Lododowo 3
1 Vinye, mègaŋlɔ nye nufiame be o, eye nàlé nye sededewo ɖe wò dzi me,
My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
2 elabena woadidi wò agbenɔƒewo ɖe edzi ƒe geɖe, eye woahe dzidzedzekpɔkpɔ vɛ na wò.
For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Lɔlɔ̃ kple nuteƒewɔwɔ megate ɖa le gbɔwò gbeɖe o, tsɔ wo de kɔ eye nàŋlɔ wo ɖe wò dzi ƒe nuŋlɔkpe dzi.
Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
4 Ekema àkpɔ amenuveve kple ŋkɔ nyui le Mawu kple amewo ŋkume.
So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
5 Ɖo ŋu ɖe Yehowa ŋu kple wò dzi blibo, mègaku ɖe wò ŋutɔ wò nugɔmesese ŋu o;
Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
6 ɖo ŋu ɖe eŋu le wò mɔwo katã dzi ekema awɔ wò toƒewo dzɔdzɔe.
In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
7 Mèganye nunyala le wò ŋutɔ wò ŋkume o, ke boŋ vɔ̃ Yehowa eye nàtsri vɔ̃.
Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
8 Esia ahe dɔyɔyɔ vɛ na wò ŋutilã kple nunyiame vɛ na wò ƒuwo.
This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
9 De bubu Yehowa ŋu kple wò kesinɔnuwo kple wò agblemenukuwo ƒe ŋgɔgbetɔwo,
Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
10 ekema wò avawo ayɔ agbagba, eye wain yeye ayɔ wò ahazewo agbagba.
So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
11 Vinye, mègado vlo Yehowa ƒe amehehe o eye mègagbe eƒe mokaname o
My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:
12 elabena Yehowa ɖɔa ame siwo wòlɔ̃ la ɖo abe ale si fofo wɔna na vi si ƒe nu dzea eŋu la ene.
For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.
13 Woayra ame si ke ɖe nunya ŋu kple ame si si gɔmesese su
Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
14 elabena nunya xɔ asi wu klosalo eye viɖe geɖe le eme wu sika.
For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
15 Asixɔxɔ le eŋu wu adzagba eye nu siwo katã dim nèle la, ɖeke mesɔ kplii o.
She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.
16 Agbe didi le eƒe ɖusi ƒe asi me, eye kesinɔnuwo kple bubu le eƒe miasi ƒe asi me.
Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
17 Eƒe mɔwo nye mɔ siwo dzi vivi le eye ŋutifafa le eƒe toƒewo katã.
Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
18 Enye agbeti na ame siwo xɔ eya amea eye ame siwo ƒe asi su edzi la woayra wo.
She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.
19 Nunyae Yehowa tsɔ ɖo anyigba la ƒe gɔmeɖokpe anyii eye wòtsɔ gɔmesese ɖo dziƒowo ɖe wo teƒe.
The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
20 Etsɔ eƒe nunya ma gogloƒewoe eye lilikpowo dzaa zãmu.
By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
21 Vinye, lé afia nyui tsotso kple sidzedze me ɖe asi, mègana woadzo le ŋkuwòme o.
My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
22 Woanye agbe na wò kple kɔga aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò kɔ.
So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Ekema àlé wò mɔ atsɔ le dedinɔnɔ me eye wò afɔ maɖiɖi o.
Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
24 Ne èmlɔ anyi la, màvɔ̃ o, ne èmlɔ anyi la, àdɔ alɔ̃ vivi.
When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
25 Mègavɔ̃ ŋɔdzi si ava kpoyi alo gbegblẽ si vaa ame vɔ̃ɖiwo dzi o
Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
26 elabena Yehowa anye wò dzideƒo eye mana wò afɔ naɖo mɔ me o.
For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
27 Mègagbe nyuiwɔwɔ na ame siwo dze nɛ, ne ele wò ŋusẽ me be nàwɔe o.
Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Mègagblɔ na wò aƒelika be, “Yi nàtrɔ va, etsɔ matsɔe na wò” esi wòle asiwò fifia o.
Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
29 Mègaɖo vɔ̃ ɖe wò aƒelika, ame si le gbɔwò le anukwareɖiɖi me la ŋu o.
Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
30 Mègatsɔ nya ɖe ame aɖeke ŋu dzodzro esi mewɔ vɔ̃ aɖeke ɖe ŋuwò o.
Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
31 Mègabiã ŋu ŋutsu nu sesẽ wɔla alo azɔ le eƒe mɔ aɖeke dzi o,
Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
32 elabena Yehowa nyɔa ŋu ŋutsu nu tovo wɔla gake elɔ̃a ame siwo wɔa nu dzɔdzɔe.
For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
33 Yehowa ƒe fiƒode le ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe aƒe dzi, ke eyrana ɖe ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe aƒe dzi.
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.
34 Yehowa ɖua fewu le dadala fewuɖulawo ŋu, ke evea ame siwo bɔbɔa wo ɖokui la nu.
He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
35 Nunyalawo nyia bubu ƒe dome, ke bometsilawo la, etsɔa wo dea asi na ŋukpe.
The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
