Lododowo 18
1 Ɖokuitɔdila dia eɖokui ko tɔ eye meɖoa to nunyanya siwo gblɔm wole la o.
He that separateth himself seeketh [his] pleasure, he is vehement against all sound wisdom.
2 Bometsila medoa vivi ɖe gɔmesese ŋu o, ke boŋ ekpɔa dzidzɔ le eya ŋutɔ ƒe susuɖegblɔ ŋu.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
3 Ne vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi va la, vlododo kplɔnɛ ɖo eye ne alɔmeɖeɖe va la, ŋukpe dzea eyome.
When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
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, [and] the fountain of wisdom is a gushing brook.
5 Menyo be woade ame vɔ̃ɖi dzi alo atrɔ ame maɖifɔ ƒe nya dzɔdzɔe atsyɔ anyi o.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to wrong the righteous in judgment.
6 Bometsila ƒe nuyiwo denɛ dzre me eye eƒe nu hea ƒoƒo vaa edzii.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for stripes.
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 destruction to him, 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 talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9 Ame si wɔa alɔgblɔdɔ le eƒe dɔ ŋuti la nye nugblẽla nɔvi.
He also who is indolent in his work is brother of the destroyer.
10 Yehowa ƒe ŋkɔ nye mɔ sesẽ, ame dzɔdzɔewo sina yia eme eye wonɔa dedie.
The name of Jehovah is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11 Kesinɔtɔwo ƒe kesinɔnuwo nye woƒe du sesẽ eye wobuna be wonye gli kɔkɔ si ame aɖeke mate ŋu aflɔ o.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Hafi ame aɖe nadze anyi la, dada nɔa eƒe dzi me, ke ɖokuibɔbɔ doa ŋgɔ na bubu.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; and before honour [goeth] humility.
13 Enye bometsitsi kple ŋukpe na ame, be wòaɖo nya ŋu hafi ase nu si gblɔm wole.
He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto 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 sustaineth his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 Sidzela ƒe dzi kpɔa gɔmesese eye nunyala ƒe to dia gɔmesese.
The heart of an intelligent [man] getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 Nunana ʋua mɔ na nunala eye wòkplɔnɛ gena ɖe amegã la ƒe ŋkumee.
A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17 Ame gbãtɔ si to eƒe nya la dzena dzɔdzɔetɔe va se ɖe esime ame aɖe va bia gbee.
He that is first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18 Nudzidze tsia dzre nu eye wòtsoa nya me na ame sesẽ siwo le dzre wɔm.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
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.
A brother offended is [harder to be won] than a strong city; and contentions are as the bars of a palace.
20 Ame ƒe numekutsetse ɖia ƒo nɛ eye nuŋeŋe si doa go tso eƒe nuyiwo me la ana eƒe dzi nadze eme.
A man's belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips is he satisfied.
21 Ku kple agbe ƒe ŋusẽ le aɖe si, eye ame siwo lɔ̃e la aɖu eƒe kutsetse.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 Ame si si srɔ̃nyɔnu su la ke ɖe nu nyui ŋu eye wòxɔa amenuveve tso Yehowa gbɔ.
Whoso hath found a wife hath found a good thing, and hath obtained favour from Jehovah.
23 Ame dahe ɖea kuku biaa nublanuikpɔkpɔ, ke kesinɔtɔ ya ɖoa nya ŋu adãtɔe.
He that is poor speaketh with supplications, but the rich answereth roughly.
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] friends will come to ruin but there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
