Lododowo 3
1 Vinye, mègaŋlɔ nye nufiame be o, eye nàlé nye sededewo ɖe wò dzi me,
My son, don't forget my instructions. Always keep my commands in mind.
2 elabena woadidi wò agbenɔƒewo ɖe edzi ƒe geɖe, eye woahe dzidzedzekpɔkpɔ vɛ na wò.
Then you will live a long time, and have a full life.
3 Lɔlɔ̃ kple nuteƒewɔwɔ megate ɖa le gbɔwò gbeɖe o, tsɔ wo de kɔ eye nàŋlɔ wo ɖe wò dzi ƒe nuŋlɔkpe dzi.
Hold on to kindness and truth. Tie them around your neck; write them in your mind.
4 Ekema àkpɔ amenuveve kple ŋkɔ nyui le Mawu kple amewo ŋkume.
That way you'll gain a good reputation and be appreciated by both God and people.
5 Ɖo ŋu ɖe Yehowa ŋu kple wò dzi blibo, mègaku ɖe wò ŋutɔ wò nugɔmesese ŋu o;
Put your trust totally in the Lord—don't rely on what you think you know!
6 ɖo ŋu ɖe eŋu le wò mɔwo katã dzi ekema awɔ wò toƒewo dzɔdzɔe.
Remember him in everything you do, and he'll show you the right way.
7 Mèganye nunyala le wò ŋutɔ wò ŋkume o, ke boŋ vɔ̃ Yehowa eye nàtsri vɔ̃.
Don't think you're wise—respect God and avoid evil.
8 Esia ahe dɔyɔyɔ vɛ na wò ŋutilã kple nunyiame vɛ na wò ƒuwo.
Then you will have healed and be made strong.
9 De bubu Yehowa ŋu kple wò kesinɔnuwo kple wò agblemenukuwo ƒe ŋgɔgbetɔwo,
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all the crops you grow.
10 ekema wò avawo ayɔ agbagba, eye wain yeye ayɔ wò ahazewo agbagba.
Then your barns will be filled with produce, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Vinye, mègado vlo Yehowa ƒe amehehe o eye mègagbe eƒe mokaname o
My son, don't reject the Lord's discipline or resent it when he corrects you,
12 elabena Yehowa ɖɔa ame siwo wòlɔ̃ la ɖo abe ale si fofo wɔna na vi si ƒe nu dzea eŋu la ene.
for the Lord corrects those he loves, as a father corrects a son who pleases him.
13 Woayra ame si ke ɖe nunya ŋu kple ame si si gɔmesese su
Happy are those who find wisdom and gain understanding,
14 elabena nunya xɔ asi wu klosalo eye viɖe geɖe le eme wu sika.
for wisdom is worth more than silver, and pays better than gold.
15 Asixɔxɔ le eŋu wu adzagba eye nu siwo katã dim nèle la, ɖeke mesɔ kplii o.
She is more valuable than rubies—everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
16 Agbe didi le eƒe ɖusi ƒe asi me, eye kesinɔnuwo kple bubu le eƒe miasi ƒe asi me.
She offers long life in one hand, and riches and honor in the other.
17 Eƒe mɔwo nye mɔ siwo dzi vivi le eye ŋutifafa le eƒe toƒewo katã.
She brings true happiness, and leads to peaceful prosperity.
18 Enye agbeti na ame siwo xɔ eya amea eye ame siwo ƒe asi su edzi la woayra wo.
Wisdom is a tree of life to everyone who embraces her, blessing those who accept her.
19 Nunyae Yehowa tsɔ ɖo anyigba la ƒe gɔmeɖokpe anyii eye wòtsɔ gɔmesese ɖo dziƒowo ɖe wo teƒe.
It was through wisdom that the Lord created the earth, and through understanding he set the heavens in place.
20 Etsɔ eƒe nunya ma gogloƒewoe eye lilikpowo dzaa zãmu.
It was through his knowledge the waters of the deep were broken open, and the clouds sent down the dew.
21 Vinye, lé afia nyui tsotso kple sidzedze me ɖe asi, mègana woadzo le ŋkuwòme o.
My son, hold on to good judgment and wise decisions—don't let them out of your sight,
22 Woanye agbe na wò kple kɔga aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò kɔ.
for they will be life to you, and an ornament for your neck.
23 Ekema àlé wò mɔ atsɔ le dedinɔnɔ me eye wò afɔ maɖiɖi o.
You will be able to walk confidently on your way, and you won't trip up.
24 Ne èmlɔ anyi la, màvɔ̃ o, ne èmlɔ anyi la, àdɔ alɔ̃ vivi.
When you rest, you won't be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Mègavɔ̃ ŋɔdzi si ava kpoyi alo gbegblẽ si vaa ame vɔ̃ɖiwo dzi o
You won't be afraid of a sudden panic, or of disasters that hit the wicked,
26 elabena Yehowa anye wò dzideƒo eye mana wò afɔ naɖo mɔ me o.
for the Lord will be the one you can trust in, and he will prevent you being caught in a trap.
27 Mègagbe nyuiwɔwɔ na ame siwo dze nɛ, ne ele wò ŋusẽ me be nàwɔe o.
Don't hold back good from those who deserve it when it's something you have the power to do.
28 Mègagblɔ na wò aƒelika be, “Yi nàtrɔ va, etsɔ matsɔe na wò” esi wòle asiwò fifia o.
Don't tell your neighbor, “Go away. Come back tomorrow and then I'll give it to you,” when you've already got it.
29 Mègaɖo vɔ̃ ɖe wò aƒelika, ame si le gbɔwò le anukwareɖiɖi me la ŋu o.
Don't plan to harm your neighbor who lives nearby and trusts you.
30 Mègatsɔ nya ɖe ame aɖeke ŋu dzodzro esi mewɔ vɔ̃ aɖeke ɖe ŋuwò o.
Don't quarrel with anybody for no reason, when they haven't done anything to hurt you.
31 Mègabiã ŋu ŋutsu nu sesẽ wɔla alo azɔ le eƒe mɔ aɖeke dzi o,
Don't be jealous of violent people—don't choose to follow their example!
32 elabena Yehowa nyɔa ŋu ŋutsu nu tovo wɔla gake elɔ̃a ame siwo wɔa nu dzɔdzɔe.
For the Lord hates deceitful people, but he is a friend to those who do what is good.
33 Yehowa ƒe fiƒode le ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe aƒe dzi, ke eyrana ɖe ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe aƒe dzi.
The houses of the wicked are cursed by the Lord, but he blesses the homes of those who live right.
34 Yehowa ɖua fewu le dadala fewuɖulawo ŋu, ke evea ame siwo bɔbɔa wo ɖokui la nu.
He mocks those who mock, but he is kind to the humble.
35 Nunyalawo nyia bubu ƒe dome, ke bometsilawo la, etsɔa wo dea asi na ŋukpe.
The wise will receive honor, but fools are held up in disgrace.
