Proverbs 25
1 These [are] also 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 honor 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 hight, 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 shall come 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 forth thyself 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 [it is] that it be said to thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thy 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 neighbor 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 neighbor [himself]; and reveal not a secret to another:
Ne èle nya hem kple hawòvi la, mègaʋu go ame bubu ƒe nya ɣaɣla o,
10 Lest he that heareth [it] put thee to shame, and thy 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 pictures of silver.
Nya si wogblɔ dedie la, le abe “sikaplu” le klosalogba me ene.
12 [As] an ear-ring 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 Whoever boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain.
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 prince 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 with it, and vomit it.
Ne èke ɖe anyitsi ŋu la, no esi sinu nàte ŋui ko, ne ènoe fũu akpa la, àdzɔe.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] 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 neighbor [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] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre; so [is] he that singeth songs to a 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 thy enemy shall hunger, give him bread to eat; and if he shall thirst, 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 will 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 driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Abe ale si anyieheya hea tsidzadza vɛ ene la, nenema amenyagblɔɖe dea adã mo na amee.
24 [It is] better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman and 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 A righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a turbid fountain, and a corrupt spring.
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 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 that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.
Ame si meɖua eɖokui dzi o la le abe du si ŋu wogbã gli le la ene.
