Lododowo 13
1 Vi nyanu ɖoa to fofoa ƒe amehehe, ke fewuɖula metsɔa ɖeke le mokaname me o.
A wise son accepts his father's discipline, but a mocker doesn't listen to correction.
2 Ame ƒe nu ƒe kutsetsee wòtsɔna ɖua nu nyuiwoe, ke nuteƒemawɔlawo ƒe dzi tsi dzi ɖe nu vlo wɔwɔ ŋuti.
You'll be rewarded for saying good things, but dishonest people want violence.
3 Ame si dzɔa eƒe nuyiwo ŋuti la dzɔa eƒe agbe ŋuti, ke ame si kea nu kabakaba la atsrɔ̃.
Watch what you say and save your life—saying too much leads to disaster.
4 Nu dzroa kuviatɔ vevie gake mekpɔa naneke o, ke vevidonula ƒe didiwo vaa eme nɛ.
Lazy people want a lot, but get nothing; if you work hard you'll be well rewarded.
5 Ame dzɔdzɔe léa fu alakpanya, ke ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ya hea ŋukpe kple vlododo vɛ.
Good people hate lies, but the wicked cause a stink and bring disgrace.
6 Dzɔdzɔenyenye dzɔa ŋutsu fɔmaɖila ƒe agbe ŋuti, ke vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi léa nu vɔ̃ wɔla ƒua anyi.
Goodness protects those who live right, but sin overcomes the wicked.
7 Ame aɖe wɔna abe kesinɔtɔe wònye ene, evɔ naneke mele esi o, ame bubu wɔa eɖokui ame dahee, evɔ kesinɔnu geɖe le esi.
Some pretend to be rich, but don't have anything, while others pretend to be poor and are very rich.
8 Ame ƒe kesinɔnuwo ate ŋu aƒle eƒe agbe ta gake ame dahe mesea ŋɔdzidoname aɖeke o.
The rich can pay a ransom to save their lives, but the poor aren't troubled in this way.
9 Ame dzɔdzɔe ƒe kekeli klẽna nyuie, ke wotsia ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe akaɖi.
The life of good people shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
10 Dzre sɔŋ ko dada hena vɛ, ke nunya tsoa aƒe ɖe ame siwo sea aɖaŋu la gbɔ.
Pride only causes conflict; but those who take advice are wise.
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 gained by fraud quickly disappears, but those who gather bit by bit prosper.
12 Mɔkpɔkpɔ si woɖe ɖa la nana dzi léa dɔ, ke didi si va eme la nye agbeti.
Hope that's delayed makes you feel sick, but a wish that comes true revives you.
13 Ame si doa vlo amehehe la xɔa eŋufetu, ke ame si ɖoa to sedede la xɔa eteƒeɖoɖo.
If you despise words of advice, you'll pay for it; but if you respect what you're told, you'll be rewarded.
14 Nunyala ƒe nufiafia nye agbevudo, eye wòɖea ame tso ku ƒe mɔkawo me.
The teaching of the wise is like a fountain of life, so you can avoid the snares of death.
15 Gɔmesese nyui hea amenuveve vanɛ, ke nuteƒemawɔlawo ƒe mɔ dzi sesẽna.
Good sense earns appreciation, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 Nunyala ɖe sia ɖe wɔa nu kple gɔmesese, ke bometsila ɖea eƒe bometsitsi fiana.
All wise people act intelligently, but stupid people demonstrate their stupidity.
17 Dɔtsɔla vɔ̃ɖi gena ɖe dzɔgbevɔ̃e me, ke dɔtsɔla si wɔa nuteƒe la hea dɔyɔyɔ vanɛ.
A bad messenger creates trouble, but a faithful representative brings healing.
18 Ame si do toku amehehe la, ahedada kple ŋukpe vaa edzi, ke wodea bubu ame si lɔ̃a mokaname ŋuti.
Poverty and disgrace come to those who ignore instruction, but those who accept correction are honored.
19 Didi si vaa eme la vivina na luʋɔ, ke vɔ̃tsitsri nye ŋunyɔ na bometsilawo.
It's nice to see a wish come true, but stupid people hate to turn away from evil to achieve this.
20 Ame si zɔna kple nunyala la, dzea nunya, ke ame si dzea xɔ̃ bometsilawo la gena ɖe fuwɔame me.
Being friends with wise people will make you wise, but being friends with stupid people will only cause you problems.
21 Dzɔgbevɔ̃e tia vɔ̃wɔla yome gake dzɔgbenyui nye ame dzɔdzɔe ƒe fetu.
Tragedy chases after the sinner, but prosperity rewards the good.
22 Ame nyui gblẽa domenyinu ɖi na via ƒe viwo, ke woɖoa ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖi na ame dzɔdzɔewo.
Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner's wealth is saved for those who live right.
23 Ame dahe ƒe agble wɔa nuku geɖe, ke amebaba kplɔnɛ dzonae.
The unploughed ground of the poor could produce a lot of food, but it's stolen through injustice.
24 Ame si vea nu le ameƒoti gbɔ la léa fu via, ke ame si lɔ̃a via la kpɔa egbɔ be yehee nyuie.
People who don't discipline their children hate them. Those who love their children carefully discipline them.
25 Ame dzɔdzɔe ɖua nu ɖia ƒo, ke dɔ wua ame vɔ̃ɖi ya.
The good eat until they're full; but the belly of the wicked is empty.
