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 as rain in harvest, So honor is not becoming to 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 the sparrow wandereth, and the swallow flieth away, So the curse without cause shall not come.
3 Sɔƒoka li na sɔ, numega li na tedzi nenemae ameƒoti li na bometsila ƒe dzimegbe!
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of the fool.
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 also become like to 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 be wise in his own conceit.
6 Dudede asi na bometsila le abe ame ŋutɔ ƒe afɔ lalã alo dzɔgbevɔ̃e nono ene.
He cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage, Who sendeth a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Abe ale si atatututɔ ƒe afɔ nɔa yamee ene la, nenemae lododo le le bometsila ƒe nu mee.
The legs of a lame man hang loose; So is it with a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Abe ale si wotsɔa kpe dea akafomee ene la, nenemae bubudede bometsila ŋu le.
As he who bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 Abe ale si ŋuti nɔna le ahamula ƒe asimee ene la, nenemae lododo nɔna le bometsila ƒe nu mee.
As a thorn lifted up by the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb 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.
As an archer who woundeth every one, So is he who hireth fools and hireth wayfarers.
11 Abe ale si avu trɔna gayia nu si wòdzɔ gbɔe ene la, nenemae bometsila gawɔa bometsinu si wòwɔ va yi.
As a dog returneth to that which he hath vomited, So a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Èkpɔ ame aɖe si nye nunyala le eya ŋutɔ ŋkume kpɔa? Mɔkpɔkpɔ geɖe li na bometsila wu eya amea.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is 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; There is a lion in the streets.”
14 Abe ale si ʋɔtru trona le eƒe megbega mee ene la, nenemae kuviatɔ nɔa tɔtrɔm le eƒe aba dzii.
As a door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
15 Kuviatɔ tsɔ eƒe asi de nuɖugba me gake kuvia ɖoe ale gbegbe be, edede nu me zu dɔ nɛ.
The sluggard dippeth his hand into the dish; It grieveth him to bring it again 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 who can render a reason.
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 one that taketh a dog by the ears, So is he who, passing by, is enraged on account of the quarrel of another.
18 Abe ale si aɖaʋatɔ daa akakati bibi alo aŋutrɔ si ŋu aɖi le la ene la,
As a madman That casteth about darts, arrows, and death,
19 nenemae nye ame si ble ehavi eye emegbe wògblɔ nɛ be, “Fefem ko mele!”
So is the man who deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, “Was I not in sport?”
20 Ne nake meli o la, dzo tsina; ne sakplitɔ meli o la, dzre kena.
Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out; So, where there is no talebearer, contention ceaseth.
21 Abe ale si aka léa dzo eye nake doa dzo ene la, nenema ŋutsu dzretɔ ƒlɔa dzre ɖoe.
As coal is for heat, and as wood for fire, So is a contentious man for kindling 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 like dainties; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.
23 Abe ale si wofaa sikatsi ɖe anyikplu ŋu ene la, nenema nuyi xɔdzo si ŋu dzi vɔ̃ɖi kpe ɖo la le.
As drossy silver spread over an earthen vessel, So are warm lips and an evil heart.
24 Ame baɖa tsɔa eƒe nuyi trɔa eɖokui bubue, gake eɣlaa beble ɖe eƒe dzi me.
The hater dissembleth with his lips, And layeth up deceit within him.
25 Togbɔ be eƒe nyawo nya le sesem hã la, mègaxɔ edzi se o elabena ŋunyɔnu adre le eƒe dzi me.
When he speaketh fair, believe him not! For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Eƒe susu baɖa aɣla ɖe beble megbe, gake woaʋu go eƒe vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi le amehawo dome.
His hatred is covered by deceit; His wickedness shall be revealed in the great 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 therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 Alakpaɖe léa fu ame siwo ŋuti wòle abi demii, eye nu si blea ame la hea gbegblẽ vɛ.
A lying tongue hateth those whom it woundeth, And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
