Lododowo 18
1 Ɖokuitɔdila dia eɖokui ko tɔ eye meɖoa to nunyanya siwo gblɔm wole la o.
One who isolates himself seeks his own desire and he quarrels with all sound judgment.
2 Bometsila medoa vivi ɖe gɔmesese ŋu o, ke boŋ ekpɔa dzidzɔ le eya ŋutɔ ƒe susuɖegblɔ ŋu.
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but only in revealing what is in his own heart.
3 Ne vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi va la, vlododo kplɔnɛ ɖo eye ne alɔmeɖeɖe va la, ŋukpe dzea eyome.
When a wicked person comes, contempt comes with him— along with shame and 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; the fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream.
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 person, nor to deny justice to the righteous person.
6 Bometsila ƒe nuyiwo denɛ dzre me eye eƒe nu hea ƒoƒo vaa edzii.
A fool's lips bring him conflict 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 he ensnares himself with his lips.
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 delicious morsels and they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9 Ame si wɔa alɔgblɔdɔ le eƒe dɔ ŋuti la nye nugblẽla nɔvi.
Also, one who is slack in his work is a brother to the one who destroys the most.
10 Yehowa ƒe ŋkɔ nye mɔ sesẽ, ame dzɔdzɔewo sina yia eme eye wonɔa dedie.
The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous person runs 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 wealth of the rich is his fortified city and in his imagination it is like a high wall.
12 Hafi ame aɖe nadze anyi la, dada nɔa eƒe dzi me, ke ɖokuibɔbɔ doa ŋgɔ na bubu.
Before his downfall a person'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.
One who answers before listening— it is his folly and shame.
14 Ame ƒe gbɔgbɔ lénɛ ɖe te le dɔléle me, ke ame ka ate ŋu atsɔ gbɔgbɔ si gbã gudugudu?
A person's spirit will survive sickness, but a broken spirit who can bear it?
15 Sidzela ƒe dzi kpɔa gɔmesese eye nunyala ƒe to dia gɔmesese.
The heart of the intelligent acquires knowledge and the hearing of the wise seeks it out.
16 Nunana ʋua mɔ na nunala eye wòkplɔnɛ gena ɖe amegã la ƒe ŋkumee.
A man's gift may open the way and bring him before an important person.
17 Ame gbãtɔ si to eƒe nya la dzena dzɔdzɔetɔe va se ɖe esime ame aɖe va bia gbee.
The first to plead his case seems right until his opponent comes and questions him.
18 Nudzidze tsia dzre nu eye wòtsoa nya me na ame sesẽ siwo le dzre wɔm.
Casting the lot settles disputes 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 be won than a strong city, and quarreling is 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 one's stomach is filled; with the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Ku kple agbe ƒe ŋusẽ le aɖe si, eye ame siwo lɔ̃e la aɖu eƒe kutsetse.
Death and life are controlled by the tongue, and those who love the tongue 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 receives favor from Yahweh.
23 Ame dahe ɖea kuku biaa nublanuikpɔkpɔ, ke kesinɔtɔ ya ɖoa nya ŋu adãtɔe.
A poor person pleads for mercy, but a rich person 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.
The one who claims many friends is brought to ruin by them, but there is a friend who comes closer than a brother.
