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 wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 Dziɖulawo sɔ gbɔ ɖe dukɔ si me aglãdzedze le, ke ŋutsu si si gɔmesese kple sidzedze le la hea ɖoɖodziwɔwɔ vɛ.
In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
3 Dziɖula si tea hiãtɔwo ɖe anyi la le abe tsidzadza si ɖe anyigba eye megblẽ nuɖuɖu aɖeke ɖi o la ene.
A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
4 Ame siwo gbe nu le sea gbɔ la kafua ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ke sedziwɔlawo tsia tsitre ɖe wo ŋu.
Those who forsake the Law praise the wicked; but those who keep the Law contend with them.
5 Ame vɔ̃ɖiwo mesea afiatsotso nyui gɔme o gake ame siwo dia Yehowa ya sea egɔme nyuie.
Evil men do not understand justice; but those who seek YHWH understand it fully.
6 Enyo be nànye hiãtɔ si ƒe zɔzɔme ŋu fɔɖiɖi mele o, wu nànye kesinɔtɔ si ƒe mɔwo to vo.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
7 Ame si léa sea me ɖe asi la nye vi nyanu gake ame si dea ha kple nutsuɖulawo la doa ŋukpe fofoa.
Whoever keeps the Law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames 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 increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
9 Ne ame aɖe doa toku sea la, eƒe gbedodoɖawo gɔ̃ hã zua ŋunyɔnu.
He who turns away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer is 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.
Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit 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 poor who has understanding sees through him.
12 Ne ame dzɔdzɔe ɖu dzi la, dzidzɔkpɔkpɔ teƒe mekɔna o, ke ne ame vɔ̃ɖi zu fia la, amewo sina bena.
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
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 conceals his sins doesn't prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14 Woayra ŋutsu si vɔ̃a Yehowa ɣe sia ɣi, ke ame si sẽa eƒe dzi me la gena ɖe xaxa me.
Blessed is the man who is always reverent; but the one who hardens his heart will fall into evil.
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 or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
16 Dziɖula tamesesẽtɔ menyaa nu o, ke ame si lé fu kesinɔnu ƒoɖi la anɔ agbe didi, ase vivi.
A prince who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but one who hates ill-gotten 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 who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; no one will support him.
18 Ame si fɔɖiɖi mele eƒe zɔzɔme ŋu o la anɔ dedie, ke ame si ƒe mɔwo to vo la adze anyi kpata.
Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
19 Ame si ŋlɔ eƒe agble la akpɔ nuɖuɖu geɖe, ke ame si ƒe susu le nu manyatalenuwo yome la, ahedada axɔ aƒe nɛ.
One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20 Woayra ŋutsu nuteƒewɔla fũu, ke womagbe tohehe na ame si tsi dzi ɖe kesinɔnuwo kpɔkpɔ ŋuti o.
A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 Amedzidede menyo o gake ame ayi aɖawɔ vɔ̃ ɖe abolo kakɛ ta.
To show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22 Ŋutsu nuvela tsi dzi ɖe hotsuikpɔkpɔ ŋu, evɔ mehenya be ahedada le ye lalam o.
A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn't know that poverty waits for him.
23 Ame si ka mo na ŋutsu la, axɔ amenuveve ɖe amenuveve dzi wu ame si alakpaɖe le nume na.
One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue.
24 Ame si da adzo fofoa alo dadaa hegblɔ be, “Medze vɔ̃ o” la, nye kpeɖeŋutɔ na nugblẽla.
Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, "It's not wrong." He is a partner with a destroyer.
25 Ŋutsu ŋubiala hea mama vɛ ke ame si ɖoa dzi ɖe Yehowa ŋu la, nu adze edzi nɛ.
One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in YHWH will prosper.
26 Ame si ɖoa dzi ɖe eɖokui ŋu la, bometsilae, ke ame si zɔna le nunya me la anɔ dedie.
One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is 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.
One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
28 Ne tamesesẽtɔ zu dziɖula la, amewo sina bena, ke ne ame vɔ̃ɖiwo tsrɔ̃ la, ame dzɔdzɔewo tsina.
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous thrive.
