< Proverbs 17 >
1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting 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 servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
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 tests the hearts.
Sonu li na klosalo eye dzokpo li na sika, ke Yehowae doa dziwo katã kpɔ.
4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives 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 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity 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; the glory of children is their parents.
Ame si ku amegã la ƒe fiakukue nye viawo ƒe viwo eye dzilawo nye atsyɔ̃ na wo viwo.
7 Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
Nuyi siwo doa wo ɖokuiwo ɖe dzi la medzena bometsila kaka alakpanuyiwo nahayi dziɖula dze ge o!
8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
Zãnu nye kpe xɔasi na ame si nae, afi sia afi si wòayi la, edzea dzi nɛ.
9 He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best 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 rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes 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 seeks 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 cubs 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 rewards 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 like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
Dzregɔmetoto le abe ale si woŋɔa tɔʋu ene; eya ta ɖe asi le nya ŋu hafi wòava zu dzre.
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Afiatsotso na agɔdzela, kple fɔbubu agɔmadzela siaa nye nu si Yehowa tsri.
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
Ŋudɔwɔnu ka ga nye le bometsila ƒe asi me, esi didi aɖeke mele eme ɖe nunyadidi ŋuti o?
17 A friend loves 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 strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
Ame manyanu ƒua asi akɔ eye wòdoa ŋugbe tsɔa eɖokui daa megbee na ehavi si nyi fe.
19 He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
Ame si lɔ̃ dzrewɔwɔ la lɔ̃a nu vɔ̃ eye ame si de agbo kɔkɔ eƒe aƒe nu la le gbegblẽ dim.
20 One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
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 who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
Viŋutsu si tsi bome la hea veve vɛ, eye fofo si, si vi tsibome le la makpɔ dzidzɔ o.
22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up 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 receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi xɔa zãnu le bebeme be wòatrɔ nya dzɔdzɔe atsyɔ anyi.
24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to 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 brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
Viŋutsu tsibome hea nuxaxa vɛ na fofoa kple veve vɛ na ame si dzii.
26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
Menyo be woahe to na fɔmaɖila alo aƒo dɔnunɔla ɖe eƒe nuteƒewɔwɔ ta o.
27 He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
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 keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
Wobua bometsila gɔ̃ hã nunyalae nenye be ezi ɖoɖoe, eye wobunɛ sidzelae ne ekpɔ eƒe aɖe dzi nyuie.