Lododowo 22
1 Ŋkɔ nyui didi nyo wu kesinɔnuwo eye ŋudzedzekpɔkpɔ nyo wu klosalo kple sika.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 Nu ɖeka siae nàkpɔ le kesinɔtɔ kple ame dahe ŋu: Yehowae nye wo katã Wɔla.
The rich and the poor meet together — the LORD is the maker of them all.
3 Nunyala kpɔ dzɔgbevɔ̃e gbɔna eye wòɣla eɖokui gake bometsila ya yiyim ko wòle eye wòkpea fu ɖe enu.
A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.
4 Ɖokuibɔbɔ kple Yehowavɔvɔ̃ hea kesinɔnu, bubu kple agbe vɛ.
The reward of humility is the fear of the LORD, even riches, and honour, 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.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward; he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.
6 He ɖevi ɖe mɔ si wòato la dzi eye ne etsi la, mate ɖa le edzi o.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and 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 the lender.
8 Ame si ƒã vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi la axa dzɔgbevɔ̃e, eye woatsrɔ eƒe dɔmedzoe ƒe ameƒoti.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9 Woayra ame si nyoa dɔ me na amewo elabena emaa eƒe nuɖuɖu kple ame dahewo.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Nya fewuɖula la do goe eye dzre hã ado go, nenema ke nyahehe kple dzudzu hã awu nu.
Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out; yea, strife and shame will cease.
11 Ame si lɔ̃ dzi dzadzɛ kple nuƒoƒo si me nya dzetowo le la, eyae fia la adze xɔ̃e.
He that loveth pureness of heart, that hath grace in his lips, the king shall be his friend.
12 Yehowa ƒe ŋkuwo le nugɔmesese ŋu, ke etrɔa gbo nuteƒemawɔlawo ƒe nyawo.
The eyes of the LORD preserve him that hath knowledge, but He overthroweth the words of the faithless man.
13 Kuviatɔ gblɔna be, “Dzata le gota!” alo “Woava wum le ablɔ dzi!”
The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion without; I shall be slain in 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 strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
15 Wobla bometsitsi ɖe ɖevi ƒe dzi ŋu, ke ɖɔɖɔɖo ƒe ameƒoti ana wòate ɖa xaa tso egbɔ.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
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.
One may oppress the poor, yet will their gain increase; one may give to the rich, yet will want come.
17 Ƒu to anyi eye nàse nunyalawo ƒe nyawo, na wò dzi naku ɖe nu si fiam mele ŋuti,
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
18 elabena edoa dzidzɔ na ame ne èɣla wo ɖe wò dzi me, eye wo katã nanɔ klalo le wò nuyiwo dzi.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; let them be established altogether upon 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, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Ɖe nyemeŋlɔ nufiamenya blaetɔ̃ na wò, aɖaŋuɖonyawo kple nugɔmesenyawo
Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels 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 make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest bring back words of truth to them that send thee?
22 Mègaba ame dahewo le esi woda ahe ta o eye mègate hiãtɔ ɖe to le ʋɔnu o,
Rob not the weak, because he is weak, neither crush the poor in the gate;
23 elabena Yehowa axɔ nya ɖe wo nu eye wòaha ame si ha wo.
For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.
24 Mègadze xɔ̃ ŋutsu dɔmedzoetɔ o eye mègade ha kple ame si doa dziku kabakaba o,
Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go;
25 ne menye nenema o la, àva srɔ̃ eƒe mɔwo eye nàtsɔ ɖokuiwò ade mɔ me.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Mèganye ame si ƒua asi akɔ ɖe fenyila nu alo dea megbe na ame si do nugbana la o;
Be thou not of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts;
27 eye ne mèkpɔ ga axe fea o la, woaɖe aba si dzi nèmlɔna la gɔ̃ hã le tewò.
If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Mègaɖe blemaliƒokpe si fofowòwo ɖi la ɖa o.
Remove not the ancient landmark, 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.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
