Lododowo 16
1 Amegbetɔ tɔe nye dzi ƒe nuɖoɖowo, ke nyaŋuɖoɖo na aɖe tsoa Yehowa gbɔ.
Unto man belong the resolves of the heart; but from the Lord cometh the expression of the tongue.
2 Fɔɖiɖi menɔa ame ŋutɔ ƒe mɔwo ŋu le eya ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkume o, ke Yehowa daa susuwo kpɔ.
Every one of the ways of a man is pure in his own eyes; but the Lord measureth the spirits.
3 Tsɔ nu sia nu si nèwɔna la de Yehowa ƒe asi me, ekema wò ɖoɖowo adze edzi na wò.
Commit unto the Lord thy works, and thy plans will be firmly established.
4 Yehowa wɔ nu sia nu le eƒe ŋudɔwɔnu ta, eɖo ame vɔ̃ɖi la gɔ̃ hã ɖi hena dzɔgbevɔ̃eŋkeke la.
Every thing hath the Lord wrought for its destined end; yes, even the wicked for the day of unhappiness.
5 Dadalawo katã nye ŋunyɔnu na Yehowa. Maka ɖe edzi na wò be, womagbe tohehe na wo o.
An abomination of the Lord is every one that is proud of heart: the hand [of God] being against [his] hand, he shall not go unpunished.
6 Woɖea nu vɔ̃ ɖa to lɔlɔ̃ kple nuteƒewɔwɔ me eye ame ƒoa asa na nu vɔ̃ɖi to Yehowavɔvɔ̃ me.
Through kindness and truth is iniquity atoned for; and by the fear of the Lord [men] depart from evil.
7 Ne ame aɖe ƒe mɔwo nyo Yehowa ŋu la, enana eƒe futɔwo gɔ̃ hã nɔa anyi kplii le ŋutifafa me.
When the Lord receiveth in favor a man's ways, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Nu sue si ŋu dzɔdzɔenyenye kpe ɖo la nyo wu nu geɖe si ŋu madzɔmadzɔ kpe ɖo.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great incomes through injustice.
9 Ame wɔa ɖoɖo ɖe ale si wòazɔe ŋu le eƒe dzi me, gake Yehowae fiaa ale si wòaɖe afɔe.
A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth firmly his steps.
10 Fia ƒe nuyiwo ƒoa nu abe nya gblɔm wòle ɖi ene eya ta eƒe nu megatso afia gbegblẽ o.
There should be a wise sentence on the lips of the king: his mouth should never commit a trespass in judging.
11 Nudakpe kple nudanu vavãwo tso Yehowa gbɔ eye nenema ke nudakpe siwo katã le akplo me hã nye eƒe nuwɔwɔ.
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord: his work are all the weights in the bag.
12 Nu tovo wɔwɔ nye ŋunyɔnu na fiawo elabena woɖoa fiazikpui anyi ɖe dzɔdzɔenyenye dzi.
It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for through righteousness [alone] can a throne be established.
13 Nuyi siwo dzi alakpa mele o la, doa dzidzɔ na fiawo, wodea asixɔxɔ ame si toa nyateƒe la ŋu.
Righteous lips [should obtain] the favor of kings; and him that speaketh uprightly should they love.
14 Fia ƒe dziku nye ku ƒe dɔla, ke nunyala alé avui.
The fury of a king is like the messengers of death; but a wise man will appease it.
15 Ne fia ɖo mo kɔkɔe la, egɔmee nye agbe eye eƒe amenuveve le abe tsiɖoɖo le adame ene.
In the light of the king's countenance there is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 Aleke nunyaxɔxɔ mehenyo wu sikae o, eye gɔmesesetiatia mehenyo wu klosaloe o!
How much better is it to obtain wisdom than gold! and to obtain understanding is preferable to silver!
17 Ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe mɔtata ƒoa asa na nu vɔ̃ɖi eye ame si dzɔa eƒe mɔ ŋu la dzɔa eƒe agbe ŋuti.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he preserveth his soul that watcheth his way.
18 Dada doa ŋgɔ na gbegblẽ eye ɖokuidodoɖedzi doa ŋgɔ na anyidzedze.
Before downfall [goeth] pride, and before stumbling, haughtiness of spirit.
19 Enyo be woabɔbɔ ame ɖokui ɖe anyi le hiãtɔwo dome wu be woama afunyinuwo kple dadalawo.
Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide spoil with the proud.
20 Nu dzea edzi na ame si ɖoa to nufiame eye woayra ame si tsɔ eƒe mɔkpɔkpɔ da ɖe Yehowa dzi.
He that reflecteth on a matter wisely will find happiness; and whoso trusteth in the Lord—happiness attend him!
21 Woyɔa ame siwo nunya le woƒe dzi me la be sidzelawo, eye nya vivi doa nufiame ɖe ŋgɔ.
The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth information.
22 Gɔmesese nye agbetsidzidzi na ame siwo ke ɖe eŋuti, ke bometsitsi hea tohehe vɛ na bometsilawo.
Intelligence is a source of life unto its possessor; but the correction of fools is folly.
23 Nunyala ƒe dzi dzɔa eƒe nu ŋuti eye eƒe nuyiwo doa nufiame ɖe ŋgɔ.
The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips he increaseth information.
24 Nya nyuiwo nye anyitsito, enana luʋɔ sea vivi, eye wòhea dɔyɔyɔ vɛ na ƒuwo.
[Like] the droppings of honey are pleasant sayings, sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.
25 Mɔ aɖe li si le dzɔdzɔe le ame ƒe ŋkume, ke le nuwuwua la, ekplɔa ame yia ku mee.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man, but its end are the ways unto death.
26 Agbatedɔwɔla ƒe nudzodzro wɔa dɔ nɛ, dɔwuame doa ŋusẽe be wòayi edzi.
The desire of the laborer laboreth for him; for his mouth imposeth it on him.
27 Yakame le nu vɔ̃ɖi ɖom eye eƒe nuƒoƒo le abe dzo si le bibim sesĩe la ene.
An ungodly man diggeth up mischief, and on his lips there is as it were a scathing fire.
28 Ame vɔ̃ɖi dea dzre aƒe eye amenyagblɔla maa xɔlɔ̃ veviwo dome.
A perverse man scattereth strife; and a whisperer separateth confident friends.
29 Ame dzeaglã blea eƒe aƒelika nu, eye wòkplɔnɛ toa mɔ gɔglɔ̃ dzi.
The man of violence misleadeth his neighbor, and maketh him go on a way which is not good.
30 Ame si le ŋku trom la le nu vɔ̃ɖi aɖe ɖom, eye ame si mia eƒe nu ɖe nu dzi la awɔ vɔ̃ godoo.
He shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things: when he compresseth his lips then hath he fully resolved on evil.
31 Ta si ƒo wɔ la nye atsyɔ̃fiakuku, agbe dzɔdzɔe nɔnɔe henɛ vɛ.
An ornamental crown is the hoary head, on the way of righteousness can it be found.
32 Enyo be nànye ŋutsu dzigbɔɖitɔ wu kalẽtɔ, ame si ɖu eƒe dziku dzi la nyo wu ame si xɔ du.
One that is slow to anger is better than a hero; and he that ruleth his spirit, than the conqueror of a city.
33 Wolɔa hotsui ɖe akɔ hetsɔna kaa nui, ke nyametsotso ɖe sia ɖe tso Yehowa gbɔ.
In the lap the lot is cast: but from the Lord cometh the whole of its decision.
