< Lododowo 5 >
1 Vinye, lé to ɖe nye nunya ŋu eye nàƒu to anyi nyuie ɖe nye sidzedze ƒe nyawo ŋu,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding,
2 be nànya nu si nàwɔ eye wò nuyiwo adzra gɔmesese ɖo
that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 elabena nyɔnu ahasitɔ ƒe nuyiwo le anyitsi tsyɔm, eye eƒe numenyawo zrɔ̃ wu ami
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,
4 gake le nuwuwu la evena wu veve eye wòɖana wu yi nuevee.
but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Eƒe afɔ yina ɖe tsĩeƒe ke eye eƒe afɔɖeɖewo yina ɖe yɔdo me tẽe (Sheol )
Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol. (Sheol )
6 Mebua ta me le ale si wòanɔ agbee ŋu kura o, eƒe toƒewo glɔ̃ gake menyae o
She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.
7 eya ta azɔ la, vinyewo, miɖo tom, migaƒo asa na nu si megblɔ na mi o.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Miaƒe toƒewo nete ɖa xaa tso egbɔ, migagogo eƒe aƒe ƒe agbonu o,
Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,
9 ne menye nenema o la, miava gblẽ miaƒe ɖekakpuime ƒe ŋusẽ ɖe ame bubuwo ŋu kple miaƒe ƒewo ɖe ame vɔ̃ɖi ŋu.
lest you give your honour to others, and your years to the cruel one;
10 Ne menye nenema o la, amedzrowo anye avuzi le miaƒe kesinɔnuwo dzi eye nu si nète fifia kpɔ la aɖo atsyɔ̃ na ame bubu ƒe aƒe me.
lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labours enrich another man’s house.
11 Le wò agbe ƒe nuwuwu la, ànɔ ŋeŋem, ne wò ŋutilã kple wò ameti blibo la vɔ le eme.
You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,
12 Àgblɔ be, “Metsri amehehe kɔkɔkɔ! Eye nye dzi do vlo ɖɔɖɔɖo!
and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.
13 Nyemaɖo to nye nufialawo alo aƒu to anyi ɖe nye amegãwo ŋu o.
I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!
14 Esusɔ vie donyeme nagblẽ keŋkeŋ le ameha la katã dome.”
I have come to the brink of utter ruin, amongst the gathered assembly.”
15 No tsi tso wò ŋutɔ wò tsiʋe me kple tsi dzidzi tso wò ŋutɔ wò vudo me.
Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.
16 Ɖe wòle be wò tsitsetsewo nagbagba ɖe mɔtatawo dzi kple wò tsi sisi ɖe du ƒe ablɔwo mea?
Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?
17 Wonenye wò ɖeka ko tɔ, mègamae kple ame tutɔwo gbeɖe o.
Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.
18 Woayra wò vudo eye nàkpɔ dzidzɔ ɖe wò ɖekakpuimesrɔ̃ ŋu.
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 Eyae nye zinɔ lɔlɔ̃a kple sãde dzeani la, eƒe nowo neɖi kɔ na wò ɣe sia ɣi, eye eƒe lɔlɔ̃ nede dzo mewò ɖaa.
A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
20 Vinye, nu ka ŋuti nàƒo kpakpakpa ɖe nyɔnu ahasitɔ ŋu? Nu ka ŋuti nàlé alime na ame bubu srɔ̃?
For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?
21 Elabena ame sia ame ƒe mɔ le ƒuƒlu le Yehowa ŋkume eye wòdoa woƒe mɔwo katã kpɔ.
For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths.
22 Ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe nu vɔ̃ɖi siwo wòwɔna la zua mɔ ɖenɛ, eye eƒe nu vɔ̃ zua ka blanɛ sesĩe.
The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
23 Aku le ɖokuidzimaɖumaɖu ta eye eƒe bometsitsi gã la akplɔe atrae.
He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.