Lododowo 29
1 Ame si woka mo na zi gede gake wògbe lia kɔ la, atsrɔ̃ zi ɖeka kpata xɔnamemanɔŋutɔe.
A reprover is better than a stiff-necked man: for when the latter is suddenly set on fire, there shall be no remedy.
2 Ne ame dzɔdzɔewo le dzi ɖum la, amewo dzɔa dzi; ke ne dziɖuɖu ge ɖe ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe asi me la, amewo ŋena.
When the righteous are praised, the people will rejoice: but when the ungodly rule, men mourn.
3 Ame si lɔ̃a nunya la hea dzidzɔ vɛ na fofoa, ke ame si dze xɔ̃ gbolowo la gblẽa eƒe ga dome.
When a man loves wisdom, his father rejoices: but he that keeps harlots will waste wealth.
4 To afia nyui tsotso me fia hea dedinɔnɔ vɛ na dukɔ, ke fia si klẽa ŋu ɖe zãnuxɔxɔ ŋu la gbãa du.
A righteous king establishes a country: but a transgressor destroys [it].
5 Ame si do fuflugba na ehavi la le ɖɔ ɖom na eya ŋutɔ ƒe afɔ.
He that prepares a net in the way of his own friend, entangles his own feet in it.
6 Ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe nu vɔ̃ denɛ mɔ me, ke ame dzɔdzɔe adzi ha atso aseye.
A great snare [is spread] for a sinner: but the righteous shall be in joy and gladness.
7 Ame dzɔdzɔewo tsɔa ɖe le afiatsotso na hiãtɔwo me gake ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ya metsɔa ɖeke le eme o.
A righteous man knows how to judge for the poor: but the ungodly understands not knowledge; and the poor man has not an understanding mind.
8 Fewuɖulawo dea ʋunyaʋunya du me, ke nunyalawo tsia dziku nu.
Lawless men burn down a city: but wise men turn away wrath.
9 Nunyala yi ʋɔnudrɔ̃ƒe kple bometsila, bometsila le adã fiam, le fewu ɖum eye ŋutifafa meli o.
A wise man shall judge nations: but a worthless man being angry laughs and fears not.
10 Hlɔ̃dolawo lé fu ŋutsu nuteƒewɔla eye wodina be yewoawu dzi dzadzɛ tɔ.
Bloody men hate a holy [person], but the upright will seek his soul.
11 Bometsila ɖea eƒe dziku katã fiana, ke nunyala ɖua eɖokui dzi.
A fool utters all is mind: but the wise reserves his in part.
12 Ne dziɖula ɖo to beblenyawo la, eƒe dɔnunɔlawo katã zua ŋutasẽlawo.
When a king hearkens to unjust language, all his subjects are transgressors.
13 Nu ɖeka sia le hiãtɔ kple ameteɖetola siaa si, Yehowae wɔ ŋku na wo ame evea.
When the creditor and debtor meet together, the Lord oversees them both.
14 Ne fia drɔ̃ ʋɔnu na hiãtɔ ɖe dzɔdzɔenyenye dzi la, eƒe fiazikpui anɔ dedie ɣe sia ɣi.
When a king judges the poor in truth, his throne shall be established for a testimony.
15 Ameƒoti si wotsɔna ɖɔa ame ɖoe la fiaa nunya ame, gake ɖevi si womehe o la dea ŋukpe mo na dadaa.
Stripes and reproofs give wisdom: but an erring child disgraces his parents.
16 Ne ame vɔ̃ɖiwo le dzi ɖum la, nu vɔ̃ hã dea dzi, ke ame dzɔdzɔewo akpɔ woƒe anyidzedze.
When the ungodly abound, sins abound: but when they fall, the righteous are warned.
17 Ne èhe viwò ŋutsuvi la, ekema àkpɔ ŋutifafa eye wòahe dzidzɔ vɛ na wò luʋɔ.
Chasten your son, and he shall give you rest; and he shall give honour to your soul.
18 Afi si ɖeɖefia mele o la, amewo wɔa woƒe lɔlɔ̃nu; ke woayra ame si léa sea me ɖe asi.
There shall be no interpreter to a sinful nation: but he that observes the law is blessed.
19 Numenya ɖeɖe mate ŋu aɖɔ dɔla ɖo o, togbɔ be ese egɔme hã la, mawɔ ɖe edzi o.
A stubborn servant will not be reproved by words: for even if he understands, still he will not obey.
20 Èkpɔ ame si ƒoa nu blablablaa? Mɔkpɔkpɔ geɖe li na bometsila wu eya amea gɔ̃ hã.
If you see a man hasty in [his] words, know that the fool has hope rather than he.
21 Ne ŋutsu aɖe wɔ vi na eƒe subɔviŋutsu tso eƒe ɖevime la, ahe nuxaxa vɛ le nuwuwua.
He that lives wantonly from a child, shall be a servant, and in the end shall grieve over himself.
22 Ŋutsu dɔmedzoetɔ dea dzre amewo dome eye ame si doa dziku kabakaba la wɔa nu vɔ̃ geɖe.
A furious man stirs up strife, and a passionate man digs up sin.
23 Ŋutsu si dana la ɖua ŋukpe, ke wobua ŋutsu si bɔbɔa eɖokui ɖe anyi le gbɔgbɔ me.
Pride brings a man low, but the Lord upholds the humble-minded with honour.
24 Ame si wɔ ɖeka kple fiafitɔ la nye eya ŋutɔ ƒe futɔ; wonana wòkaa atam eye mekpɔ mɔ akɔ nu le edzi o.
He that shares with a thief, hates his own soul: and if any having heard an oath uttered tell not of it,
25 Vɔvɔ̃ si le ame aɖe me lae nyea mɔ nɛ, ke ame si ka ɖe Yehowa dzi la nɔa dedie.
[they] fearing and reverencing men [unreasonably] have been overthrown, but he that trusts in the Lord shall rejoice. Ungodliness causes a man to stumble: but he that trusts in his master shall be safe.
26 Ame geɖewo dina be yewoado ɖe dziɖula ŋkume, aƒo nu kplii gake Yehowa gbɔ ame ƒe afiatsotso tsona.
Many wait on the favour of rulers; but justice comes to a man from the Lord.
27 Nu gbegblẽ wɔla nye ŋunyɔ na ame dzɔdzɔe eye nu dzɔdzɔe wɔla nye ŋunyɔ na ame vɔ̃ɖi.
A righteous man is an abomination to an unrighteous man, and the direct way is an abomination to the sinner.
