gɔ̃ hã nunyalae nenye be ezi ɖoɖoe, eye wobunɛ sidzelae ne ekpɔ eƒe aɖe dzi nyuie.
