< Lododowo 12 >

1 Ame si lɔ̃ amehehe la lɔ̃a sidzedze, ke ame si lé fu mokaname la, bometsilae.
Whoever is loving instruction, is loving knowledge, And whoever is hating reproof [is] brutish.
2 Yehowa vea ame nyui la nu, ke ebua fɔ ayemenuwɔla ya.
The good brings forth favor from YHWH, And the man of wicked schemes He condemns.
3 Womatsɔ vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi aɖo ame gɔme anyii o gake womate ŋu aho ame dzɔdzɔe ya o.
A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not 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, And as rottenness in his bones [is] one causing shame.
5 Ame dzɔdzɔe ƒe ɖoɖowo toa mɔ ɖeka, ke ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe aɖaŋuɖoɖo nye beble.
The thoughts of the righteous [are] justice, The counsels of the wicked—deceit.
6 Ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe nyawo le lalam na ʋu gake dzɔdzɔetɔwo ƒe nuƒoƒo ɖea wo.
The words of the wicked [are]: “Lay [in] wait for blood,” And the mouth of the upright delivers 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 not, And the house of the righteous stands.
8 Wokafua ame le nunya si le esi la ta, ke wodoa vlo ŋutsu tagbɔ kuku tɔwo.
A man is praised according to his wisdom, And the perverted of heart becomes 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] the lightly esteemed who has a servant, Than the self-honored who lacks bread.
10 Ame dzɔdzɔe léa be na eƒe lãwo ke dɔmenyo siwo ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ya wɔna la nye ŋutasesẽ.
The righteous knows the life of his beast, And the mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.
11 Ame si ŋlɔ eƒe agble la akpɔ nuɖuɖu geɖe, ke ame si kplɔa blezibledi ɖo la, numanyalae.
Whoever is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoever is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,
12 Ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe nu siwo woha la le ŋutasẽlawo dzrom, ke ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe ke ƒona ɖe to sesĩe.
The wicked has desired the net of evildoers, And the root of the righteous gives.
13 Ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe nu vlo ƒoƒo zua mɔ ɖenɛ, ke ame dzɔdzɔe dona le fu me.
The snare of the wicked [is] in transgression of the lips, And the righteous goes out from 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.
One [is] satisfied [with] good from the fruit of the mouth, And the deed of man’s hands returns to 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, And whoever is listening to counsel [is] wise.
16 Bometsila ɖea eƒe dziku fiana zi ɖeka, ke nunyala doa toku dzudzu.
The fool—his anger is known in a day, And the prudent is covering shame.
17 Ɖasefo nyateƒetɔ gblɔa nya si le eteƒe le ʋɔnu, ke aʋatsoɖasefo daa alakpa le ʋɔnu.
Whoever utters faithfulness declares righteousness, And a false witness—deceit.
18 Nya vlowo ƒona ɖe ame abe yi ene, ke ame dzɔdzɔe ƒe aɖe hea dɔyɔyɔ vɛ.
A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.
19 Nyateƒenuyiwo nɔa anyi ɖikaa, ke alakpaɖe nu mesena yina o.
The lip of truth is established forever, And a tongue of falsehood 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 those devising evil, But for counselors of peace—joy.
21 Dzɔgbevɔ̃e medzɔna ɖe ame dzɔdzɔe dzi o, ke ame vɔ̃ɖiwo la, xaxa yɔa wo me fũu.
No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil.
22 Yehowa lé fu alakpanuyiwo, ke ekpɔa dzidzɔ ɖe ame siwo toa nyateƒe la ŋu.
Lying lips [are] an abomination to YHWH, And steadfast doers [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 is concealing knowledge, And the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 Asi si doa vevi nu la aɖu fia, ke kuviawɔwɔ kplɔa ame ɖona ɖe dɔ sesẽ me.
The hand of the diligent rules, And slothfulness becomes tributary.
25 Nuxaxa le dzi me tea ame ɖe anyi, ke amenuvenya dea dzi ƒo na ame.
Sorrow in the heart of a man bows down, And a good word makes him glad.
26 Ame dzɔdzɔe ɖoa ŋu ɖo le xɔlɔ̃wɔwɔ me, ke ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe mɔ kplɔa wo tranae.
The righteous searches his companion, And the way of the wicked causes them to err.
27 Kuviatɔ memea eƒe adelã o, ke nunyala léa be na eƒe nunɔamesiwo.
The slothful does not roast his game, And the wealth of a diligent man is precious.
28 Agbe le dzɔdzɔenyenye ƒe mɔ me, makumaku le mɔ ma dzi.
In the path of righteousness [is] life, And in the way of [that] path [is] no death!

< Lododowo 12 >