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 man pursueth: but the righteous are 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.
For the transgression of a land many [are] its princes: but by a man of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] shall be prolonged.
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 poor [is like] a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
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 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 understand not judgment: 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 uprightness, than [he that is] perverse [in his] ways, though 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.
He who keepeth the law [is] a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous [men] shameth 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 by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
9 Ne ame aɖe doa toku sea la, eƒe gbedodoɖawo gɔ̃ hã zua ŋunyɔnu.
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] 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 causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good [things] in possession.
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 conceit; but the poor man that hath understanding searcheth him out.
12 Ne ame dzɔdzɔe ɖu dzi la, dzidzɔkpɔkpɔ teƒe mekɔna o, ke ne ame vɔ̃ɖi zu fia la, amewo sina bena.
When righteous [men] rejoice, [there is] great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
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 covereth his sins shall not prosper: but he who confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have 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 feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
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 ranging bear; [so is] a wicked ruler over the poor people.
16 Dziɖula tamesesẽtɔ menyaa nu o, ke ame si lé fu kesinɔnu ƒoɖi la anɔ agbe didi, ase vivi.
The prince that wanteth understanding [is] also a great oppressor: [but] he that hateth covetousness shall 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 that doeth violence to the blood of [any] person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
18 Ame si fɔɖiɖi mele eƒe zɔzɔme ŋu o la anɔ dedie, ke ame si ƒe mɔwo to vo la adze anyi kpata.
He who walketh uprightly shall be saved: but [he that is] perverse [in his] ways shall fall at once.
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 land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain [persons] shall have poverty enough.
20 Woayra ŋutsu nuteƒewɔla fũu, ke womagbe tohehe na ame si tsi dzi ɖe kesinɔnuwo kpɔkpɔ ŋuti o.
A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
21 Amedzidede menyo o gake ame ayi aɖawɔ vɔ̃ ɖe abolo kakɛ ta.
To have respect of persons [is] not good: for, for a piece of bread [that] man will transgress.
22 Ŋutsu nuvela tsi dzi ɖe hotsuikpɔkpɔ ŋu, evɔ mehenya be ahedada le ye lalam o.
He that hasteth to be rich [hath] an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall 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 rebuketh a man afterward shall find more favor 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.
He that robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, [It is] no transgression; the same [is] the 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 is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
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 heart is a fool: but whoever walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
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 to the poor shall not want: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
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 increase.
