Lododowo 25
1 Esiawoe nye Solomo ƒe lododo bubu siwo Yuda fia Hezekia ƒe dɔdzikpɔlawo ŋlɔ da ɖi.
Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
2 Enye Mawu ƒe ŋutikɔkɔe be wòaɣla nya; eye fiawo ƒe bubue nye be woaku nya me.
It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Abe ale si dziƒo kɔe eye anyigba gogloe ene la, nenemae womate ŋu adzro fiawo ƒe dzi me o.
As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
4 Ɖe ɖi ɖa le klosalo ŋu, ekema klosalonutula kpɔ dɔwɔnu.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
5 Ɖe ame vɔ̃ɖi ɖa le fia la ŋkume ekema eƒe fiazikpui ali ke to dzɔdzɔenyenye me.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
6 Mègado ɖokuiwò ɖe dzi le fia la ŋkume o eye mègaʋli nɔƒe le amegãwo dome o.
Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into 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 better it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] seen.
8 mègatsɔ dzitsitsi ahee va ʋɔnui o elabena nu ka nàwɔ le nuwuwua ne hawòvi la do ŋukpe wò?
Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
9 Ne èle nya hem kple hawòvi la, mègaʋu go ame bubu ƒe nya ɣaɣla o,
Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
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 he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
11 Nya si wogblɔ dedie la, le abe “sikaplu” le klosalogba me ene.
Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
12 Ŋutsu nunyala ƒe mokaname le na to si le esem la abe sikatogɛ alo sikatsyɔ̃ɖonu aɖe ene.
As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
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.
As the cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
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, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
15 Dzigbɔɖie wotsɔna blea fia nue eye aɖe bɔbɔe ate ŋu agbã ƒu.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 Ne èke ɖe anyitsi ŋu la, no esi sinu nàte ŋui ko, ne ènoe fũu akpa la, àdzɔe.
Hast thou found honey: eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
17 Mègaƒo afɔɖi hawòvi ƒe aƒe me o, ne èle egbɔ dem kabakaba la, ava tsri wò.
Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
18 Ŋutsu si ɖi aʋatsoɖase ɖe ehavi ŋu la le abe kpo, yi alo aŋutrɔ ɖaɖɛ ene.
A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
19 Dziɖoɖo ɖe nuteƒemawɔla ŋu le xaxaɣiwo le abe aɖu vovo alo afɔ tutu ene.
Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
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.
[As] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy heart.
21 Ne dɔ le wò ketɔ wum la, na nui wòaɖu, ne tsikɔ le ewum la, na tsii wòano.
If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be 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 though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
23 Abe ale si anyieheya hea tsidzadza vɛ ene la, nenema amenyagblɔɖe dea adã mo na amee.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
24 Enyo be woanɔ dzogoe dzi le xɔta wu be woanɔ aƒe ɖeka me kple srɔ̃nyɔnu dzrewɔla.
It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
25 Abe ale si tsi fafɛ faa akɔ na luʋɔ gbɔdzɔe ene la, nenema kee nya nyui tso duta hã nɔna.
As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
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 turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 Menyo be woano anyitsi fũu alo wònye nu dzeame be ame nadi eya ŋutɔ ƒe bubu o.
To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
28 Ame si meɖua eɖokui dzi o la le abe du si ŋu wogbã gli le la ene.
Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
