< Proverbs 19 >
1 Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse [in] his lips, who [is] a fool.
Anyo be nànye ame dahe si ƒe zɔzɔme ŋu fɔɖiɖi mele o, wu bometsila si ƒe nuyiwo gblɔa nya tovo.
2 Also, without knowledge the soul [is] not good, And the hasty in feet is sinning.
Menyo be dzo nanɔ mewò ɖe nuwo wɔwɔ ŋu gɔmesesemanɔmee alo atsi dzi ahabu mɔ o.
3 The folly of man perverteth his way, And against Jehovah is his heart wroth.
Ame ŋutɔ ƒe bometsitsie gblẽa eƒe agbe dome, evɔ eƒe dzi bina ɖe Yehowa ŋu.
4 Wealth addeth many friends, And the poor from his neighbour is separated.
Kesinɔnunɔamesi dzea xɔlɔ̃ geɖe na ame, gake ame dahe ƒe xɔlɔ̃wo kakana le eŋu.
5 A false witness is not acquitted, Whoso breatheth out lies is not delivered.
Womagbe tohehe na aʋatsoɖasefo o eye ame si trɔa alakpa kɔna ɖi bababa la, madzo le ablɔɖe me o.
6 Many entreat the face of the noble, And all have made friendship to a man of gifts.
Ame geɖewo wɔa nu be woadze fia ŋu, eye ame si naa nu ame faa la, ame sia ame dzea xɔ̃e.
7 All the brethren of the poor have hated him, Surely also his friends have been far from him, He is pursuing words — they are not!
Ame dahe ƒe ƒometɔwo katã ɖea kɔ ɖa le eŋu, aleke exɔlɔ̃wo magbee geɖe wu o! Togbɔ be etia wo yome nɔa kuku ɖem na wo hã la, womedea nu eme nɛ o.
8 Whoso is getting heart is loving his soul, He is keeping understanding to find good.
Ame si, si nunya su la lɔ̃a eya ŋutɔ ƒe luʋɔ eye ame si melɔ̃a nu le gɔmesese gbɔ o la, nu dzea edzi nɛ.
9 A false witness is not acquitted, And whoso breatheth out lies perisheth.
Womagbe tohehe na aʋatsoɖasefo o eye ame si trɔa alakpa kɔna ɖi bababa la atsrɔ̃.
10 Luxury is not comely for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule among princes.
Agbe vivi nɔnɔ medze bometsila ʋuu keke wòahanye be kluvi ɖu aƒetɔ ɖe dumegãwo dzi o.
11 The wisdom of a man hath deferred his anger, And his glory [is] to pass over transgression.
Ame ƒe nunya nana wògbɔa dzi ɖi eye ŋutikɔkɔe wònye nɛ ne eŋe aɖaba ƒu dzidada dzi.
12 The wrath of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, And as dew on the herb his good-will.
Fia ƒe dziku le abe dzata ƒe gbetete ene, ke eƒe amenuveve le abe zãmu le gbedzi ene.
13 A calamity to his father [is] a foolish son, And the contentions of a wife [are] a continual dropping.
Viŋutsu tsibome nye fofoa ƒe gbegblẽ eye srɔ̃nyɔnu dzrewɔla le abe tsitrɔnu si le ɖuɖum ɖaa ene.
14 House and wealth [are] the inheritance of fathers, And from Jehovah [is] an understanding wife.
Aƒewo kple kesinɔnuwo nye domenyinu tso dzilawo gbɔ, ke srɔ̃nyɔnu nyanu ya, Yehowa gbɔe wòtsona.
15 Sloth causeth deep sleep to fall, And an indolent soul doth hunger.
Kuvia nana ame dɔa alɔ̃ yia eme ʋĩi eye dɔ wua ƒomewɔla.
16 Whoso is keeping the command is keeping his soul, Whoso is despising His ways dieth.
Ame si wɔna ɖe sedede dzi la dzɔa eƒe agbe ŋu, ke ame si metsɔ ɖeke le eƒe mɔwo ŋu o la aku.
17 Whoso is lending [to] Jehovah is favouring the poor, And his deed He repayeth to him.
Ame si nyo dɔ me na hiãtɔ la, do nugbana na Yehowa, aɖo nu si wòwɔ la teƒe nɛ.
18 Chastise thy son, for there is hope, And to put him to death lift not up thy soul.
He to na viwò ŋutsuvi elabena eya mee mɔkpɔkpɔ le; ke mègakpe ɖe ame siwo le eƒe ku dim la ŋuti o.
19 A man of great wrath is bearing punishment, For, if thou dost deliver, yet again thou dost add.
Ame si dzi kuna helĩhelĩ la, axe eŋutife; ne èɖee le eme la, agawɔe ake.
20 Hear counsel and receive instruction, So that thou art wise in thy latter end.
Ɖo to aɖaŋuɖoɖo, nàxɔ amehehe eye le nuwuwua la, àdze nunya.
21 Many [are] the purposes in a man's heart, And the counsel of Jehovah it standeth.
Nu geɖewo ame ɖo ɖe eƒe dzi me, gake Yehowa ƒe ɖoɖo koe vaa eme.
22 The desirableness of a man [is] his kindness, And better [is] the poor than a liar.
Nu si ame dina lae nye lɔlɔ̃ si meʋãna o; enyo be nànye ame dahe wu alakpatɔ.
23 The fear of Jehovah [is] to life, And satisfied he remaineth — he is not charged with evil.
Yehowavɔvɔ̃ kplɔa ame yia agbe gbɔe. Ekema ànɔ anyi aɖe dzi ɖi eye kuxi aɖeke maƒo go wò o.
24 The slothful hath hidden his hand in a dish, Even unto his mouth he bringeth it not back.
Ne kuviatɔ de asi nuɖugba me la, maɖee ɖa atsɔ yi nu gbɔe teti gɔ̃ hã o!
25 A scorner smite, and the simple acts prudently, And give reproof to the intelligent, He understandeth knowledge.
Ƒo fewuɖula kple ati, ekema gegemewo adze nunya; ka mo na ame si si sidzedze le, ekema gɔmesese asu esi.
26 Whoso is spoiling a father causeth a mother to flee, A son causing shame, and bringing confusion.
Ame si daa adzo fofoa, nyaa dada doa goe lae nye viŋutsu si hea ŋukpe kple vlododo vɛ.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction — To err from sayings of knowledge.
Vinye, ne èdzudzɔ amehenyawo sese la, ekema àtra tso gɔmesese ƒe nyawo gbɔ.
28 A worthless witness scorneth judgment, And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
Aʋatsoɖasefo ɖua fewu le afia nyui tsotso ŋu eye ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe nu miaa nu vɔ̃ɖi.
29 Judgments have been prepared for scorners, And stripes for the back of fools!
Woɖo tohehe ɖi na fewuɖulawo eye woɖo ƒoƒo ɖi na bometsilawo ƒe dzime.