Lododowo 3
1 Vinye, mègaŋlɔ nye nufiame be o, eye nàlé nye sededewo ɖe wò dzi me,
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 elabena woadidi wò agbenɔƒewo ɖe edzi ƒe geɖe, eye woahe dzidzedzekpɔkpɔ vɛ na wò.
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
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 truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 Ekema àkpɔ amenuveve kple ŋkɔ nyui le Mawu kple amewo ŋkume.
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Ɖo ŋu ɖe Yehowa ŋu kple wò dzi blibo, mègaku ɖe wò ŋutɔ wò nugɔmesese ŋu o;
Trust in Yhwh with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 ɖo ŋu ɖe eŋu le wò mɔwo katã dzi ekema awɔ wò toƒewo dzɔdzɔe.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Mèganye nunyala le wò ŋutɔ wò ŋkume o, ke boŋ vɔ̃ Yehowa eye nàtsri vɔ̃.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear Yhwh, and depart from evil.
8 Esia ahe dɔyɔyɔ vɛ na wò ŋutilã kple nunyiame vɛ na wò ƒuwo.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 De bubu Yehowa ŋu kple wò kesinɔnuwo kple wò agblemenukuwo ƒe ŋgɔgbetɔwo,
Honour Yhwh with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 ekema wò avawo ayɔ agbagba, eye wain yeye ayɔ wò ahazewo agbagba.
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 Vinye, mègado vlo Yehowa ƒe amehehe o eye mègagbe eƒe mokaname o
My son, despise not the chastening of Yhwh; neither be weary of his correction:
12 elabena Yehowa ɖɔa ame siwo wòlɔ̃ la ɖo abe ale si fofo wɔna na vi si ƒe nu dzea eŋu la ene.
For whom Yhwh loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Woayra ame si ke ɖe nunya ŋu kple ame si si gɔmesese su
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 elabena nunya xɔ asi wu klosalo eye viɖe geɖe le eme wu sika.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 Asixɔxɔ le eŋu wu adzagba eye nu siwo katã dim nèle la, ɖeke mesɔ kplii o.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16 Agbe didi le eƒe ɖusi ƒe asi me, eye kesinɔnuwo kple bubu le eƒe miasi ƒe asi me.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Eƒe mɔwo nye mɔ siwo dzi vivi le eye ŋutifafa le eƒe toƒewo katã.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths 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 them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19 Nunyae Yehowa tsɔ ɖo anyigba la ƒe gɔmeɖokpe anyii eye wòtsɔ gɔmesese ɖo dziƒowo ɖe wo teƒe.
Yhwh by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20 Etsɔ eƒe nunya ma gogloƒewoe eye lilikpowo dzaa zãmu.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 Vinye, lé afia nyui tsotso kple sidzedze me ɖe asi, mègana woadzo le ŋkuwòme o.
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 Woanye agbe na wò kple kɔga aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò kɔ.
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Ekema àlé wò mɔ atsɔ le dedinɔnɔ me eye wò afɔ maɖiɖi o.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 Ne èmlɔ anyi la, màvɔ̃ o, ne èmlɔ anyi la, àdɔ alɔ̃ vivi.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Mègavɔ̃ ŋɔdzi si ava kpoyi alo gbegblẽ si vaa ame vɔ̃ɖiwo dzi o
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 elabena Yehowa anye wò dzideƒo eye mana wò afɔ naɖo mɔ me o.
For Yhwh shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Mègagbe nyuiwɔwɔ na ame siwo dze nɛ, ne ele wò ŋusẽ me be nàwɔe o.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28 Mègagblɔ na wò aƒelika be, “Yi nàtrɔ va, etsɔ matsɔe na wò” esi wòle asiwò fifia o.
Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29 Mègaɖo vɔ̃ ɖe wò aƒelika, ame si le gbɔwò le anukwareɖiɖi me la ŋu o.
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Mègatsɔ nya ɖe ame aɖeke ŋu dzodzro esi mewɔ vɔ̃ aɖeke ɖe ŋuwò o.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Mègabiã ŋu ŋutsu nu sesẽ wɔla alo azɔ le eƒe mɔ aɖeke dzi o,
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 elabena Yehowa nyɔa ŋu ŋutsu nu tovo wɔla gake elɔ̃a ame siwo wɔa nu dzɔdzɔe.
For the perverse is abomination to Yhwh: but his secret counsel is with the righteous.
33 Yehowa ƒe fiƒode le ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe aƒe dzi, ke eyrana ɖe ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe aƒe dzi.
The curse of Yhwh is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34 Yehowa ɖua fewu le dadala fewuɖulawo ŋu, ke evea ame siwo bɔbɔa wo ɖokui la nu.
Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 Nunyalawo nyia bubu ƒe dome, ke bometsilawo la, etsɔa wo dea asi na ŋukpe.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
