Lododowo 22
1 Ŋkɔ nyui didi nyo wu kesinɔnuwo eye ŋudzedzekpɔkpɔ nyo wu klosalo kple sika.
A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 Nu ɖeka siae nàkpɔ le kesinɔtɔ kple ame dahe ŋu: Yehowae nye wo katã Wɔla.
The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.
3 Nunyala kpɔ dzɔgbevɔ̃e gbɔna eye wòɣla eɖokui gake bometsila ya yiyim ko wòle eye wòkpea fu ɖe enu.
The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
4 Ɖokuibɔbɔ kple Yehowavɔvɔ̃ hea kesinɔnu, bubu kple agbe vɛ.
The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Ŋu kple mɔkawo le ame vɔ̃ɖi la ƒe mɔ dzi, ke ame si dzɔ eƒe luʋɔ ŋuti la, ate ɖa xaa tso wo gbɔ.
Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.
6 He ɖevi ɖe mɔ si wòato la dzi eye ne etsi la, mate ɖa le edzi o.
It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Kesinɔtɔwo ɖua gã ɖe ame dahewo dzi eye nugbanadola zua dɔla na ame si do nugbana la nɛ.
The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
8 Ame si ƒã vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi la axa dzɔgbevɔ̃e, eye woatsrɔ eƒe dɔmedzoe ƒe ameƒoti.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
9 Woayra ame si nyoa dɔ me na amewo elabena emaa eƒe nuɖuɖu kple ame dahewo.
He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
10 Nya fewuɖula la do goe eye dzre hã ado go, nenema ke nyahehe kple dzudzu hã awu nu.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
11 Ame si lɔ̃ dzi dzadzɛ kple nuƒoƒo si me nya dzetowo le la, eyae fia la adze xɔ̃e.
He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
12 Yehowa ƒe ŋkuwo le nugɔmesese ŋu, ke etrɔa gbo nuteƒemawɔlawo ƒe nyawo.
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
13 Kuviatɔ gblɔna be, “Dzata le gota!” alo “Woava wum le ablɔ dzi!”
The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.
14 Nyɔnu ahasitɔ ƒe nu la, ʋe globo wònye eye ame si dzi Yehowa ƒe dziku le la eyae age adze eme.
The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
15 Wobla bometsitsi ɖe ɖevi ƒe dzi ŋu, ke ɖɔɖɔɖo ƒe ameƒoti ana wòate ɖa xaa tso egbɔ.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
16 Ame si tea ame dahewo ɖe anyi be yeadzi yeƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖe edzi kple ame si naa nu kesinɔtɔ la siaa age ɖe hiã me.
He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
17 Ƒu to anyi eye nàse nunyalawo ƒe nyawo, na wò dzi naku ɖe nu si fiam mele ŋuti,
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
18 elabena edoa dzidzɔ na ame ne èɣla wo ɖe wò dzi me, eye wo katã nanɔ klalo le wò nuyiwo dzi.
Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
19 Ale be nàɖo dzi ɖe Yehowa ŋu, esia ta mele nu fiam wò ɖo egbea, ɛ̃, wòe mele nu fiam.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
20 Ɖe nyemeŋlɔ nufiamenya blaetɔ̃ na wò, aɖaŋuɖonyawo kple nugɔmesenyawo
Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
21 be woafia nyateƒe kple kakaɖedzinyawo wò be nàtsɔ nunyanyawo aɖo nya ŋu na ame si dɔ wò la oa?
That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
22 Mègaba ame dahewo le esi woda ahe ta o eye mègate hiãtɔ ɖe to le ʋɔnu o,
Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
23 elabena Yehowa axɔ nya ɖe wo nu eye wòaha ame si ha wo.
Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
24 Mègadze xɔ̃ ŋutsu dɔmedzoetɔ o eye mègade ha kple ame si doa dziku kabakaba o,
Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
25 ne menye nenema o la, àva srɔ̃ eƒe mɔwo eye nàtsɔ ɖokuiwò ade mɔ me.
Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
26 Mèganye ame si ƒua asi akɔ ɖe fenyila nu alo dea megbe na ame si do nugbana la o;
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
27 eye ne mèkpɔ ga axe fea o la, woaɖe aba si dzi nèmlɔna la gɔ̃ hã le tewò.
For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
28 Mègaɖe blemaliƒokpe si fofowòwo ɖi la ɖa o.
Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
29 Èkpɔ ame si bi ɖe eƒe dɔ me la le dɔ wɔma? Asubɔ le fiawo ŋgɔ eye menye le ame tsɛwo ŋgɔ o.
Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
