Lododowo 3
1 Vinye, mègaŋlɔ nye nufiame be o, eye nàlé nye sededewo ɖe wò dzi me,
My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart keep my commandments;
2 elabena woadidi wò agbenɔƒewo ɖe edzi ƒe geɖe, eye woahe dzidzedzekpɔkpɔ vɛ na wò.
For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they increase unto 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 kindness and truth not forsake thee; bind them about thy throat; write them upon the table of thy heart:
4 Ekema àkpɔ amenuveve kple ŋkɔ nyui le Mawu kple amewo ŋkume.
So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the eyes of God and man.
5 Ɖo ŋu ɖe Yehowa ŋu kple wò dzi blibo, mègaku ɖe wò ŋutɔ wò nugɔmesese ŋu o;
Trust in the Lord with all thy heart: and upon thy own understanding do not rely.
6 ɖo ŋu ɖe eŋu le wò mɔwo katã dzi ekema awɔ wò toƒewo dzɔdzɔe.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make level thy paths.
7 Mèganye nunyala le wò ŋutɔ wò ŋkume o, ke boŋ vɔ̃ Yehowa eye nàtsri vɔ̃.
Be not wise in thy own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 Esia ahe dɔyɔyɔ vɛ na wò ŋutilã kple nunyiame vɛ na wò ƒuwo.
It will be healing to thy body, and marrow to thy bones.
9 De bubu Yehowa ŋu kple wò kesinɔnuwo kple wò agblemenukuwo ƒe ŋgɔgbetɔwo,
Honor the Lord with thy wealth, and with the first-fruits of all thy products:
10 ekema wò avawo ayɔ agbagba, eye wain yeye ayɔ wò ahazewo agbagba.
So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and with new wine shall thy presses overflow.
11 Vinye, mègado vlo Yehowa ƒe amehehe o eye mègagbe eƒe mokaname o
The correction of the Lord, my son, do not despise; and feel no loathing for his admonition;
12 elabena Yehowa ɖɔa ame siwo wòlɔ̃ la ɖo abe ale si fofo wɔna na vi si ƒe nu dzea eŋu la ene.
Because whomever the Lord loveth he admonisheth; and as a father who delighteth in [his] son.
13 Woayra ame si ke ɖe nunya ŋu kple ame si si gɔmesese su
Happy the man that hath found wisdom, and the man that acquireth understanding.
14 elabena nunya xɔ asi wu klosalo eye viɖe geɖe le eme wu sika.
For the obtaining of her is better than the obtaining of silver, and better than fine gold is her product.
15 Asixɔxɔ le eŋu wu adzagba eye nu siwo katã dim nèle la, ɖeke mesɔ kplii o.
She is more precious than pearls; and all the things thou valuest are not equal 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: in her left are riches and honor.
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.
A tree of life is she to those that lay hold on her: and every one that firmly graspeth her will be made happy.
19 Nunyae Yehowa tsɔ ɖo anyigba la ƒe gɔmeɖokpe anyii eye wòtsɔ gɔmesese ɖo dziƒowo ɖe wo teƒe.
The Lord hath through wisdom founded the earth: he hath established the heavens through understanding.
20 Etsɔ eƒe nunya ma gogloƒewoe eye lilikpowo dzaa zãmu.
By his knowledge were the depths split open, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 Vinye, lé afia nyui tsotso kple sidzedze me ɖe asi, mègana woadzo le ŋkuwòme o.
My son, let them not be removed from thy eyes; keep [before thee] sound wisdom and discretion:
22 Woanye agbe na wò kple kɔga aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò kɔ.
And they will be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy throat.
23 Ekema àlé wò mɔ atsɔ le dedinɔnɔ me eye wò afɔ maɖiɖi o.
Then wilt thou walk in safety on thy way, and thy foot will not strike [against aught]:
24 Ne èmlɔ anyi la, màvɔ̃ o, ne èmlɔ anyi la, àdɔ alɔ̃ vivi.
When thou layest thyself down, thou shalt feel no dread; and as thou liest down, thy sleep shall be pleasant.
25 Mègavɔ̃ ŋɔdzi si ava kpoyi alo gbegblẽ si vaa ame vɔ̃ɖiwo dzi o
Thou needest not to be afraid of sudden dread, neither of the [unlooked-for] tempest over the wicked, when it cometh.
26 elabena Yehowa anye wò dzideƒo eye mana wò afɔ naɖo mɔ me o.
For the Lord will be thy confidence, and he will guard thy foot from being caught.
27 Mègagbe nyuiwɔwɔ na ame siwo dze nɛ, ne ele wò ŋusẽ me be nàwɔe o.
Withhold not a benefit from him who is deserving it, when it is in the power of thy 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 neighbor, Go, and return, and tomorrow will I give: when thou hast it by thee.
29 Mègaɖo vɔ̃ ɖe wò aƒelika, ame si le gbɔwò le anukwareɖiɖi me la ŋu o.
Contrive not against thy neighbor any evil, when he dwelleth in safety with thee.
30 Mègatsɔ nya ɖe ame aɖeke ŋu dzodzro esi mewɔ vɔ̃ aɖeke ɖe ŋuwò o.
Quarrel not with any 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 not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
32 elabena Yehowa nyɔa ŋu ŋutsu nu tovo wɔla gake elɔ̃a ame siwo wɔa nu dzɔdzɔe.
For the froward is an abomination to the Lord; but with the upright is his good-will.
33 Yehowa ƒe fiƒode le ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe aƒe dzi, ke eyrana ɖe ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe aƒe dzi.
The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked; but the habitation of the righteous will he bless.
34 Yehowa ɖua fewu le dadala fewuɖulawo ŋu, ke evea ame siwo bɔbɔa wo ɖokui la nu.
If [it concern] the scornful he will himself render them a scorn; but unto the lowly doth he give grace.
35 Nunyalawo nyia bubu ƒe dome, ke bometsilawo la, etsɔa wo dea asi na ŋukpe.
The wise shall inherit glory; but fools shall obtain disgrace as their portion.
