Lododowo 3
1 Vinye, mègaŋlɔ nye nufiame be o, eye nàlé nye sededewo ɖe wò dzi me,
My son! Do not forget my law, And let your heart keep my commands,
2 elabena woadidi wò agbenɔƒewo ɖe edzi ƒe geɖe, eye woahe dzidzedzekpɔkpɔ vɛ na wò.
For [the] length of [your] days and years, Life and peace they add to you.
3 Lɔlɔ̃ kple nuteƒewɔwɔ megate ɖa le gbɔwò gbeɖe o, tsɔ wo de kɔ eye nàŋlɔ wo ɖe wò dzi ƒe nuŋlɔkpe dzi.
Do not let kindness and truth forsake you, Bind them on your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 Ekema àkpɔ amenuveve kple ŋkɔ nyui le Mawu kple amewo ŋkume.
And find grace and good understanding 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 to YHWH with all your heart, And do not lean to your own understanding.
6 ɖo ŋu ɖe eŋu le wò mɔwo katã dzi ekema awɔ wò toƒewo dzɔdzɔe.
In all your ways know Him, And He makes your paths straight.
7 Mèganye nunyala le wò ŋutɔ wò ŋkume o, ke boŋ vɔ̃ Yehowa eye nàtsri vɔ̃.
Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear YHWH, and turn aside from evil.
8 Esia ahe dɔyɔyɔ vɛ na wò ŋutilã kple nunyiame vɛ na wò ƒuwo.
It is healing to your navel, And moistening to your bones.
9 De bubu Yehowa ŋu kple wò kesinɔnuwo kple wò agblemenukuwo ƒe ŋgɔgbetɔwo,
Honor YHWH from your substance, And from the beginning of all your increase;
10 ekema wò avawo ayɔ agbagba, eye wain yeye ayɔ wò ahazewo agbagba.
And your barns are filled [with] plenty, And your presses break forth [with] new wine.
11 Vinye, mègado vlo Yehowa ƒe amehehe o eye mègagbe eƒe mokaname o
Discipline of YHWH, my son, do not despise, And do not be distressed with His reproof,
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 loves He reproves, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
13 Woayra ame si ke ɖe nunya ŋu kple ame si si gɔmesese su
O the blessedness of a man [who] has found wisdom, And of a man [who] brings forth understanding.
14 elabena nunya xɔ asi wu klosalo eye viɖe geɖe le eme wu sika.
For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase.
15 Asixɔxɔ le eŋu wu adzagba eye nu siwo katã dim nèle la, ɖeke mesɔ kplii o.
She [is] precious above rubies, And all your pleasures are not comparable to 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] wealth 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.
She [is] a tree of life to those laying hold on her, And whoever is retaining her [is] blessed.
19 Nunyae Yehowa tsɔ ɖo anyigba la ƒe gɔmeɖokpe anyii eye wòtsɔ gɔmesese ɖo dziƒowo ɖe wo teƒe.
YHWH founded the earth by wisdom, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
20 Etsɔ eƒe nunya ma gogloƒewoe eye lilikpowo dzaa zãmu.
By His knowledge depths have been broken, And clouds drop dew.
21 Vinye, lé afia nyui tsotso kple sidzedze me ɖe asi, mègana woadzo le ŋkuwòme o.
My son! Do not let them turn from your eyes, Keep wisdom and thoughtfulness,
22 Woanye agbe na wò kple kɔga aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò kɔ.
And they are life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
23 Ekema àlé wò mɔ atsɔ le dedinɔnɔ me eye wò afɔ maɖiɖi o.
Then you go your way confidently, And your foot does not stumble.
24 Ne èmlɔ anyi la, màvɔ̃ o, ne èmlɔ anyi la, àdɔ alɔ̃ vivi.
If you lie down, you are not afraid, Indeed, you have lain down, And your sleep has been sweet.
25 Mègavɔ̃ ŋɔdzi si ava kpoyi alo gbegblẽ si vaa ame vɔ̃ɖiwo dzi o
Do not be afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it comes.
26 elabena Yehowa anye wò dzideƒo eye mana wò afɔ naɖo mɔ me o.
For YHWH is at your side, And He has kept your foot from capture.
27 Mègagbe nyuiwɔwɔ na ame siwo dze nɛ, ne ele wò ŋusẽ me be nàwɔe o.
Do not withhold good from its owners, When your hand [is] toward God to do [it].
28 Mègagblɔ na wò aƒelika be, “Yi nàtrɔ va, etsɔ matsɔe na wò” esi wòle asiwò fifia o.
Do not say to your friend, “Go, and return, and tomorrow I give,” When substance [is] with you.
29 Mègaɖo vɔ̃ ɖe wò aƒelika, ame si le gbɔwò le anukwareɖiɖi me la ŋu o.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, And he sitting confidently with you.
30 Mègatsɔ nya ɖe ame aɖeke ŋu dzodzro esi mewɔ vɔ̃ aɖeke ɖe ŋuwò o.
Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has not done you evil.
31 Mègabiã ŋu ŋutsu nu sesẽ wɔla alo azɔ le eƒe mɔ aɖeke dzi o,
Do not be envious of a man of violence, Nor fix on any of his ways.
32 elabena Yehowa nyɔa ŋu ŋutsu nu tovo wɔla gake elɔ̃a ame siwo wɔa nu dzɔdzɔe.
For the perverted [is] an abomination to YHWH, And His secret counsel [is] with the upright.
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. And He blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 Yehowa ɖua fewu le dadala fewuɖulawo ŋu, ke evea ame siwo bɔbɔa wo ɖokui la nu.
If He scorns the scorners, Yet He gives grace to the humble.
35 Nunyalawo nyia bubu ƒe dome, ke bometsilawo la, etsɔa wo dea asi na ŋukpe.
The wise inherit glory, And fools are bearing away shame!
