Lododowo 2
1 Vinye, ne èxɔ nye nyawo eye nèdzra nye sededewo ɖo ɖe mewò,
My son, listen to what I say, and [consider my instructions to be as valuable as] [MET] a treasure.
2 ne ètrɔ to ɖe nunya ŋu hetsɔ wò dzi na gɔmesese,
Pay attention to wisdom and try hard to understand it.
3 ne èyɔ sidzedze eye nèdo ɣli na gɔmesese,
Call out [to God] to get insight; plead with him to help you to understand more [of what he wants you to know].
4 ne èdii abe klosalo alo kesinɔnu si woɣla ene la,
Search [eagerly] for wisdom, like you would search for silver, like you would search for a treasure that someone has hidden.
5 ekema àse Yehowavɔvɔ̃ gɔme eye àke ɖe Mawu nyanya ŋu
If you do that, you will understand how to revere Yahweh, and you will succeed in knowing God.
6 elabena Yehowae naa nunya, eye sidzedze kple gɔmesese doa go tso eƒe nu me.
Yahweh is the one who gives us wisdom. He is the one who tells us things that we need to know and understand.
7 Eɖo dziɖuɖu ɖi na nuteƒewɔlawo eye wònye akpoxɔnu na ame siwo ƒe zɔzɔme ŋu fɔɖiɖi mele o,
He gives good advice to those who conduct their lives as they should. He protects [MET] those who do what is right.
8 elabena edzɔa ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe toƒewo ŋu eye wòkpɔa eƒe nuteƒewɔlawo ƒe mɔwo ta.
He guards those who act justly/fairly [toward others], and he watches over those who are faithful/loyal [to him].
9 Ekema àse nu si nyo, le dzɔdzɔe eye wòdze la gɔme, ɛ̃, àse mɔ nyui ɖe sia ɖe gɔme,
[If you ask God for wisdom], you will understand what is right and just [DOU] [to do], and [you will know] the right way to conduct your life,
10 elabena nunya age ɖe wò dzi me, eye sidzedze ado dzidzɔ na wò luʋɔ.
because you will be wise in your inner being; and knowing [what God wants you to know] will cause you to be joyful.
11 Tamebubu nyui akpɔ tawò, eye gɔmesese adzɔ ŋuwò.
If you know [PRS] how to choose what is right to do and if you understand [what God wants] you to do, God will protect you and guard you and keep you safe.
12 Nunya aɖe wò tso ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe mɔwo dzi, tso nya tovo gblɔlawo ƒe asi me,
If you are wise [PRS], you will not do what evil people do, and you will not [believe what] deceitful people say.
13 ame siwo gblea mɔ dzɔdzɔetɔwo ɖi hezɔna le mɔ doblukɔwo dzi,
Deceitful people have stopped acting fairly/justly [toward others] and (walk on dark and evil paths/do what evil people do) [MET].
14 ame siwo nu gbegblẽ wɔwɔ doa dzidzɔ na, eye wotsoa aseye le nu tovo ƒe vɔ̃ɖinyenye ŋu,
They enjoy doing what is wrong; they like to do what is evil and to deceive [people].
15 ame siwo ƒe mɔwo glɔ̃ eye wotrana le woƒe mɔwo dzi.
They (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) and are always dishonest.
16 Nunya aɖe wò le nyɔnu ahasitɔ hã ƒe asi me kple srɔ̃nyɔnu si da afɔ la ƒe amenubeble me
If you are wise [PRS], you will [also] be saved from (immoral women/prostitutes); you will not pay attention when adulterous women try to (seduce/entice you by what they say.)
17 ame si gblẽ eƒe ɖetugbimesrɔ̃ ɖi eye mewɔ ɖe nu si wòbla kplii le Mawu ŋkume la dzi o
Those women have left the husbands whom they married when they were young; they have disregarded the solemn promise they made to God [not to commit adultery].
18 elabena eƒe aƒe ɖo ta ku me eye eƒe mɔwo ɖo ta ame siwo le tsiẽƒe la ƒe gbɔgbɔwo gbɔ.
If you go into houses of women who are like that, you will die [when you are still young]; the road [to their houses] leads to hell. (questioned)
19 Ame siwo katã yia egbɔ la megatrɔna gbɔna loo alo gena ɖe agbemɔ la dzi o.
No man who (visits/sleeps with) a woman like that will again [live harmoniously with his family]. He will never have a [happy] life again.
20 Ale àto ame nyuiwo ƒe mɔwo dzi eye àlé ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe mɔwo ɖe asi.
If [you are wise], you should behave like good men behave. You should (stay on the paths that righteous [people] walk on/do what godly people do) [MET],
21 Ame dzɔdzɔewo anɔ anyigba dzi eye ame maɖifɔwo asusɔ ɖe edzi
because only godly people will live in this land [and receive God’s blessings]; [only] those who have not done wrong will stay here [for a long time].
22 gake woatsrɔ̃ ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ɖa le anyigba dzi eye woaho nuteƒemawɔlawo ɖa le edzi.
Wicked [people] will be expelled from this land, and [people] who are not trustworthy will be thrown {God will throw them} out of it.
