Lododowo 9
1 Nunya tu eƒe xɔ eye wòɖo eƒe sɔti adreawo te.
Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.
2 Etrɔ asi le eƒe lã si wòwu ŋu, tɔtɔ eƒe wain, eye wòɖo eƒe kplɔ̃ hã.
She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.
3 Edɔ eƒe dɔlanyɔnuwo eye wòtsi tsitre ɖe dua ƒe kɔkɔƒe ke hedo ɣli be,
She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
4 “Mi bebewuwo katã mige ɖe eme le afii!” Egblɔ na numanyalawo be,
Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that lack understanding she says,
5 “Miva, miɖu nye nu eye mino nye wain si metɔtɔ.
Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
6 Miɖe asi le bometsitsi ŋu, ekema mianɔ agbe eye miazɔ le gɔmesese me.
Leave folly, that you may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
7 “Ame si le nya gbem na fewuɖula la le eƒe dzu dɔm eye ame si ka mo na ame vɔ̃ɖi la xɔa dzudzu.
He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonor to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
8 Mègaka mo na fewuɖula o, ne menye nenema o la, alé fu wò; ke boŋ ka mo na nunyala eye alɔ̃ wò nya.
Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should hate you: rebuke a wise [man], and he will love you.
9 Fia nu nunyala, aganya nu ɖe edzi wu, fia nu ame dzɔdzɔe eye agasrɔ̃ nu akpe ɖe esi wònya xoxo la ŋuti.
Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
10 “Yehowa vɔvɔ̃e nye nunya ƒe gɔmedzedze eye sidzedze Kɔkɔetɔ la nye gɔmesese
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is [the character] of a sound mind.
11 elabena to dzinye wò ŋkekewo adzi ɖe edzi fũu eye woatsɔ ƒewo akpe wò agbenɔƒewo.
For in this way you shall live long, and years of your life shall be added to you.
12 Ne èdze nunya la, wò nunya ahe viɖe vɛ na wò; ke ne ènye fewuɖula la, wò ɖeka koe akpe fu.”
Son, if you be wise for yourself, you shall also be wise for your neighbors; and if you should prove wicked, you alone will bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a [land] appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
13 Nyɔnu bometsila la le ɣli dom, womekplae o eye menya nu hã o.
A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to lack a morsel.
14 Enɔ anyi ɖe eƒe aƒe ƒe ʋɔtru nu, enɔ anyi ɖe zikpui dzi le du la ƒe kɔkɔƒe kekeake
She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
15 le ame siwo va le eme tsom la yɔm, ame siwo lé woƒe mɔ tsɔ tẽe be,
calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
16 “Mí ame siwo katã nye bebewuwo la, mige ɖe eme le afii!” Egblɔna na ame siwo menya nu o la be,
[saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that lack prudence, saying,
17 “Tsi si wofi la vivina, eye nu si woɖu le vivime la vivina!”
Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
