Lododowo 18
1 Ɖokuitɔdila dia eɖokui ko tɔ eye meɖoa to nunyanya siwo gblɔm wole la o.
He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
2 Bometsila medoa vivi ɖe gɔmesese ŋu o, ke boŋ ekpɔa dzidzɔ le eya ŋutɔ ƒe susuɖegblɔ ŋu.
A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
3 Ne vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi va la, vlododo kplɔnɛ ɖo eye ne alɔmeɖeɖe va la, ŋukpe dzea eyome.
With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
4 Ame ƒe numenyawo nye tɔ goglo, ke nunya ƒe vudo nye ta si le dzidzim.
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 Menyo be woade ame vɔ̃ɖi dzi alo atrɔ ame maɖifɔ ƒe nya dzɔdzɔe atsyɔ anyi o.
Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6 Bometsila ƒe nuyiwo denɛ dzre me eye eƒe nu hea ƒoƒo vaa edzii.
A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 Nu si bometsila ƒe nu gblɔ la, metso eya ŋutɔ gbɔ o, eye eƒe nuyi nye mɔka na eƒe luʋɔ.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Amenyagblɔla ƒe nyawo vivina abe nuɖuɖu vivi si woka de nu me la ene; woyina ɖe ame ƒe dɔgbowo me ke.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
9 Ame si wɔa alɔgblɔdɔ le eƒe dɔ ŋuti la nye nugblẽla nɔvi.
Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
10 Yehowa ƒe ŋkɔ nye mɔ sesẽ, ame dzɔdzɔewo sina yia eme eye wonɔa dedie.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 Kesinɔtɔwo ƒe kesinɔnuwo nye woƒe du sesẽ eye wobuna be wonye gli kɔkɔ si ame aɖeke mate ŋu aflɔ o.
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12 Hafi ame aɖe nadze anyi la, dada nɔa eƒe dzi me, ke ɖokuibɔbɔ doa ŋgɔ na bubu.
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 Enye bometsitsi kple ŋukpe na ame, be wòaɖo nya ŋu hafi ase nu si gblɔm wole.
He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
14 Ame ƒe gbɔgbɔ lénɛ ɖe te le dɔléle me, ke ame ka ate ŋu atsɔ gbɔgbɔ si gbã gudugudu?
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15 Sidzela ƒe dzi kpɔa gɔmesese eye nunyala ƒe to dia gɔmesese.
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
16 Nunana ʋua mɔ na nunala eye wòkplɔnɛ gena ɖe amegã la ƒe ŋkumee.
A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Ame gbãtɔ si to eƒe nya la dzena dzɔdzɔetɔe va se ɖe esime ame aɖe va bia gbee.
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18 Nudzidze tsia dzre nu eye wòtsoa nya me na ame sesẽ siwo le dzre wɔm.
Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
19 Nɔviŋutsu si dzi wodze agɔ le la sẽ wu du si ŋu woɖo gli sesẽ ɖo eye dzrewɔwɔ le abe fiasã si ƒe agbowo ŋu wode gameti sesẽwoe ene.
An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20 Ame ƒe numekutsetse ɖia ƒo nɛ eye nuŋeŋe si doa go tso eƒe nuyiwo me la ana eƒe dzi nadze eme.
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 Ku kple agbe ƒe ŋusẽ le aɖe si, eye ame siwo lɔ̃e la aɖu eƒe kutsetse.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Ame si si srɔ̃nyɔnu su la ke ɖe nu nyui ŋu eye wòxɔa amenuveve tso Yehowa gbɔ.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
23 Ame dahe ɖea kuku biaa nublanuikpɔkpɔ, ke kesinɔtɔ ya ɖoa nya ŋu adãtɔe.
The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24 Ame si si xɔlɔ̃ geɖe le la ate ŋu awu nu le gbegblẽ me, gake xɔlɔ̃ aɖe li si kuna ɖe ame ŋu wu dadavi gɔ̃ hã.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
