Lododowo 19
1 Anyo be nànye ame dahe si ƒe zɔzɔme ŋu fɔɖiɖi mele o, wu bometsila si ƒe nuyiwo gblɔa nya tovo.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 Menyo be dzo nanɔ mewò ɖe nuwo wɔwɔ ŋu gɔmesesemanɔmee alo atsi dzi ahabu mɔ o.
It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.
3 Ame ŋutɔ ƒe bometsitsie gblẽa eƒe agbe dome, evɔ eƒe dzi bina ɖe Yehowa ŋu.
The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh.
4 Kesinɔnunɔamesi dzea xɔlɔ̃ geɖe na ame, gake ame dahe ƒe xɔlɔ̃wo kakana le eŋu.
Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.
5 Womagbe tohehe na aʋatsoɖasefo o eye ame si trɔa alakpa kɔna ɖi bababa la, madzo le ablɔɖe me o.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
6 Ame geɖewo wɔa nu be woadze fia ŋu, eye ame si naa nu ame faa la, ame sia ame dzea xɔ̃e.
Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
7 Ame dahe ƒe ƒometɔwo katã ɖea kɔ ɖa le eŋu, aleke exɔlɔ̃wo magbee geɖe wu o! Togbɔ be etia wo yome nɔa kuku ɖem na wo hã la, womedea nu eme nɛ o.
All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.
8 Ame si, si nunya su la lɔ̃a eya ŋutɔ ƒe luʋɔ eye ame si melɔ̃a nu le gɔmesese gbɔ o la, nu dzea edzi nɛ.
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
9 Womagbe tohehe na aʋatsoɖasefo o eye ame si trɔa alakpa kɔna ɖi bababa la atsrɔ̃.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
10 Agbe vivi nɔnɔ medze bometsila ʋuu keke wòahanye be kluvi ɖu aƒetɔ ɖe dumegãwo dzi o.
Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 Ame ƒe nunya nana wògbɔa dzi ɖi eye ŋutikɔkɔe wònye nɛ ne eŋe aɖaba ƒu dzidada dzi.
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.
12 Fia ƒe dziku le abe dzata ƒe gbetete ene, ke eƒe amenuveve le abe zãmu le gbedzi ene.
The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 Viŋutsu tsibome nye fofoa ƒe gbegblẽ eye srɔ̃nyɔnu dzrewɔla le abe tsitrɔnu si le ɖuɖum ɖaa ene.
A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.
14 Aƒewo kple kesinɔnuwo nye domenyinu tso dzilawo gbɔ, ke srɔ̃nyɔnu nyanu ya, Yehowa gbɔe wòtsona.
House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
15 Kuvia nana ame dɔa alɔ̃ yia eme ʋĩi eye dɔ wua ƒomewɔla.
Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 Ame si wɔna ɖe sedede dzi la dzɔa eƒe agbe ŋu, ke ame si metsɔ ɖeke le eƒe mɔwo ŋu o la aku.
He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
17 Ame si nyo dɔ me na hiãtɔ la, do nugbana na Yehowa, aɖo nu si wòwɔ la teƒe nɛ.
He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.
18 He to na viwò ŋutsuvi elabena eya mee mɔkpɔkpɔ le; ke mègakpe ɖe ame siwo le eƒe ku dim la ŋuti o.
Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.
19 Ame si dzi kuna helĩhelĩ la, axe eŋutife; ne èɖee le eme la, agawɔe ake.
A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
20 Ɖo to aɖaŋuɖoɖo, nàxɔ amehehe eye le nuwuwua la, àdze nunya.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
21 Nu geɖewo ame ɖo ɖe eƒe dzi me, gake Yehowa ƒe ɖoɖo koe vaa eme.
There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
22 Nu si ame dina lae nye lɔlɔ̃ si meʋãna o; enyo be nànye ame dahe wu alakpatɔ.
That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.
23 Yehowavɔvɔ̃ kplɔa ame yia agbe gbɔe. Ekema ànɔ anyi aɖe dzi ɖi eye kuxi aɖeke maƒo go wò o.
The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
24 Ne kuviatɔ de asi nuɖugba me la, maɖee ɖa atsɔ yi nu gbɔe teti gɔ̃ hã o!
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Ƒo fewuɖula kple ati, ekema gegemewo adze nunya; ka mo na ame si si sidzedze le, ekema gɔmesese asu esi.
Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 Ame si daa adzo fofoa, nyaa dada doa goe lae nye viŋutsu si hea ŋukpe kple vlododo vɛ.
He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Vinye, ne èdzudzɔ amehenyawo sese la, ekema àtra tso gɔmesese ƒe nyawo gbɔ.
If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 Aʋatsoɖasefo ɖua fewu le afia nyui tsotso ŋu eye ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe nu miaa nu vɔ̃ɖi.
A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
29 Woɖo tohehe ɖi na fewuɖulawo eye woɖo ƒoƒo ɖi na bometsilawo ƒe dzime.
Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
