Lododowo 3
1 Vinye, mègaŋlɔ nye nufiame be o, eye nàlé nye sededewo ɖe wò dzi me,
My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 elabena woadidi wò agbenɔƒewo ɖe edzi ƒe geɖe, eye woahe dzidzedzekpɔkpɔ vɛ na wò.
for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Lɔlɔ̃ kple nuteƒewɔwɔ megate ɖa le gbɔwò gbeɖe o, tsɔ wo de kɔ eye nàŋlɔ wo ɖe wò dzi ƒe nuŋlɔkpe dzi.
Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Ekema àkpɔ amenuveve kple ŋkɔ nyui le Mawu kple amewo ŋkume.
So you will find favor, 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 Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t 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.
Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
8 Esia ahe dɔyɔyɔ vɛ na wò ŋutilã kple nunyiame vɛ na wò ƒuwo.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 De bubu Yehowa ŋu kple wò kesinɔnuwo kple wò agblemenukuwo ƒe ŋgɔgbetɔwo,
Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 ekema wò avawo ayɔ agbagba, eye wain yeye ayɔ wò ahazewo agbagba.
so your barns will be filled with plenty, 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 despise Yahweh’s discipline, 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 Yahweh loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
13 Woayra ame si ke ɖe nunya ŋu kple ame si si gɔmesese su
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 elabena nunya xɔ asi wu klosalo eye viɖe geɖe le eme wu sika.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better 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. None of the things you can desire are to be compared 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 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 pleasantness. 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 lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
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 were broken up, 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 depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 Woanye agbe na wò kple kɔga aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò kɔ.
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Ekema àlé wò mɔ atsɔ le dedinɔnɔ me eye wò afɔ maɖiɖi o.
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
24 Ne èmlɔ anyi la, màvɔ̃ o, ne èmlɔ anyi la, àdɔ alɔ̃ vivi.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Mègavɔ̃ ŋɔdzi si ava kpoyi alo gbegblẽ si vaa ame vɔ̃ɖiwo dzi o
Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
26 elabena Yehowa anye wò dzideƒo eye mana wò afɔ naɖo mɔ me o.
for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 Mègagbe nyuiwɔwɔ na ame siwo dze nɛ, ne ele wò ŋusẽ me be nàwɔe o.
Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Mègagblɔ na wò aƒelika be, “Yi nàtrɔ va, etsɔ matsɔe na wò” esi wòle asiwò fifia o.
Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29 Mègaɖo vɔ̃ ɖe wò aƒelika, ame si le gbɔwò le anukwareɖiɖi me la ŋu o.
Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Mègatsɔ nya ɖe ame aɖeke ŋu dzodzro esi mewɔ vɔ̃ aɖeke ɖe ŋuwò o.
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Mègabiã ŋu ŋutsu nu sesẽ wɔla alo azɔ le eƒe mɔ aɖeke dzi o,
Don’t envy the man of violence. 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 an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 Yehowa ƒe fiƒode le ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe aƒe dzi, ke eyrana ɖe ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe aƒe dzi.
Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 Yehowa ɖua fewu le dadala fewuɖulawo ŋu, ke evea ame siwo bɔbɔa wo ɖokui la nu.
Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35 Nunyalawo nyia bubu ƒe dome, ke bometsilawo la, etsɔa wo dea asi na ŋukpe.
The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
