Lododowo 12
1 Ame si lɔ̃ amehehe la lɔ̃a sidzedze, ke ame si lé fu mokaname la, bometsilae.
Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge; but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
2 Yehowa vea ame nyui la nu, ke ebua fɔ ayemenuwɔla ya.
The good obtaineth favor of the Lord; but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
3 Womatsɔ vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi aɖo ame gɔme anyii o gake womate ŋu aho ame dzɔdzɔe ya o.
A man cannot be firmly established by wickedness; but the root of the righteous will not be moved.
4 Srɔ̃nyɔnu zazɛ̃ nye fiakuku na srɔ̃ŋutsua, ke srɔ̃nyɔnu ŋukpenanuwɔla nye ŋuɖui le ƒu tome na srɔ̃a.
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but as rottenness in his bones is one that bringeth shame [on him].
5 Ame dzɔdzɔe ƒe ɖoɖowo toa mɔ ɖeka, ke ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe aɖaŋuɖoɖo nye beble.
The thoughts of the righteous are justice: the best 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 of lying in wait for blood; but the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7 Wotutua ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒua anyi eye womeganɔa anyi o, ke ame dzɔdzɔe ƒe aƒe lia ke ɖaa.
The wicked are suddenly overthrown, and are no more; but the house of the righteous will endure.
8 Wokafua ame le nunya si le esi la ta, ke wodoa vlo ŋutsu tagbɔ kuku tɔwo.
In accordance with his intelligence is a man praised; but he that is perverse of heart will come to 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 who hath a servant, than he that aimeth after honor, and lacketh bread.
10 Ame dzɔdzɔe léa be na eƒe lãwo ke dɔmenyo siwo ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ya wɔna la nye ŋutasesẽ.
A righteous man careth for the life of his beast; but the mercies of the wicked are cruelty.
11 Ame si ŋlɔ eƒe agble la akpɔ nuɖuɖu geɖe, ke ame si kplɔa blezibledi ɖo la, numanyalae.
He that tilleth his ground will be satisfied with bread; but he that runneth after idle persons is void of sense.
12 Ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe nu siwo woha la le ŋutasẽlawo dzrom, ke ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe ke ƒona ɖe to sesĩe.
The wicked is covetous for the net of evil men; but [God] giveth root to the righteous.
13 Ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe nu vlo ƒoƒo zua mɔ ɖenɛ, ke ame dzɔdzɔe dona le fu me.
In the transgression of his lips is the snare of the wicked; but the righteous cometh out of distress.
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.
From the fruit of his mouth will a man be satisfied with what is good; and the recompense of a man's hands will be brought back unto him.
15 Bometsila ƒe mɔ dzɔna le eya ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkume, ke ame dzɔdzɔe xɔa aɖaŋuɖoɖo.
The way of a fool is straight in his own eyes; but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
16 Bometsila ɖea eƒe dziku fiana zi ɖeka, ke nunyala doa toku dzudzu.
The wrath of the fool is known on the very day; but he that concealeth the disgrace is prudent.
17 Ɖasefo nyateƒetɔ gblɔa nya si le eteƒe le ʋɔnu, ke aʋatsoɖasefo daa alakpa le ʋɔnu.
He that uttereth truth announceth 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 some one that useth words [which are] like the thrusts of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is healing.
19 Nyateƒenuyiwo nɔa anyi ɖikaa, ke alakpaɖe nu mesena yina o.
The lip of truth will stand firm for ever; but only for a moment the tongue of falsehood.
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 those that contrive evil; but for the counsellors of peace there is joy.
21 Dzɔgbevɔ̃e medzɔna ɖe ame dzɔdzɔe dzi o, ke ame vɔ̃ɖiwo la, xaxa yɔa wo me fũu.
No wrong can come unawares to the righteous; but the wicked are full of evil.
22 Yehowa lé fu alakpanuyiwo, ke ekpɔa dzidzɔ ɖe ame siwo toa nyateƒe la ŋu.
An abomination of the Lord are lips of falsehood; but they that deal in faithfulness [obtain] his favor.
23 Nunyala mekɔa nu le sidzedze si su esi la dzi o, ke bometsilawo ƒe dzi ɖea gbeƒã woƒe bometsitsi.
A prudent man concealeth [his] knowledge; but the heart of fools proclaimeth [their] folly.
24 Asi si doa vevi nu la aɖu fia, ke kuviawɔwɔ kplɔa ame ɖona ɖe dɔ sesẽ me.
The hand of the diligent will bear rule; but the indolent must become tributary.
25 Nuxaxa le dzi me tea ame ɖe anyi, ke amenuvenya dea dzi ƒo na ame.
If there be care in the heart of man, let him suppress it; and a good word will change it into joy.
26 Ame dzɔdzɔe ɖoa ŋu ɖo le xɔlɔ̃wɔwɔ me, ke ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe mɔ kplɔa wo tranae.
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor; but the way of the wicked leadeth them astray.
27 Kuviatɔ memea eƒe adelã o, ke nunyala léa be na eƒe nunɔamesiwo.
The indolent roasteth not that which he hath caught in hunting; but the most precious wealth of man is diligence.
28 Agbe le dzɔdzɔenyenye ƒe mɔ me, makumaku le mɔ ma dzi.
On the path of righteousness there is life; and on her pathway there is immortality,
