Lododowo 3
1 Vinye, mègaŋlɔ nye nufiame be o, eye nàlé nye sededewo ɖe wò dzi me,
My son, do not forget my commands and keep my teachings in your heart,
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 they will 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 covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness ever leave you, tie them together about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Ekema àkpɔ amenuveve kple ŋkɔ nyui le Mawu kple amewo ŋkume.
Then you will find favor and a good reputation 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 Yahweh with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding;
6 ɖo ŋu ɖe eŋu le wò mɔwo katã dzi ekema awɔ wò toƒewo dzɔdzɔe.
in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make 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 Yahweh and turn away from evil.
8 Esia ahe dɔyɔyɔ vɛ na wò ŋutilã kple nunyiame vɛ na wò ƒuwo.
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment for your body.
9 De bubu Yehowa ŋu kple wò kesinɔnuwo kple wò agblemenukuwo ƒe ŋgɔgbetɔwo,
Honor Yahweh with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce,
10 ekema wò avawo ayɔ agbagba, eye wain yeye ayɔ wò ahazewo agbagba.
and your storehouses will be filled up and your vats will be bursting, full of new wine.
11 Vinye, mègado vlo Yehowa ƒe amehehe o eye mègagbe eƒe mokaname o
My son, do not despise Yahweh's instruction and do not hate his rebuke,
12 elabena Yehowa ɖɔa ame siwo wòlɔ̃ la ɖo abe ale si fofo wɔna na vi si ƒe nu dzea eŋu la ene.
for Yahweh disciplines those he loves, as a father deals with a son who pleases him.
13 Woayra ame si ke ɖe nunya ŋu kple ame si si gɔmesese su
The one who finds wisdom is blessed; he also gets understanding.
14 elabena nunya xɔ asi wu klosalo eye viɖe geɖe le eme wu sika.
What you gain from wisdom is better than what silver will give in return and its profit is better than gold.
15 Asixɔxɔ le eŋu wu adzagba eye nu siwo katã dim nèle la, ɖeke mesɔ kplii o.
Wisdom is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire can compare to her.
16 Agbe didi le eƒe ɖusi ƒe asi me, eye kesinɔnuwo kple bubu le eƒe miasi ƒe asi me.
She has length of days in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Eƒe mɔwo nye mɔ siwo dzi vivi le eye ŋutifafa le eƒe toƒewo katã.
Her ways are ways of kindness 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 who take hold of it, those who hold on to it are happy.
19 Nunyae Yehowa tsɔ ɖo anyigba la ƒe gɔmeɖokpe anyii eye wòtsɔ gɔmesese ɖo dziƒowo ɖe wo teƒe.
By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth, by understanding he established the heavens.
20 Etsɔ eƒe nunya ma gogloƒewoe eye lilikpowo dzaa zãmu.
By his knowledge the depths broke open and the clouds dropped their dew.
21 Vinye, lé afia nyui tsotso kple sidzedze me ɖe asi, mègana woadzo le ŋkuwòme o.
My son, keep sound judgment and discernment, and do not lose sight of them.
22 Woanye agbe na wò kple kɔga aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò kɔ.
They will be life to your soul and an adornment of favor to wear around your neck.
23 Ekema àlé wò mɔ atsɔ le dedinɔnɔ me eye wò afɔ maɖiɖi o.
Then you will walk on your way in safety and your foot will not stumble;
24 Ne èmlɔ anyi la, màvɔ̃ o, ne èmlɔ anyi la, àdɔ alɔ̃ vivi.
when you lie down, you will not 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
Do not be afraid of sudden terror or devastation caused by the wicked, when it comes,
26 elabena Yehowa anye wò dzideƒo eye mana wò afɔ naɖo mɔ me o.
for Yahweh will be on your side and will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
27 Mègagbe nyuiwɔwɔ na ame siwo dze nɛ, ne ele wò ŋusẽ me be nàwɔe o.
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
28 Mègagblɔ na wò aƒelika be, “Yi nàtrɔ va, etsɔ matsɔe na wò” esi wòle asiwò fifia o.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have the money with you.
29 Mègaɖo vɔ̃ ɖe wò aƒelika, ame si le gbɔwò le anukwareɖiɖi me la ŋu o.
Do not make a plan to harm your neighbor— the one who lives close and trusts you.
30 Mègatsɔ nya ɖe ame aɖeke ŋu dzodzro esi mewɔ vɔ̃ aɖeke ɖe ŋuwò o.
Do not argue with a person without a reason, when he has done nothing to harm you.
31 Mègabiã ŋu ŋutsu nu sesẽ wɔla alo azɔ le eƒe mɔ aɖeke dzi o,
Do not envy a violent person or choose any of his ways.
32 elabena Yehowa nyɔa ŋu ŋutsu nu tovo wɔla gake elɔ̃a ame siwo wɔa nu dzɔdzɔe.
For the devious person is detestable to Yahweh, but he brings the upright person into his confidence.
33 Yehowa ƒe fiƒode le ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe aƒe dzi, ke eyrana ɖe ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe aƒe dzi.
The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked person, but he blesses the home of righteous people.
34 Yehowa ɖua fewu le dadala fewuɖulawo ŋu, ke evea ame siwo bɔbɔa wo ɖokui la nu.
He mocks mockers, but he gives his favor to humble people.
35 Nunyalawo nyia bubu ƒe dome, ke bometsilawo la, etsɔa wo dea asi na ŋukpe.
Wise people inherit honor, but fools will be lifted up in their shame.
