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 a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
2 Dɔla nyanu aɖu aƒetɔ ɖe viŋutsu ŋukpenanuwɔla dzi eye ama domenyinu la kpli wo abe wo nɔviŋutsu wònye ene.
A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
3 Sonu li na klosalo eye dzokpo li na sika, ke Yehowae doa dziwo katã kpɔ.
The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
4 Ame vɔ̃ɖi ɖoa to nuyi vɔ̃ɖiwo eye aʋatsotɔ ƒua to anyi ɖe aɖe si gblẽa ame ŋu la ŋu.
A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging 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.
Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.
6 Ame si ku amegã la ƒe fiakukue nye viawo ƒe viwo eye dzilawo nye atsyɔ̃ na wo viwo.
Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Nuyi siwo doa wo ɖokuiwo ɖe dzi la medzena bometsila kaka alakpanuyiwo nahayi dziɖula dze ge o!
Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
8 Zãnu nye kpe xɔasi na ame si nae, afi sia afi si wòayi la, edzea dzi nɛ.
An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
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 keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
10 Mokaname dea ta me na ame si si sidzedze le wu nu si ƒoƒo alafa ɖeka nye na bometsila.
A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
11 Ame vɔ̃ɖi la ɖoe kplikpaa be yeadze aglã eya ta woadɔ dumegã sẽŋuta ɖe eŋu.
An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
12 Enyo be nàdo go sisiblisi si ŋu woɖe viwo le wu esi nàdo go bometsila le eƒe bometsitsi me.
It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
13 Ne ŋutsu tsɔ vɔ̃ ɖo nyui teƒe la, vɔ̃ madzo ɖa le eƒe aƒe me kpɔ gbeɖe o.
If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
14 Dzregɔmetoto le abe ale si woŋɔa tɔʋu ene; eya ta ɖe asi le nya ŋu hafi wòava zu dzre.
The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
15 Afiatsotso na agɔdzela, kple fɔbubu agɔmadzela siaa nye nu si Yehowa tsri.
He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
16 Ŋudɔwɔnu ka ga nye le bometsila ƒe asi me, esi didi aɖeke mele eme ɖe nunyadidi ŋuti o?
How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
17 Xɔlɔ̃ lɔ̃a ame ɣeawo katã ɣi, ke wodzi nɔviŋutsu hena hiãgbe.
A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
18 Ame manyanu ƒua asi akɔ eye wòdoa ŋugbe tsɔa eɖokui daa megbee na ehavi si nyi fe.
A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
19 Ame si lɔ̃ dzrewɔwɔ la lɔ̃a nu vɔ̃ eye ame si de agbo kɔkɔ eƒe aƒe nu la le gbegblẽ dim.
The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for 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.
Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
21 Viŋutsu si tsi bome la hea veve vɛ, eye fofo si, si vi tsibome le la makpɔ dzidzɔ o.
He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son 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 glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
23 Ame vɔ̃ɖi xɔa zãnu le bebeme be wòatrɔ nya dzɔdzɔe atsyɔ anyi.
A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
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 sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on 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 bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
26 Menyo be woahe to na fɔmaɖila alo aƒo dɔnunɔla ɖe eƒe nuteƒewɔwɔ ta o.
To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
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 has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
28 Wobua bometsila gɔ̃ hã nunyalae nenye be ezi ɖoɖoe, eye wobunɛ sidzelae ne ekpɔ eƒe aɖe dzi nyuie.
Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
