< Lododowo 21 >
1 Fia la ƒe dzi le Yehowa ƒe asi me; efiaa mɔe wòtoa afi sia afi si wòlɔ̃ la abe ale si woɖea toƒe na tsi si si tso tsidzɔtsoƒe ene.
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD as the watercourses: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Ŋutsu ƒe mɔwo katã dzea eŋu gake Yehowae daa dziwo kpɔ.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD weigheth the hearts.
3 Nu dzɔdzɔe kple nu si le eteƒe wɔwɔ doa dzidzɔ na Yehowa wu vɔsa.
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Ŋku gã kple dzi si me dada le lae nye ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe akaɖi, evɔ wòhenye nu vɔ̃.
An high look, and a proud heart, [even] the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 Vevidonula ƒe ɖoɖoɖowo hea viɖe vɛ nenema kee dzitsitsi hea ahedada vɛ.
The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness: but every one that is hasty [hasteth] only to want.
6 Kesinɔnu si wotsɔ alakpaɖe kpɔe la nu va yina kaba abe ƒuƒu ene eye wònye mɔ si ŋu aɖi vɔ̃ɖi le.
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapour driven to and fro; they [that seek them] seek death.
7 Ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe ŋutasẽnuwɔwɔ ahe wo adzoe elabena wogbe be yewomawɔ nu nyui o.
The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away; because they refuse to do judgment.
8 Fɔɖila ƒe mɔ le gɔdɔ̃gɔdɔ̃ gake fɔmaɖila ƒe nuwɔwɔ le dzɔdzɔe.
The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked: but as for the pure, his work is right.
9 Enyo be woanɔ dzogoe dzi le xɔta wu be woanɔ xɔ ɖeka me kple srɔ̃nyɔnu dzrewɔla.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
10 Nu vɔ̃ɖi wɔwɔ dzroa ame vɔ̃ɖi vevie, mekpɔa nublanui na ehavi o.
The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 Ne wohe to na fewuɖula la, bometsilawo dzea nunya; ne wofia nu nunyala la, sidzedze sua esi.
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 Dzɔdzɔetɔ la ɖea ŋku ɖe ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe aƒe ŋu, eye wòhea gbegblẽ vaa ame vɔ̃ɖi la dzi.
The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked; [how] the wicked are overthrown to [their] ruin.
13 Ne ame aɖe do toku ame dahe ƒe ɣlidodo la, ne eya hã do ɣli la, ame aɖeke masee nɛ o.
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry, but shall not be heard.
14 Nunana si wona le adzame la faa dziku nu eye zãnu si woɣla ɖe awu ʋlaya te hafi tsɔ vɛ la léa avu dziku helĩhelĩ.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a present in the bosom strong wrath.
15 Afia nyui tsotso hea dzidzɔ vɛ na ame dzɔdzɔe, ke ehea ŋɔdzi vɛ na vɔ̃ wɔlawo.
It is joy to the righteous to do judgment; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 Ŋutsu si tra tso gɔmesese ƒe mɔ dzi la va dzudzɔna le ame kukuwo ƒe ha me.
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall rest in the congregation of the dead.
17 Ame si lɔ̃a agbeɖuɖu la azu hiãtɔ eye ame si lɔ̃a wain kple ami la makpɔ hotsui o.
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 Ame vɔ̃ɖi zua avulénu ɖe ame dzɔdzɔe teƒe eye nenema ke nuteƒemawɔla ɖea nuteƒewɔla nu.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; and the treacherous [cometh] in the stead of the upright.
19 Enyo be nànɔ dzogbe wu be nànɔ anyi kple srɔ̃nyɔnu dzrewɔla kple dɔmedzoedola.
It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 Nuɖuɖu vivi kple ami bɔ ɖe nunyala ƒe aƒe me fũu, gake bometsila ɖua nu sia nu si le esi.
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
21 Ame si tia dzɔdzɔenyenye kple lɔlɔ̃ la, tia agbe, dzidzedze kple bubu.
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22 Nunyala dze kalẽtɔ ƒe du dzi eye wòmu mɔ sesẽ si ŋu wole dzi ɖom ɖo la ƒu anyi.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Ame si kpɔa eƒe nu kple eƒe aɖe dzi la, ɖea eɖokui tso dzɔgbevɔ̃e me.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 Ŋutsu dadala, ɖokuiŋudzela, si wɔa nu tovo kple dada la, eyae woyɔna be, “Fewuɖula.”
The proud and haughty man, scorner is his name, he worketh in the arrogance of pride.
25 Kuviatɔ ƒe nudzodzro ahe ku vɛ nɛ, elabena eƒe asiwo gbe be yewomawɔ dɔ o.
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26 Ele nu dzrom ŋkeke blibo la, ke ame dzɔdzɔe la nana faa, eye metea ame o.
There is that coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
27 Ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe vɔsa nye ŋunyɔnu, kaka wòahanye be etsɔe vɛ kple susu vɔ̃ɖi.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!
28 Aʋatsoɖasefo atsrɔ̃ eye ame si ɖoa toe la atsrɔ̃ gbidigbidi.
A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth shall speak unchallenged.
29 Ame vɔ̃ɖi ɖoa mo kplala ɖi, ke dzɔdzɔetɔ léa ŋku ɖe eƒe mɔwo ŋu.
A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he ordereth his ways.
30 Nunya, gɔmesese kple ɖoɖo aɖeke meli si adze edzi o, ne etsi tsitre ɖe Yehowa ŋu.
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31 Woblaa akpa na sɔ ɖe aʋakpegbe ŋu, gake Yehowa ƒe asimee dziɖuɖu ya le.
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but victory is of the LORD,