Lododowo 31
1 Fia Lemuel ƒe nyawo, nyagblɔɖi si dadaa fiae lae nye esi:
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
2 “Oo vinye, O nye dɔmevi, O nye adzɔgbeɖevi,
What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and 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.
Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that 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.
Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, 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 either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
6 Tsɔ aha muame na ame siwo le tsɔtsrɔ̃m kple wain na ane siwo le nuxaxa me,
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
7 na woanoe aŋlɔ woƒe ahedada be eye womagaɖo ŋku woƒe hiãtuame dzi akpɔ o.
Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble 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 thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
9 Ƒo nu eye nàdrɔ̃ ʋɔnu dzɔdzɔe, ʋli ame dahewo kple hiãtɔwo ƒe ablɔɖe ta.”
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Ame ka akpɔ srɔ̃nyɔnu si ƒe agbe dze ame ŋu? Exɔ asi wu adzagba.
Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
11 Srɔ̃a kana ɖe edzi blibo eye nu sia nu si ŋu asixɔxɔ le la mevena le egbɔ o.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
12 Le nyɔnu sia ƒe agbemeŋkekewo katã me la, ehea nyui ko vɛ, ke menye vɔ̃ o.
She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
13 Edia ɖetifu kple avemeka eye wòwɔa dɔ kple eƒe asiwo faa.
She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
14 Ele abe asiʋu ene eye wòhea nuɖuɖu tso didiƒe vaa aƒee.
She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
15 Efɔna ne ŋu mekpɔ ke o, edia nuɖuɖu na eƒe ƒometɔwo eye wòmaa dɔ na eƒe dɔlanyɔnuwo.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
16 Ebua ta me le agble ŋu eye wòƒlenɛ, eɖena tso eƒe nukpɔkpɔwo me tsɔna dea waingblee.
She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 Ewɔa dɔ kple ŋkubiã eye eƒe alɔwo sẽna ɖe eƒe dɔwo ŋu.
She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
18 Ekpɔa egbɔ be yeƒe asitsatsa ɖe vi geɖe eye yeƒe akaɖi metsina le zã me o.
She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 Ɖetifutreti le eƒe asi me eye wòtsɔa eƒe asibidɛwo léa ɖetitrekekee.
She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
20 Eʋua asi na ame dahewo eye wòdoa asi ɖe hiãtɔwo gbɔ.
She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
21 Ne snodzaɣi ɖo la, mevɔ̃na ɖe eƒe aƒekɔ nu o elabena wo katã tsyɔ kuntru dzĩ.
She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 Elɔ̃a abadzivɔ na eƒe aba eye wòdoa aklala biɖibiɖi ƒe awu kple awu blɔ.
Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
23 Wodea bubu srɔ̃a ŋu le dua ƒe agbonu ne enɔ anyigba la dzi dumegãwo dome.
Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
24 Etɔa aklala biɖibiɖi ƒe awuwo dzrana eye wòdzraa alidziblanu na asitsalawo.
Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
25 Edo ŋusẽ kple bubu abe awu ene eye ate ŋu ako ŋkeke siwo gbɔna.
Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
26 Eƒoa nu kple nunya eye nufiame anukwaretɔ le eƒe aɖe dzi.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 Ekpɔa eƒe aƒekɔ ƒe nyawo gbɔ nyuie eye meɖua kuviabolo o.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
28 Viawo tsona yɔnɛ be yayratɔ, nenemae srɔ̃a hã yɔnɛ, hekafunɛ be,
Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praiseth her:
29 “‘Nyɔnu siwo wɔa nu ɖɔʋuwo la li fũu, gake wò la, èƒo wo katã ta.’
“Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
30 Nyonyo la, beblee, eye tugbedzedze nu hã va yina kaba; gake woakafu nyɔnu si vɔ̃a Yehowa.
False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed be praised.
31 Mitsɔ fetu si wòdze na la nɛ, eye eƒe dɔwɔwɔwo ahe kafukafu vɛ nɛ le dua ƒe agbowo nu.”
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
