Lododowo 17
1 Abolo ƒuƒlu sue ɖuɖu si ŋu ŋutifafa kple dziɖeɖi kpe ɖo la nyo wu aƒe si me yɔ fũu kple agbeɖuɖu eye dzre kpe ɖe eŋu.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 Dɔla nyanu aɖu aƒetɔ ɖe viŋutsu ŋukpenanuwɔla dzi eye ama domenyinu la kpli wo abe wo nɔviŋutsu wònye ene.
A servant who deals wisely shall have rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brothers.
3 Sonu li na klosalo eye dzokpo li na sika, ke Yehowae doa dziwo katã kpɔ.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Jehovah tries the hearts.
4 Ame vɔ̃ɖi ɖoa to nuyi vɔ̃ɖiwo eye aʋatsotɔ ƒua to anyi ɖe aɖe si gblẽa ame ŋu la ŋu.
An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Ame si ɖea alɔme le ame dahe ŋuti la doa vlo woƒe Wɔla eye ame si kpɔa dzidzɔ be dzɔgbevɔ̃e dzɔ la, womagbe tohehe nɛ o.
He who mocks a poor man reproaches his maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 Ame si ku amegã la ƒe fiakukue nye viawo ƒe viwo eye dzilawo nye atsyɔ̃ na wo viwo.
Son's sons are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons are their fathers.
7 Nuyi siwo doa wo ɖokuiwo ɖe dzi la medzena bometsila kaka alakpanuyiwo nahayi dziɖula dze ge o!
Excellent speech is not appropriate to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince.
8 Zãnu nye kpe xɔasi na ame si nae, afi sia afi si wòayi la, edzea dzi nɛ.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 Ame si tsɔ nu tsyɔ vodada dzi la doa lɔlɔ̃ ɖe ŋgɔ eye ame si gawɔ nu si wòwɔ va yi la maa xɔlɔ̃ veviwo dome.
He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates chief friends.
10 Mokaname dea ta me na ame si si sidzedze le wu nu si ƒoƒo alafa ɖeka nye na bometsila.
A rebuke enters deeper into him who has understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Ame vɔ̃ɖi la ɖoe kplikpaa be yeadze aglã eya ta woadɔ dumegã sẽŋuta ɖe eŋu.
An evil man seeks only rebellion. Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Enyo be nàdo go sisiblisi si ŋu woɖe viwo le wu esi nàdo go bometsila le eƒe bometsitsi me.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Ne ŋutsu tsɔ vɔ̃ ɖo nyui teƒe la, vɔ̃ madzo ɖa le eƒe aƒe me kpɔ gbeɖe o.
He who rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Dzregɔmetoto le abe ale si woŋɔa tɔʋu ene; eya ta ɖe asi le nya ŋu hafi wòava zu dzre.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water. Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
15 Afiatsotso na agɔdzela, kple fɔbubu agɔmadzela siaa nye nu si Yehowa tsri.
He who justifies a wicked man, and he who condemns a righteous man, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
16 Ŋudɔwɔnu ka ga nye le bometsila ƒe asi me, esi didi aɖeke mele eme ɖe nunyadidi ŋuti o?
Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
17 Xɔlɔ̃ lɔ̃a ame ɣeawo katã ɣi, ke wodzi nɔviŋutsu hena hiãgbe.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 Ame manyanu ƒua asi akɔ eye wòdoa ŋugbe tsɔa eɖokui daa megbee na ehavi si nyi fe.
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Ame si lɔ̃ dzrewɔwɔ la lɔ̃a nu vɔ̃ eye ame si de agbo kɔkɔ eƒe aƒe nu la le gbegblẽ dim.
He loves transgression who loves strife. He who raises high his gate seeks destruction.
20 Ame si si dzi dovo le la nu medzea edzi nɛ o eye ame si si alakpaɖe le la gena ɖe fukpekpe me.
He who has a wayward heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
21 Viŋutsu si tsi bome la hea veve vɛ, eye fofo si, si vi tsibome le la makpɔ dzidzɔ o.
He who begets a fool it is to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 Dzi si kpɔa dzidzɔ la nye atike nyui, ke gbɔgbɔ si wote ɖe to la nana ƒu tome ƒuna kplakplakpla.
A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 Ame vɔ̃ɖi xɔa zãnu le bebeme be wòatrɔ nya dzɔdzɔe atsyɔ anyi.
A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Ame si si sidzedze le la ƒe ŋku nɔa nunya ŋu, ke bometsila ƒe ŋkuwo tsana, dona ɖe anyigba ƒe mlɔenu ke.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 Viŋutsu tsibome hea nuxaxa vɛ na fofoa kple veve vɛ na ame si dzii.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Menyo be woahe to na fɔmaɖila alo aƒo dɔnunɔla ɖe eƒe nuteƒewɔwɔ ta o.
Also to punish a righteous man is not good, nor to smite nobles for uprightness.
27 Ame si si sidzedze su la nya vlowo medona le enu o eye ame si si gɔmesese le la ɖɔa ŋu ɖo, medoa dziku dzodzro o.
He who spares his words has knowledge, and he who is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Wobua bometsila gɔ̃ hã nunyalae nenye be ezi ɖoɖoe, eye wobunɛ sidzelae ne ekpɔ eƒe aɖe dzi nyuie.
Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is considered wise. When he shuts his lips, he is prudent.
