Lododowo 2
1 Vinye, ne èxɔ nye nyawo eye nèdzra nye sededewo ɖo ɖe mewò,
My son, if thou wouldst but accept my words, and treasure up my commandments with thee;
2 ne ètrɔ to ɖe nunya ŋu hetsɔ wò dzi na gɔmesese,
To let thy ear listen unto wisdom: [if] thou wouldst incline thy heart to understanding.
3 ne èyɔ sidzedze eye nèdo ɣli na gɔmesese,
For if thou wilt call after intelligence; if after understanding thou wilt lift up thy voice;
4 ne èdii abe klosalo alo kesinɔnu si woɣla ene la,
If thou wilt seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:
5 ekema àse Yehowavɔvɔ̃ gɔme eye àke ɖe Mawu nyanya ŋu
Then wilt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of God wilt thou find.
6 elabena Yehowae naa nunya, eye sidzedze kple gɔmesese doa go tso eƒe nu me.
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [come] knowledge and understanding.
7 Eɖo dziɖuɖu ɖi na nuteƒewɔlawo eye wònye akpoxɔnu na ame siwo ƒe zɔzɔme ŋu fɔɖiɖi mele o,
He treasureth up sound wisdom for the righteous, as a shield to those that walk in integrity:
8 elabena edzɔa ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe toƒewo ŋu eye wòkpɔa eƒe nuteƒewɔlawo ƒe mɔwo ta.
That men may keep the paths of justice; and the way of his pious servants doth he guard.
9 Ekema àse nu si nyo, le dzɔdzɔe eye wòdze la gɔme, ɛ̃, àse mɔ nyui ɖe sia ɖe gɔme,
Then wilt thou understand righteousness, and justice, and equity: yea, every track of goodness.
10 elabena nunya age ɖe wò dzi me, eye sidzedze ado dzidzɔ na wò luʋɔ.
For wisdom will enter thy heart, and knowledge will be pleasant unto thy soul;
11 Tamebubu nyui akpɔ tawò, eye gɔmesese adzɔ ŋuwò.
Discretion will watch over thee, understanding will keep thee;
12 Nunya aɖe wò tso ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe mɔwo dzi, tso nya tovo gblɔlawo ƒe asi me,
To deliver thee from the way of the bad, from the man that speaketh perverse things;
13 ame siwo gblea mɔ dzɔdzɔetɔwo ɖi hezɔna le mɔ doblukɔwo dzi,
[From those] who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
14 ame siwo nu gbegblẽ wɔwɔ doa dzidzɔ na, eye wotsoa aseye le nu tovo ƒe vɔ̃ɖinyenye ŋu,
Who rejoice to do evil, who are delighted in the perverseness of the bad;
15 ame siwo ƒe mɔwo glɔ̃ eye wotrana le woƒe mɔwo dzi.
Who as regardeth their paths are crooked, and froward in their tracks.
16 Nunya aɖe wò le nyɔnu ahasitɔ hã ƒe asi me kple srɔ̃nyɔnu si da afɔ la ƒe amenubeble me
To deliver thee from the adulteress, from the alien woman that useth flattering speeches;
17 ame si gblẽ eƒe ɖetugbimesrɔ̃ ɖi eye mewɔ ɖe nu si wòbla kplii le Mawu ŋkume la dzi o
That forsaketh the friend of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
18 elabena eƒe aƒe ɖo ta ku me eye eƒe mɔwo ɖo ta ame siwo le tsiẽƒe la ƒe gbɔgbɔwo gbɔ.
For she sinketh unto death—her house, and unto the departed [lead] her tracks.
19 Ame siwo katã yia egbɔ la megatrɔna gbɔna loo alo gena ɖe agbemɔ la dzi o.
All that come unto her return not again, and they will not reach the paths of life.
20 Ale àto ame nyuiwo ƒe mɔwo dzi eye àlé ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe mɔwo ɖe asi.
In order that thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and observe the paths of the righteous.
21 Ame dzɔdzɔewo anɔ anyigba dzi eye ame maɖifɔwo asusɔ ɖe edzi
For the upright will dwell on the earth, and the perfect will be left remaining on it.
22 gake woatsrɔ̃ ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ɖa le anyigba dzi eye woaho nuteƒemawɔlawo ɖa le edzi.
But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous shall be plucked up therefrom.
