< Lododowo 12 >

1 Ame si lɔ̃ amehehe la lɔ̃a sidzedze, ke ame si lé fu mokaname la, bometsilae.
Whoso loveth discipline loveth knowledge, but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
2 Yehowa vea ame nyui la nu, ke ebua fɔ ayemenuwɔla ya.
A good [man] obtaineth favour of Jehovah; but a man of mischievous devices will he condemn.
3 Womatsɔ vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi aɖo ame gɔme anyii o gake womate ŋu aho ame dzɔdzɔe ya o.
A man shall not be established by wickedness; but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
4 Srɔ̃nyɔnu zazɛ̃ nye fiakuku na srɔ̃ŋutsua, ke srɔ̃nyɔnu ŋukpenanuwɔla nye ŋuɖui le ƒu tome na srɔ̃a.
A woman of worth is a crown to her husband; but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
5 Ame dzɔdzɔe ƒe ɖoɖowo toa mɔ ɖeka, ke ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe aɖaŋuɖoɖo nye beble.
The thoughts of the righteous are right; the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6 Ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe nyawo le lalam na ʋu gake dzɔdzɔetɔwo ƒe nuƒoƒo ɖea wo.
The words of the wicked are a lying-in-wait for blood; but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7 Wotutua ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒua anyi eye womeganɔa anyi o, ke ame dzɔdzɔe ƒe aƒe lia ke ɖaa.
Overthrow the wicked, and they are no [more]; but the house of the righteous shall stand.
8 Wokafua ame le nunya si le esi la ta, ke wodoa vlo ŋutsu tagbɔ kuku tɔwo.
A man is commended according to his wisdom; but he that is of a perverted heart shall be despised.
9 Enyo be nànye ame tsɛ aɖe ko eye subɔla nanɔ asiwò, wu be nàwɔ ɖokuiwò amegãe eye nuɖuɖu manɔ asiwò o.
Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
10 Ame dzɔdzɔe léa be na eƒe lãwo ke dɔmenyo siwo ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ya wɔna la nye ŋutasesẽ.
A righteous man is concerned for the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 Ame si ŋlɔ eƒe agble la akpɔ nuɖuɖu geɖe, ke ame si kplɔa blezibledi ɖo la, numanyalae.
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth the worthless is void of understanding.
12 Ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe nu siwo woha la le ŋutasẽlawo dzrom, ke ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe ke ƒona ɖe to sesĩe.
The wicked desireth the net of evil [men]; but the root of the righteous yieldeth [fruit].
13 Ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe nu vlo ƒoƒo zua mɔ ɖenɛ, ke ame dzɔdzɔe dona le fu me.
In the transgression of the lips is an evil snare; but a righteous [man] shall go forth out of trouble.
14 Ame ƒe nu ƒe kutsetse hea nu nyuiwo vɛ nɛ taŋtaŋtaŋ, eye enye nyateƒe be dɔ si ame tsɔ eƒe asi wɔ lae hea viɖe vɛ nɛ.
A man is satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; and the recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
15 Bometsila ƒe mɔ dzɔna le eya ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkume, ke ame dzɔdzɔe xɔa aɖaŋuɖoɖo.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.
16 Bometsila ɖea eƒe dziku fiana zi ɖeka, ke nunyala doa toku dzudzu.
The vexation of the fool is presently known; but a prudent [man] covereth shame.
17 Ɖasefo nyateƒetɔ gblɔa nya si le eteƒe le ʋɔnu, ke aʋatsoɖasefo daa alakpa le ʋɔnu.
He that uttereth truth sheweth forth righteousness; but a false witness deceit.
18 Nya vlowo ƒona ɖe ame abe yi ene, ke ame dzɔdzɔe ƒe aɖe hea dɔyɔyɔ vɛ.
There is that babbleth like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health.
19 Nyateƒenuyiwo nɔa anyi ɖikaa, ke alakpaɖe nu mesena yina o.
The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Beble le ame siwo ɖoa nu vɔ̃ɖi la ƒe dzi me, ke dzidzɔ nɔa ame siwo hea ŋutifafa vɛ la ƒe dzi me.
Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21 Dzɔgbevɔ̃e medzɔna ɖe ame dzɔdzɔe dzi o, ke ame vɔ̃ɖiwo la, xaxa yɔa wo me fũu.
There shall no evil happen to a righteous [man]; but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
22 Yehowa lé fu alakpanuyiwo, ke ekpɔa dzidzɔ ɖe ame siwo toa nyateƒe la ŋu.
Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah; but they that deal truly are his delight.
23 Nunyala mekɔa nu le sidzedze si su esi la dzi o, ke bometsilawo ƒe dzi ɖea gbeƒã woƒe bometsitsi.
A prudent man concealeth knowledge; but the heart of the foolish proclaimeth folly.
24 Asi si doa vevi nu la aɖu fia, ke kuviawɔwɔ kplɔa ame ɖona ɖe dɔ sesẽ me.
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful [hand] shall be under tribute.
25 Nuxaxa le dzi me tea ame ɖe anyi, ke amenuvenya dea dzi ƒo na ame.
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop; but a good word maketh it glad.
26 Ame dzɔdzɔe ɖoa ŋu ɖo le xɔlɔ̃wɔwɔ me, ke ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe mɔ kplɔa wo tranae.
The righteous guideth his neighbour; but the way of the wicked misleadeth them.
27 Kuviatɔ memea eƒe adelã o, ke nunyala léa be na eƒe nunɔamesiwo.
The slothful roasteth not what he took in hunting; but man's precious substance is to the diligent.
28 Agbe le dzɔdzɔenyenye ƒe mɔ me, makumaku le mɔ ma dzi.
In the path of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

< Lododowo 12 >