< Lododowo 20 >

1 Wain nye fewuɖula eye aha muame nye avuwɔla, ame si wokplɔ trae la menya nu o.
Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
2 Fia ƒe dziku doa vɔvɔ̃ abe dzata ƒe gbetete ene ame si do dziku nɛ la bua eƒe agbe.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
3 Bubu wònye na ŋutsu ne eƒo asa na dzre gake bometsila ɖe sia ɖe wɔa dzre kabakaba.
It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4 Kuviatɔ meŋlɔa agble le agbledeɣi o, eya ta edia nu le nuŋeɣi doa kpoe.
Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
5 Ŋutsu ƒe tameɖoɖowo nye tɔ goglo, gake ame si si nugɔmesese su la akui wòavɔ.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
6 Ŋutsu geɖewo gblɔna be lɔlɔ̃ matrɔ le yewo si gake ame ka ate ŋu akpɔ ŋutsu nuteƒewɔla?
Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
7 Ame dzɔdzɔe nɔa agbe si ŋu kpɔtsɔtsɔ mele o; yayra anɔ viawo dzi emegbe gɔ̃ hã.
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 Ne fia nɔ anyi ɖe eƒe fiazikpui dzi be yeadrɔ̃ ʋɔnu la, eɖe vɔ̃wo katã ɖa kple eƒe ŋkuwo.
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Ame ka ate ŋu agblɔ bena, “Mewɔ nye dzi dzadzɛe, ŋutinye kɔ eye vɔ̃ mele ŋutinye o?”
Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Yehowa lé fu nudakpe vovovo eve kple nudzidzenu vovovo eve siaa.
Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 Wonyaa ɖevi gɔ̃ hã to eƒe nuwɔna me, ne ele agbe dzadzɛ eye eƒe nuwɔnawo le eteƒe.
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
12 Yehowa wɔ to si sea nu kple ŋku si kpɔa nu la siaa.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
13 Mègalɔ̃ alɔ̃ tsu dɔdɔ o, ne menye nenema o la, àva zu hiãtɔ, nɔ ŋu ekema àɖu nu wòasusɔ.
Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 Nuƒlela gblɔna be, “Menyo o, menyo o,” emegbe la, eyina ɖanɔa adegbe ƒom be yeƒle nu ɖiɖi.
It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
15 Sika li, adzagba hã li fũu gake nuyi siwo gblɔa nunyanya la, kpe xɔasi veviwo wonye.
There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Xɔ avɔ le ame si da megbe na amedzro la si, tsɔe ɖo awɔbae ne eda megbe na nyɔnu gbolowɔla.
Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 Nuɖuɖu si wokpɔ to amefuflu me la vivina na ŋutsu, gake le nuwuwu la, eƒe nu me yɔna kple kpekui sɔŋ.
The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Wɔ ɖoɖo to aɖaŋuxɔxɔ me, ne èle aʋa wɔm la, bia mɔfiame.
Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 Amenyagblɔla ʋua go nya ɣaɣla eya ta ƒo asa na ŋutsu nukpoloeƒola.
Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 Ne ŋutsu do ɖiŋu na fofoa alo dadaa la, woatsi eƒe akaɖi ne ele viviti tsiɖitsiɖi me.
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 Domenyinu si wokpɔ to mɔ kpui dzi le gɔmedzedzea me la, yayra manɔ edzi le nuwuwua o.
The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Mègagblɔ be, “Maɖo vɔ̃ si nèwɔ ɖe ŋunye la teƒe na wò” o! Kpɔ Yehowa ƒe asinu ekema aɖe wò.
Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
23 Yehowa lé fu nudakpe ƒomevi vovovowo eye nudanu amebatɔ hã menyoa Yehowa ŋu o.
Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
24 Yehowa fiaa afɔɖeɖe ame, ke aleke ame aɖe awɔ ase eya ŋutɔ ƒe mɔwo gɔme?
The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
25 Mɔ wònye na ame ne ekɔ nane ŋu tamemabumabutɔe eye emegbe hafi wòva bu adzɔgbe si wòɖe la ŋuti.
It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26 Fia nyanu gbɔa ame vɔ̃ɖiwo eye wòzɔa wo dzi kple luƒotasiaɖam.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 Yehowa ƒe akaɖi kpɔa ame ƒe gbɔgbɔ me eye wòdzroa eƒe ememe ke kpɔ.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
28 Lɔlɔ̃ kple nuteƒewɔwɔ nana fia nɔa dedinɔnɔ me eye to lɔlɔ̃ me eƒe fiazikpui lia ke.
Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 Ɖekakpuiwo ƒe ŋusẽe nye woƒe ŋutikɔkɔe eye ta ƒowɔ nye ame tsitsiwo ƒe atsyɔ̃.
The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 Kɔ kple abixɔxɔ ɖea vɔ̃ ɖa eye ƒoƒo klɔa ame ƒe ememe ke.
The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.

< Lododowo 20 >