Lododowo 22
1 Ŋkɔ nyui didi nyo wu kesinɔnuwo eye ŋudzedzekpɔkpɔ nyo wu klosalo kple sika.
A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
2 Nu ɖeka siae nàkpɔ le kesinɔtɔ kple ame dahe ŋu: Yehowae nye wo katã Wɔla.
Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [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.
The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4 Ɖokuibɔbɔ kple Yehowavɔvɔ̃ hea kesinɔnu, bubu kple agbe vɛ.
The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, 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 perverse, Whoever is keeping his soul is far from them.
6 He ɖevi ɖe mɔ si wòato la dzi eye ne etsi la, mate ɖa le edzi o.
Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
7 Kesinɔtɔwo ɖua gã ɖe ame dahewo dzi eye nugbanadola zua dɔla na ame si do nugbana la nɛ.
The rich rules over the poor, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Ame si ƒã vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi la axa dzɔgbevɔ̃e, eye woatsrɔ eƒe dɔmedzoe ƒe ameƒoti.
Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
9 Woayra ame si nyoa dɔ me na amewo elabena emaa eƒe nuɖuɖu kple ame dahewo.
The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given 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 a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
11 Ame si lɔ̃ dzi dzadzɛ kple nuƒoƒo si me nya dzetowo le la, eyae fia la adze xɔ̃e.
Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
12 Yehowa ƒe ŋkuwo le nugɔmesese ŋu, ke etrɔa gbo nuteƒemawɔlawo ƒe nyawo.
The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 Kuviatɔ gblɔna be, “Dzata le gota!” alo “Woava wum le ablɔ dzi!”
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
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, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
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 youth, The rod of discipline puts 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.
He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
17 Ƒu to anyi eye nàse nunyalawo ƒe nyawo, na wò dzi naku ɖe nu si fiam mele ŋuti,
Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to 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 they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
19 Ale be nàɖo dzi ɖe Yehowa ŋu, esia ta mele nu fiam wò ɖo egbea, ɛ̃, wòe mele nu fiam.
That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
20 Ɖe nyemeŋlɔ nufiamenya blaetɔ̃ na wò, aɖaŋuɖonyawo kple nugɔmesenyawo
Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
21 be woafia nyateƒe kple kakaɖedzinyawo wò be nàtsɔ nunyanyawo aɖo nya ŋu na ame si dɔ wò la oa?
To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
22 Mègaba ame dahewo le esi woda ahe ta o eye mègate hiãtɔ ɖe to le ʋɔnu o,
Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
23 elabena Yehowa axɔ nya ɖe wo nu eye wòaha ame si ha wo.
For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Mègadze xɔ̃ ŋutsu dɔmedzoetɔ o eye mègade ha kple ame si doa dziku kabakaba o,
Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
25 ne menye nenema o la, àva srɔ̃ eƒe mɔwo eye nàtsɔ ɖokuiwò ade mɔ me.
Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
26 Mèganye ame si ƒua asi akɔ ɖe fenyila nu alo dea megbe na ame si do nugbana la o;
Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27 eye ne mèkpɔ ga axe fea o la, woaɖe aba si dzi nèmlɔna la gɔ̃ hã le tewò.
If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
28 Mègaɖe blemaliƒokpe si fofowòwo ɖi la ɖa o.
Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
29 Èkpɔ ame si bi ɖe eƒe dɔ me la le dɔ wɔma? Asubɔ le fiawo ŋgɔ eye menye le ame tsɛwo ŋgɔ o.
Have you seen a man speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, He does not station himself before obscure men!
