Lododowo 28
1 Ame vɔ̃ɖi la léa du tsɔna, evɔ ame aɖeke menyae ɖe du nu o, ke dzi le ame dzɔdzɔe ƒo abe dzata ene.
The evil man goes running away when no man is after him, but the upright are without fear, like the lion.
2 Dziɖulawo sɔ gbɔ ɖe dukɔ si me aglãdzedze le, ke ŋutsu si si gɔmesese kple sidzedze le la hea ɖoɖodziwɔwɔ vɛ.
Because of the sin of the land, its troubles are increased; but by a man of wisdom and knowledge they will be put out like a fire.
3 Dziɖula si tea hiãtɔwo ɖe anyi la le abe tsidzadza si ɖe anyigba eye megblẽ nuɖuɖu aɖeke ɖi o la ene.
A man of wealth who is cruel to the poor is like a violent rain causing destruction of food.
4 Ame siwo gbe nu le sea gbɔ la kafua ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ke sedziwɔlawo tsia tsitre ɖe wo ŋu.
Those who have no respect for the law give praise to the evil-doer; but such as keep the law are against him.
5 Ame vɔ̃ɖiwo mesea afiatsotso nyui gɔme o gake ame siwo dia Yehowa ya sea egɔme nyuie.
Evil men have no knowledge of what is right; but those who go after the Lord have knowledge of all things.
6 Enyo be nànye hiãtɔ si ƒe zɔzɔme ŋu fɔɖiɖi mele o, wu nànye kesinɔtɔ si ƒe mɔwo to vo.
Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are not straight.
7 Ame si léa sea me ɖe asi la nye vi nyanu gake ame si dea ha kple nutsuɖulawo la doa ŋukpe fofoa.
He who keeps the law is a wise son, but he who keeps company with feasters puts shame on his father.
8 Ame si dzi eƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖe edzi to demegaxɔxɔ me la, le kɔ lim nuwo na ame bubu si anyo dɔ me na ame dahewo.
He who makes his wealth greater by taking interest, only gets it together for him who has pity on the poor.
9 Ne ame aɖe doa toku sea la, eƒe gbedodoɖawo gɔ̃ hã zua ŋunyɔnu.
As for the man whose ear is turned away from hearing the law, even his prayer is disgusting.
10 Ame si kplɔ nu dzɔdzɔe wɔla to mɔ vɔ̃ dzi la, age ɖe eya ŋutɔ ƒe mɔ me. Ke ame siwo ŋu fɔɖiɖi mele o la, axɔ domenyinu nyui.
Anyone causing the upright to go wandering in an evil way, will himself go down into the hole he has made; but the upright will have good things for their heritage.
11 Kesinɔtɔ nye nunyala le eya ŋutɔ gbɔ gake hiãtɔ si si sidzedze le la kpɔa egɔme.
The man of wealth seems to himself to be wise, but the poor man who has sense has a low opinion of him.
12 Ne ame dzɔdzɔe ɖu dzi la, dzidzɔkpɔkpɔ teƒe mekɔna o, ke ne ame vɔ̃ɖi zu fia la, amewo sina bena.
When the upright do well, there is great glory; but when evil-doers are lifted up, men do not let themselves be seen.
13 Nu medzea edzi na ame si ɣla eƒe nu vɔ̃ o, ke wokpɔa nublanui na ame si ʋu eƒe nu vɔ̃wo me eye wògbe nu le wo gbɔ.
He who keeps his sins secret will not do well; but one who is open about them, and gives them up, will get mercy.
14 Woayra ŋutsu si vɔ̃a Yehowa ɣe sia ɣi, ke ame si sẽa eƒe dzi me la gena ɖe xaxa me.
Happy is the man in whom is the fear of the Lord at all times; but he whose heart is hard will come into trouble.
15 Ŋutasẽla si le ame dahewo dzi ɖum la le abe dzata si le gbe tem alo sisiblisi si le ade tam ene.
Like a loud-voiced lion and a wandering bear, is an evil ruler over a poor people.
16 Dziɖula tamesesẽtɔ menyaa nu o, ke ame si lé fu kesinɔnu ƒoɖi la anɔ agbe didi, ase vivi.
The prince who has no sense is a cruel ruler; but he who has no desire to get profit for himself will have long life.
17 Hlɔ̃dola si hlɔ̃dodo la zu agba na la anye tsatsala va se ɖe eƒe kugbe; ame aɖeke megakpe ɖe eŋu o.
One who has been the cause of a man's death will go in flight to the underworld: let no man give him help.
18 Ame si fɔɖiɖi mele eƒe zɔzɔme ŋu o la anɔ dedie, ke ame si ƒe mɔwo to vo la adze anyi kpata.
He whose ways are upright will be safe, but sudden will be the fall of him whose ways are twisted.
19 Ame si ŋlɔ eƒe agble la akpɔ nuɖuɖu geɖe, ke ame si ƒe susu le nu manyatalenuwo yome la, ahedada axɔ aƒe nɛ.
By ploughing his land a man will have bread in full measure; but he who goes after good-for-nothing persons will be poor enough.
20 Woayra ŋutsu nuteƒewɔla fũu, ke womagbe tohehe na ame si tsi dzi ɖe kesinɔnuwo kpɔkpɔ ŋuti o.
A man of good faith will have great blessing, but one attempting to get wealth quickly will not go free from punishment.
21 Amedzidede menyo o gake ame ayi aɖawɔ vɔ̃ ɖe abolo kakɛ ta.
It is not good to have respect for a man's position: for a man will do wrong for a bit of bread.
22 Ŋutsu nuvela tsi dzi ɖe hotsuikpɔkpɔ ŋu, evɔ mehenya be ahedada le ye lalam o.
He who is ever desiring wealth goes running after money, and does not see that need will come on him.
23 Ame si ka mo na ŋutsu la, axɔ amenuveve ɖe amenuveve dzi wu ame si alakpaɖe le nume na.
He who says words of protest to a man will later have more approval than one who says smooth words with his tongue.
24 Ame si da adzo fofoa alo dadaa hegblɔ be, “Medze vɔ̃ o” la, nye kpeɖeŋutɔ na nugblẽla.
He who takes from his father or his mother what is theirs by right, and says, It is no sin; is the same as a taker of life.
25 Ŋutsu ŋubiala hea mama vɛ ke ame si ɖoa dzi ɖe Yehowa ŋu la, nu adze edzi nɛ.
He who is ever desiring profit is a cause of fighting; but he who puts his faith in the Lord will be made fat.
26 Ame si ɖoa dzi ɖe eɖokui ŋu la, bometsilae, ke ame si zɔna le nunya me la anɔ dedie.
He whose faith is in himself is foolish; but everyone walking wisely will be kept safe.
27 Ame si naa nu hiãtɔ la, naneke mahiãe o, ke ame si miaa ŋku ɖe woƒe hiahiãwo dzi la, axɔ fiƒode geɖe.
He who gives to the poor will never be in need, but great curses will be on him who gives no attention to them.
28 Ne tamesesẽtɔ zu dziɖula la, amewo sina bena, ke ne ame vɔ̃ɖiwo tsrɔ̃ la, ame dzɔdzɔewo tsina.
When evil-doers are lifted up, men take cover; but when destruction overtakes them, the upright are increased.
