Lododowo 13
1 Vi nyanu ɖoa to fofoa ƒe amehehe, ke fewuɖula metsɔa ɖeke le mokaname me o.
A wise son [heareth] his father’s instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
2 Ame ƒe nu ƒe kutsetsee wòtsɔna ɖua nu nyuiwoe, ke nuteƒemawɔlawo ƒe dzi tsi dzi ɖe nu vlo wɔwɔ ŋuti.
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; But the soul of the treacherous [shall eat] violence.
3 Ame si dzɔa eƒe nuyiwo ŋuti la dzɔa eƒe agbe ŋuti, ke ame si kea nu kabakaba la atsrɔ̃.
He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; [But] he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 Nu dzroa kuviatɔ vevie gake mekpɔa naneke o, ke vevidonula ƒe didiwo vaa eme nɛ.
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 Ame dzɔdzɔe léa fu alakpanya, ke ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ya hea ŋukpe kple vlododo vɛ.
A righteous man hateth lying; But a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 Dzɔdzɔenyenye dzɔa ŋutsu fɔmaɖila ƒe agbe ŋuti, ke vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi léa nu vɔ̃ wɔla ƒua anyi.
Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 Ame aɖe wɔna abe kesinɔtɔe wònye ene, evɔ naneke mele esi o, ame bubu wɔa eɖokui ame dahee, evɔ kesinɔnu geɖe le esi.
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.
8 Ame ƒe kesinɔnuwo ate ŋu aƒle eƒe agbe ta gake ame dahe mesea ŋɔdzidoname aɖeke o.
The ransom of a man’s life is his riches; But the poor heareth no threatening.
9 Ame dzɔdzɔe ƒe kekeli klẽna nyuie, ke wotsia ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe akaɖi.
The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Dzre sɔŋ ko dada hena vɛ, ke nunya tsoa aƒe ɖe ame siwo sea aɖaŋu la gbɔ.
By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 Ga si wokpɔ to mɔ fitifiti dzi la nu va yina, ke ame si dia ga vivivi la wɔnɛ be wòdzina ɖe edzi.
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.
12 Mɔkpɔkpɔ si woɖe ɖa la nana dzi léa dɔ, ke didi si va eme la nye agbeti.
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13 Ame si doa vlo amehehe la xɔa eŋufetu, ke ame si ɖoa to sedede la xɔa eteƒeɖoɖo.
Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 Nunyala ƒe nufiafia nye agbevudo, eye wòɖea ame tso ku ƒe mɔkawo me.
The law of the wise is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
15 Gɔmesese nyui hea amenuveve vanɛ, ke nuteƒemawɔlawo ƒe mɔ dzi sesẽna.
Good understanding giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard.
16 Nunyala ɖe sia ɖe wɔa nu kple gɔmesese, ke bometsila ɖea eƒe bometsitsi fiana.
Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth [his] folly.
17 Dɔtsɔla vɔ̃ɖi gena ɖe dzɔgbevɔ̃e me, ke dɔtsɔla si wɔa nuteƒe la hea dɔyɔyɔ vanɛ.
A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Ame si do toku amehehe la, ahedada kple ŋukpe vaa edzi, ke wodea bubu ame si lɔ̃a mokaname ŋuti.
Poverty and shame [shall be to] him that refuseth correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.
19 Didi si vaa eme la vivina na luʋɔ, ke vɔ̃tsitsri nye ŋunyɔ na bometsilawo.
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 Ame si zɔna kple nunyala la, dzea nunya, ke ame si dzea xɔ̃ bometsilawo la gena ɖe fuwɔame me.
Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
21 Dzɔgbevɔ̃e tia vɔ̃wɔla yome gake dzɔgbenyui nye ame dzɔdzɔe ƒe fetu.
Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
22 Ame nyui gblẽa domenyinu ɖi na via ƒe viwo, ke woɖoa ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖi na ame dzɔdzɔewo.
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
23 Ame dahe ƒe agble wɔa nuku geɖe, ke amebaba kplɔnɛ dzonae.
Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.
24 Ame si vea nu le ameƒoti gbɔ la léa fu via, ke ame si lɔ̃a via la kpɔa egbɔ be yehee nyuie.
He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25 Ame dzɔdzɔe ɖua nu ɖia ƒo, ke dɔ wua ame vɔ̃ɖi ya.
The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; But the belly of the wicked shall want.
