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.
Every wicked fleeth when no man pursueth; but the righteous are like the confident young lion.
2 Dziɖulawo sɔ gbɔ ɖe dukɔ si me aglãdzedze le, ke ŋutsu si si gɔmesese kple sidzedze le la hea ɖoɖodziwɔwɔ vɛ.
When there is transgression in a land, it hath many for its princes; but under a man of understanding and knowledge [its] prosperity will long continue.
3 Dziɖula si tea hiãtɔwo ɖe anyi la le abe tsidzadza si ɖe anyigba eye megblẽ nuɖuɖu aɖeke ɖi o la ene.
A poor man that oppresseth the indigent is like a sweeping rain which bringeth no bread.
4 Ame siwo gbe nu le sea gbɔ la kafua ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ke sedziwɔlawo tsia tsitre ɖe wo ŋu.
They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as observe the law contend with them.
5 Ame vɔ̃ɖiwo mesea afiatsotso nyui gɔme o gake ame siwo dia Yehowa ya sea egɔme nyuie.
Bad men understand not justice; but they that seek the Lord understand 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 that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Ame si léa sea me ɖe asi la nye vi nyanu gake ame si dea ha kple nutsuɖulawo la doa ŋukpe fofoa.
Whoso keepeth the law is an intelligent son; but he that is a companion of gluttons bringeth dishonor 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 that increaseth his wealth by interest and usury will gather it for him that will be kind to the poor.
9 Ne ame aɖe doa toku sea la, eƒe gbedodoɖawo gɔ̃ hã zua ŋunyɔnu.
When one turneth away his ear so as not to listen to the law, even his prayer becometh an abomination.
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.
Whoso causeth the upright to go astray on an evil way, will surely fall into his own ditch; but the men of integrity will inherit what is good.
11 Kesinɔtɔ nye nunyala le eya ŋutɔ gbɔ gake hiãtɔ si si sidzedze le la kpɔa egɔme.
The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the indigent that hath understanding can search him through.
12 Ne ame dzɔdzɔe ɖu dzi la, dzidzɔkpɔkpɔ teƒe mekɔna o, ke ne ame vɔ̃ɖi zu fia la, amewo sina bena.
When the righteous exult, there is great splendor; but when the wicked rise up, a man hath to be sought for.
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 that concealeth his transgressions will not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them will obtain 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 that always dreadeth [to do evil]; but he that hardeneth his heart will fall into unhappiness.
15 Ŋutasẽla si le ame dahewo dzi ɖum la le abe dzata si le gbe tem alo sisiblisi si le ade tam ene.
As a roaring lion, and a greedy bear, so is a wicked ruler over an indigent people.
16 Dziɖula tamesesẽtɔ menyaa nu o, ke ame si lé fu kesinɔnu ƒoɖi la anɔ agbe didi, ase vivi.
The prince that is void of understanding is also a great oppressor; [but] he that hateth unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 Hlɔ̃dola si hlɔ̃dodo la zu agba na la anye tsatsala va se ɖe eƒe kugbe; ame aɖeke megakpe ɖe eŋu o.
A man oppressed by the load of having shed human blood will flee even to the pit: let no man hold him.
18 Ame si fɔɖiɖi mele eƒe zɔzɔme ŋu o la anɔ dedie, ke ame si ƒe mɔwo to vo la adze anyi kpata.
Whoso walketh in integrity will be saved; but he that walketh perversely on two paths, will fall on one.
19 Ame si ŋlɔ eƒe agble la akpɔ nuɖuɖu geɖe, ke ame si ƒe susu le nu manyatalenuwo yome la, ahedada axɔ aƒe nɛ.
He that tilleth his ground will have plenty of bread; but he that runneth after idle persons will have enough of poverty.
20 Woayra ŋutsu nuteƒewɔla fũu, ke womagbe tohehe na ame si tsi dzi ɖe kesinɔnuwo kpɔkpɔ ŋuti o.
A faithful man will abound with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 Amedzidede menyo o gake ame ayi aɖawɔ vɔ̃ ɖe abolo kakɛ ta.
To have respect to persons is not good; because even for a piece of bread will a man transgress.
22 Ŋutsu nuvela tsi dzi ɖe hotsuikpɔkpɔ ŋu, evɔ mehenya be ahedada le ye lalam o.
He that is eager for wealth is a man of an evil eye, and he knoweth not that want will come upon him.
23 Ame si ka mo na ŋutsu la, axɔ amenuveve ɖe amenuveve dzi wu ame si alakpaɖe le nume na.
He that reproveth a man after [my example] will obtain more grace than he that flattereth with the tongue.
24 Ame si da adzo fofoa alo dadaa hegblɔ be, “Medze vɔ̃ o” la, nye kpeɖeŋutɔ na nugblẽla.
Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, it is no transgression, —the same is a companion of a destroyer.
25 Ŋutsu ŋubiala hea mama vɛ ke ame si ɖoa dzi ɖe Yehowa ŋu la, nu adze edzi nɛ.
He that hath an insatiable desire stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord will be abundantly gratified.
26 Ame si ɖoa dzi ɖe eɖokui ŋu la, bometsilae, ke ame si zɔna le nunya me la anɔ dedie.
He that trusteth in his own sense is a fool; but whoso walketh in wisdom, will ever escape.
27 Ame si naa nu hiãtɔ la, naneke mahiãe o, ke ame si miaa ŋku ɖe woƒe hiahiãwo dzi la, axɔ fiƒode geɖe.
He that giveth unto the poor will not have any want; but he that hideth his eyes will have an abundance of curses.
28 Ne tamesesẽtɔ zu dziɖula la, amewo sina bena, ke ne ame vɔ̃ɖiwo tsrɔ̃ la, ame dzɔdzɔewo tsina.
When the wicked rise, men conceal themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.
