Lododowo 25
1 Esiawoe nye Solomo ƒe lododo bubu siwo Yuda fia Hezekia ƒe dɔdzikpɔlawo ŋlɔ da ɖi.
These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 Enye Mawu ƒe ŋutikɔkɔe be wòaɣla nya; eye fiawo ƒe bubue nye be woaku nya me.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
3 Abe ale si dziƒo kɔe eye anyigba gogloe ene la, nenemae womate ŋu adzro fiawo ƒe dzi me o.
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
4 Ɖe ɖi ɖa le klosalo ŋu, ekema klosalonutula kpɔ dɔwɔnu.
Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
5 Ɖe ame vɔ̃ɖi ɖa le fia la ŋkume ekema eƒe fiazikpui ali ke to dzɔdzɔenyenye me.
Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Mègado ɖokuiwò ɖe dzi le fia la ŋkume o eye mègaʋli nɔƒe le amegãwo dome o.
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
7 Enyo be wòagblɔ na wò be, “Va dzime le afii” wu be wòaɖiɖi wò le bubumewo ŋkume. Nu si nèkpɔ kple wò ŋkuwo la,
for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,
8 mègatsɔ dzitsitsi ahee va ʋɔnui o elabena nu ka nàwɔ le nuwuwua ne hawòvi la do ŋukpe wò?
do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Ne èle nya hem kple hawòvi la, mègaʋu go ame bubu ƒe nya ɣaɣla o,
Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
10 ne menye nenema o la, ame si see la ado ŋukpe wò eye ŋkɔ baɖa si le ŋuwò la maɖe ɖa akpɔ gbeɖe o.
lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.
11 Nya si wogblɔ dedie la, le abe “sikaplu” le klosalogba me ene.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 Ŋutsu nunyala ƒe mokaname le na to si le esem la abe sikatogɛ alo sikatsyɔ̃ɖonu aɖe ene.
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
13 Dɔla nuteƒewɔla le na ame siwo dɔe la abe ale si sno fanae le nuŋeɣi ene; enana eƒe aƒetɔwo ƒe gbɔgbɔ gbɔna ɖe eme.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Ŋutsu si ƒoa adegbe le nunana siwo mena o ŋu la le abe lilikpododo kple ya si medzaa tsi o la ene.
Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
15 Dzigbɔɖie wotsɔna blea fia nue eye aɖe bɔbɔe ate ŋu agbã ƒu.
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 Ne èke ɖe anyitsi ŋu la, no esi sinu nàte ŋui ko, ne ènoe fũu akpa la, àdzɔe.
If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
17 Mègaƒo afɔɖi hawòvi ƒe aƒe me o, ne èle egbɔ dem kabakaba la, ava tsri wò.
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
18 Ŋutsu si ɖi aʋatsoɖase ɖe ehavi ŋu la le abe kpo, yi alo aŋutrɔ ɖaɖɛ ene.
Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 Dziɖoɖo ɖe nuteƒemawɔla ŋu le xaxaɣiwo le abe aɖu vovo alo afɔ tutu ene.
Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
20 Ame si dzi ha na dzi kpekpe tɔ la le abe ame si ɖe awu kpekpe ɖi le vuvɔwɔgbe alo “vinigae” wokɔ ɖe “soɖa” dzi ene.
Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 Ne dɔ le wò ketɔ wum la, na nui wòaɖu, ne tsikɔ le ewum la, na tsii wòano.
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 Ne èwɔ esia la, àƒo dzoka xɔxɔwo nu ƒu ɖe eƒe ta dzi, eye Yehowa ŋutɔ aɖo eteƒe na wò.
For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 Abe ale si anyieheya hea tsidzadza vɛ ene la, nenema amenyagblɔɖe dea adã mo na amee.
As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
24 Enyo be woanɔ dzogoe dzi le xɔta wu be woanɔ aƒe ɖeka me kple srɔ̃nyɔnu dzrewɔla.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Abe ale si tsi fafɛ faa akɔ na luʋɔ gbɔdzɔe ene la, nenema kee nya nyui tso duta hã nɔna.
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26 Ame dzɔdzɔe si na mɔ ame vɔ̃ɖi la le abe tsitsetse si me blu alo vudo si me wolɔ gbe kɔ ɖo la ene.
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
27 Menyo be woano anyitsi fũu alo wònye nu dzeame be ame nadi eya ŋutɔ ƒe bubu o.
It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
28 Ame si meɖua eɖokui dzi o la le abe du si ŋu wogbã gli le la ene.
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
