Lododowo 31
1 Fia Lemuel ƒe nyawo, nyagblɔɖi si dadaa fiae lae nye esi:
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 “Oo vinye, O nye dɔmevi, O nye adzɔgbeɖevi,
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3 Mègagblẽ wò ŋusẽ ɖe nyɔnuwo ŋu kple wò lãmeka ɖe ame siwo gblẽa fiawo dome la ŋu o.
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 “O Lemuel, esia menye fiawo tɔ o, menye fiawo tɔ be woano wain o eye menye dziɖulawo tɔ be woadzro aha sesẽ o.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 Ne menye nenema o la, woamu aha aŋlɔ nu si sea gblɔ la be eye woaxɔ ablɔɖe le ame siwo wote ɖe anyi la si.
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 Tsɔ aha muame na ame siwo le tsɔtsrɔ̃m kple wain na ane siwo le nuxaxa me,
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 na woanoe aŋlɔ woƒe ahedada be eye womagaɖo ŋku woƒe hiãtuame dzi akpɔ o.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 “Ƒo nu ɖe ame siwo mate ŋu aƒo nu ɖe wo ɖokui nu o la nu eye nàʋli amemanɔsitɔwo ƒe ablɔɖe ta.
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 Ƒo nu eye nàdrɔ̃ ʋɔnu dzɔdzɔe, ʋli ame dahewo kple hiãtɔwo ƒe ablɔɖe ta.”
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Ame ka akpɔ srɔ̃nyɔnu si ƒe agbe dze ame ŋu? Exɔ asi wu adzagba.
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 Srɔ̃a kana ɖe edzi blibo eye nu sia nu si ŋu asixɔxɔ le la mevena le egbɔ o.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 Le nyɔnu sia ƒe agbemeŋkekewo katã me la, ehea nyui ko vɛ, ke menye vɔ̃ o.
She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 Edia ɖetifu kple avemeka eye wòwɔa dɔ kple eƒe asiwo faa.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 Ele abe asiʋu ene eye wòhea nuɖuɖu tso didiƒe vaa aƒee.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 Efɔna ne ŋu mekpɔ ke o, edia nuɖuɖu na eƒe ƒometɔwo eye wòmaa dɔ na eƒe dɔlanyɔnuwo.
She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 Ebua ta me le agble ŋu eye wòƒlenɛ, eɖena tso eƒe nukpɔkpɔwo me tsɔna dea waingblee.
She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 Ewɔa dɔ kple ŋkubiã eye eƒe alɔwo sẽna ɖe eƒe dɔwo ŋu.
She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 Ekpɔa egbɔ be yeƒe asitsatsa ɖe vi geɖe eye yeƒe akaɖi metsina le zã me o.
She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 Ɖetifutreti le eƒe asi me eye wòtsɔa eƒe asibidɛwo léa ɖetitrekekee.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 Eʋua asi na ame dahewo eye wòdoa asi ɖe hiãtɔwo gbɔ.
She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 Ne snodzaɣi ɖo la, mevɔ̃na ɖe eƒe aƒekɔ nu o elabena wo katã tsyɔ kuntru dzĩ.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 Elɔ̃a abadzivɔ na eƒe aba eye wòdoa aklala biɖibiɖi ƒe awu kple awu blɔ.
She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Wodea bubu srɔ̃a ŋu le dua ƒe agbonu ne enɔ anyigba la dzi dumegãwo dome.
Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 Etɔa aklala biɖibiɖi ƒe awuwo dzrana eye wòdzraa alidziblanu na asitsalawo.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 Edo ŋusẽ kple bubu abe awu ene eye ate ŋu ako ŋkeke siwo gbɔna.
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 Eƒoa nu kple nunya eye nufiame anukwaretɔ le eƒe aɖe dzi.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 Ekpɔa eƒe aƒekɔ ƒe nyawo gbɔ nyuie eye meɖua kuviabolo o.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Viawo tsona yɔnɛ be yayratɔ, nenemae srɔ̃a hã yɔnɛ, hekafunɛ be,
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 “‘Nyɔnu siwo wɔa nu ɖɔʋuwo la li fũu, gake wò la, èƒo wo katã ta.’
“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Nyonyo la, beblee, eye tugbedzedze nu hã va yina kaba; gake woakafu nyɔnu si vɔ̃a Yehowa.
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Mitsɔ fetu si wòdze na la nɛ, eye eƒe dɔwɔwɔwo ahe kafukafu vɛ nɛ le dua ƒe agbowo nu.”
Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
