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 with quietness, 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 will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a 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 Yahweh tests the hearts.
4 Ame vɔ̃ɖi ɖoa to nuyi vɔ̃ɖiwo eye aʋatsotɔ ƒua to anyi ɖe aɖe si gblẽa ame ŋu la ŋu.
An evildoer heeds 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.
Whoever mocks the poor 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.
Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.
7 Nuyi siwo doa wo ɖokuiwo ɖe dzi la medzena bometsila kaka alakpanuyiwo nahayi dziɖula dze ge o!
Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit 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 gives it; wherever he turns, he 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 an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best 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 one who has understanding than a hundred lashes 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 bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, 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.
Whoever 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 breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
15 Afiatsotso na agɔdzela, kple fɔbubu agɔmadzela siaa nye nu si Yehowa tsri.
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 Ŋudɔwɔnu ka ga nye le bometsila ƒe asi me, esi didi aɖeke mele eme ɖe nunyadidi ŋuti o?
Why is there money 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 collateral 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 who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high 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.
One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
21 Viŋutsu si tsi bome la hea veve vɛ, eye fofo si, si vi tsibome le la makpɔ dzidzɔ o.
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. 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 makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 Ame vɔ̃ɖi xɔa zãnu le bebeme be wòatrɔ nya dzɔdzɔe atsyɔ anyi.
A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, 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 one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 Viŋutsu tsibome hea nuxaxa vɛ na fofoa kple veve vɛ na ame si dzii.
A foolish son brings 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 the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
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. He who is even tempered 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 keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
