Lododowo 18
1 Ɖokuitɔdila dia eɖokui ko tɔ eye meɖoa to nunyanya siwo gblɔm wole la o.
He who separateth himself seeketh his own desire; Against all sound discretion he rusheth on.
2 Bometsila medoa vivi ɖe gɔmesese ŋu o, ke boŋ ekpɔa dzidzɔ le eya ŋutɔ ƒe susuɖegblɔ ŋu.
The fool hath no delight in understanding, But rather in revealing his own mind.
3 Ne vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi va la, vlododo kplɔnɛ ɖo eye ne alɔmeɖeɖe va la, ŋukpe dzea eyome.
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt; And with baseness, shame.
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 wellspring of wisdom is an overflowing brook.
5 Menyo be woade ame vɔ̃ɖi dzi alo atrɔ ame maɖifɔ ƒe nya dzɔdzɔe atsyɔ anyi o.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked, So as to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 Bometsila ƒe nuyiwo denɛ dzre me eye eƒe nu hea ƒoƒo vaa edzii.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calleth for blows.
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 destruction, And his lips are a snare for his life.
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 like sweet morsels; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.
9 Ame si wɔa alɔgblɔdɔ le eƒe dɔ ŋuti la nye nugblẽla nɔvi.
Moreover, he that is slothful in his work Is brother to him that is a great waster.
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 runneth to 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 conceit.
12 Hafi ame aɖe nadze anyi la, dada nɔa eƒe dzi me, ke ɖokuibɔbɔ doa ŋgɔ na bubu.
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.
13 Enye bometsitsi kple ŋukpe na ame, be wòaɖo nya ŋu hafi ase nu si gblɔm wole.
He who answereth a matter before he hath heard it, It is folly and shame 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 will sustain his infirmity; But a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 Sidzela ƒe dzi kpɔa gɔmesese eye nunyala ƒe to dia gɔmesese.
The heart of the intelligent will acquire knowledge, And the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.
16 Nunana ʋua mɔ na nunala eye wòkplɔnɛ gena ɖe amegã la ƒe ŋkumee.
A gift maketh room for a man, And bringeth him into the presence of the great.
17 Ame gbãtɔ si to eƒe nya la dzena dzɔdzɔetɔe va se ɖe esime ame aɖe va bia gbee.
He that first pleadeth his cause appeareth just; But his opponent cometh, and searcheth him through.
18 Nudzidze tsia dzre nu eye wòtsoa nya me na ame sesẽ siwo le dzre wɔm.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth asunder 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; Yea, their contentions 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.
With the fruit of a man's mouth shall his stomach be filled; He shall be filled with the produce of his lips.
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; They that love it shall eat its fruit.
22 Ame si si srɔ̃nyɔnu su la ke ɖe nu nyui ŋu eye wòxɔa amenuveve tso Yehowa gbɔ.
He that findeth a wife findeth a blessing, And obtaineth favor from the LORD.
23 Ame dahe ɖea kuku biaa nublanuikpɔkpɔ, ke kesinɔtɔ ya ɖoa nya ŋu adãtɔe.
The poor useth entreaties; 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 show himself false; Yet there is a friend who sticketh closer than a brother.
