Lododowo 18
1 Ɖokuitɔdila dia eɖokui ko tɔ eye meɖoa to nunyanya siwo gblɔm wole la o.
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgement.
2 Bometsila medoa vivi ɖe gɔmesese ŋu o, ke boŋ ekpɔa dzidzɔ le eya ŋutɔ ƒe susuɖegblɔ ŋu.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 Ne vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi va la, vlododo kplɔnɛ ɖo eye ne alɔmeɖeɖe va la, ŋukpe dzea eyome.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes 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 like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5 Menyo be woade ame vɔ̃ɖi dzi alo atrɔ ame maɖifɔ ƒe nya dzɔdzɔe atsyɔ anyi o.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 Bometsila ƒe nuyiwo denɛ dzre me eye eƒe nu hea ƒoƒo vaa edzii.
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
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 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 dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 Ame si wɔa alɔgblɔdɔ le eƒe dɔ ŋuti la nye nugblẽla nɔvi.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 Yehowa ƒe ŋkɔ nye mɔ sesẽ, ame dzɔdzɔewo sina yia eme eye wonɔa dedie.
The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are 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, like an unscalable 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 proud, but before honour is humility.
13 Enye bometsitsi kple ŋukpe na ame, be wòaɖo nya ŋu hafi ase nu si gblɔm wole.
He who answers before he hears, that 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?
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 Sidzela ƒe dzi kpɔa gɔmesese eye nunyala ƒe to dia gɔmesese.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Nunana ʋua mɔ na nunala eye wòkplɔnɛ gena ɖe amegã la ƒe ŋkumee.
A man’s gift makes room 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.
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18 Nudzidze tsia dzre nu eye wòtsoa nya me na ame sesẽ siwo le dzre wɔm.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
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 more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
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 stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. 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 in the power of the tongue; 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.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.
23 Ame dahe ɖea kuku biaa nublanuikpɔkpɔ, ke kesinɔtɔ ya ɖoa nya ŋu adãtɔe.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer 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 be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
