Lododowo 26
1 Abe ale si sno dzanae le dzomeŋɔli alo tsi dzanae le nuŋeɣi ene la, nenemae bubu medze bometsila o.
As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.
2 Abe ale si atsutsrɔe dzonae alo sagbadrɛ saa agbae ene la, nenemae ɖiŋu si wodo na ame ɖe madzɔmadzɔ dzi la tsia yamee.
As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.
3 Sɔƒoka li na sɔ, numega li na tedzi nenemae ameƒoti li na bometsila ƒe dzimegbe!
A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Mègaɖo nya ŋu na bometsila le eƒe bometsitsi nu o, ne menye nenema o la, wò ŋutɔ hã ànɔ abe eya amea ene.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.
5 Ɖo nya ŋu na bometsila le eƒe bometsitsi nu, ne menye nenema o la ava bu eɖokui nunyalae le eɖokui gbɔ.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 Dudede asi na bometsila le abe ame ŋutɔ ƒe afɔ lalã alo dzɔgbevɔ̃e nono ene.
He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.
7 Abe ale si atatututɔ ƒe afɔ nɔa yamee ene la, nenemae lododo le le bometsila ƒe nu mee.
As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.
8 Abe ale si wotsɔa kpe dea akafomee ene la, nenemae bubudede bometsila ŋu le.
As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Abe ale si ŋuti nɔna le ahamula ƒe asimee ene la, nenemae lododo nɔna le bometsila ƒe nu mee.
As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Ame si daa aŋutrɔ bometsila dzodzro la le abe ame si dɔa dɔ ame si le eme tsom la ene.
Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.
11 Abe ale si avu trɔna gayia nu si wòdzɔ gbɔe ene la, nenemae bometsila gawɔa bometsinu si wòwɔ va yi.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.
12 Èkpɔ ame aɖe si nye nunyala le eya ŋutɔ ŋkume kpɔa? Mɔkpɔkpɔ geɖe li na bometsila wu eya amea.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Kuviatɔ gblɔna be, “Dzata le mɔa dzi, dzata si le gbe tem ŋɔdzitɔe la le tsatsam le ablɔwo me!”
The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.
14 Abe ale si ʋɔtru trona le eƒe megbega mee ene la, nenemae kuviatɔ nɔa tɔtrɔm le eƒe aba dzii.
As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 Kuviatɔ tsɔ eƒe asi de nuɖugba me gake kuvia ɖoe ale gbegbe be, edede nu me zu dɔ nɛ.
The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.
16 Kuviatɔ nye nunyala le eya ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkume, wu ame adre siwo ɖoa nya ŋu nunyatɔe.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.
17 Ame si le eme tsom gake de nu dzrenya si metsɔ egbɔ o me la le abe ame si lé towo kple eve na avu ene.
As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man’s quarrel.
18 Abe ale si aɖaʋatɔ daa akakati bibi alo aŋutrɔ si ŋu aɖi le la ene la,
As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death:
19 nenemae nye ame si ble ehavi eye emegbe wògblɔ nɛ be, “Fefem ko mele!”
So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.
20 Ne nake meli o la, dzo tsina; ne sakplitɔ meli o la, dzre kena.
When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
21 Abe ale si aka léa dzo eye nake doa dzo ene la, nenema ŋutsu dzretɔ ƒlɔa dzre ɖoe.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.
22 Amenyagblɔla ƒe nyawo vivina abe nuɖuɖu vivi si woka de nu me la ene; eyina ɖe ame ƒe dɔgbowo me ke.
The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Abe ale si wofaa sikatsi ɖe anyikplu ŋu ene la, nenema nuyi xɔdzo si ŋu dzi vɔ̃ɖi kpe ɖo la le.
Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.
24 Ame baɖa tsɔa eƒe nuyi trɔa eɖokui bubue, gake eɣlaa beble ɖe eƒe dzi me.
An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.
25 Togbɔ be eƒe nyawo nya le sesem hã la, mègaxɔ edzi se o elabena ŋunyɔnu adre le eƒe dzi me.
When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.
26 Eƒe susu baɖa aɣla ɖe beble megbe, gake woaʋu go eƒe vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi le amehawo dome.
He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.
27 Ne ame aɖe ɖe ʋe la, eya ŋutɔ age adze eme eye ame si amli kpe la, kpe si wòmli la age adze eya ŋutɔ dzi.
He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.
28 Alakpaɖe léa fu ame siwo ŋuti wòle abi demii, eye nu si blea ame la hea gbegblẽ vɛ.
A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.
