Lododowo 1
1 Israel fia Solomo, David ƒe vi ƒe lododowo nye esiawo:
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.
2 na nunya kple amehehe, na nya goglowo gɔmesese,
They are for achieving wisdom and instruction, and to recognize sayings that bring insight.
3 hena agbe dzɔdzɔe kple agbe ɖevi nɔnɔ, be woawɔ nu si dzɔ, nu si le eteƒe kple nu si nyo,
They provide education in what makes sense, living right, judging correctly, and acting fairly.
4 be ame gblɔewo nadze aɖaŋu eye woana nunya kple sidzedze sɔhɛwo,
They give discernment to the immature, knowledge and discretion to the young.
5 nunyalawo neɖo to, ne woasrɔ̃ nu akpe ɖe esi wonya xoxo la ŋu eye ame siwo si sidzedze le xoxo la naxɔ aɖaŋu,
Wise people will listen and gain in learning, and those who have good judgment will gain skills in guidance,
6 be woase nunyalawo ƒe lododowo abebubuwo kple adzowo gɔme.
understanding the proverbs and puzzles, the sayings and questions of the wise.
7 Yehowa vɔvɔ̃e nye nunya ƒe gɔmedzedze, ke bometsilawo doa vlo nunya kple amehehe.
Honoring the Lord is where true knowledge begins, but fools treat wisdom and good advice with contempt.
8 Vinye, ɖo to fofowò ƒe nuxɔxlɔ̃ eye mègagbe nu le dawò ƒe nufiame gbɔ o.
My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
9 Anye seƒoƒokuku aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò ta kple kɔga anɔ kɔwò.
They are a wreath of grace to decorate your head; they are pendants for your neck.
10 Vinye, ne nu vɔ̃ wɔlawo le nuwò blem la, mègalɔ̃ na wo o.
My son, if evil people try to tempt you, don't give into them.
11 Ne wogblɔ na wò be, “Va kplɔ mí ɖo, na míade xa ɖe ame aɖe ƒe ʋu ŋuti, na míanɔ xame na luʋɔ maɖifɔ aɖe,
They may tell you, “Come with us. Let's go and hide, ready to kill someone. Let's ambush someone for fun!
12 ne míamii agbagbee abe tsiẽƒe ene, eye míamii blibo abe ame siwo ge dze ʋe globo me ene (Sheol h7585)
Let's bury them alive; let's put them in the grave while they're still healthy! (Sheol h7585)
13 ekema nu xɔasi vovovowo asu mía si eye míatsɔ afunyinuwo ayɔ míaƒe xɔwo mee
We'll take from them all kinds of valuable things and fill our homes with the stuff we steal!
14 eya ta de mía dzi ale be míana gakotoku ɖeka wò” la,
Come and join us and we'll all share what we get!”
15 vinye, mègakplɔ wo ɖo o, mègaka afɔ woƒe toƒewo o
My son, don't follow their ways. Don't go in that direction with them.
16 elabena woƒe afɔ ɖea abla ɖe nu vɔ̃ ŋu eye wogona ɖe ʋukɔkɔɖi ŋu.
For they rush to do evil; they hurry to commit violence and murder.
17 Enye movidzɔdzɔ be woaɖo ɖɔ ɖi na xeviwo le wo katã ƒe ŋkume!
There's no point in trying to lure birds into a net when they can see it.
18 Ame siawo de xa ɖi na woawo ŋutɔ ƒe ʋu eye wole adeklo dzi ɖe woawo ŋutɔ ɖokuiwo ŋu!
However, these evil people hide ready to kill others, but they themselves are the victims. They're only ambushing themselves!
19 Aleae ame siwo tia viɖe ƒoɖi yome la ƒe nuwuwu anɔ, elabena eɖea ame siwo ƒe asi su edzi la ƒe agbe ɖa.
This is what happens to you if you try to become rich through crime—it kills you!
20 Nunya le ɣli dom le mɔtata dzi eye wòkɔ gbe dzi le ƒuƒoƒewo.
Wisdom calls out in the streets; she shouts aloud in the squares.
21 Ele ɣli dom le mɔtata siwo dzi zinyenye le la ƒe dzogoewo dzi eye wòle eƒe nyawo gblɔm le dua ƒe agbowo me be,
She cries out at busy corners; she explains her message at the town gates:
22 “Va se ɖe ɣe ka ɣi mi gegemewo mialɔ̃ bometsinuwɔwɔ? Va se ɖe ɣe ka yi fewuɖulawo akpɔ dzidzɔ le fewuɖuɖu ŋu, bometsilawo alé fu sidzedze?
“How long will you stupid people love stupidity? How long will scornful people enjoy their mocking? How long will fools hate knowledge?
23 Ne ɖe mietrɔ ɖe nye mokaname ŋu la, anye ne metrɔ nye dzi kɔ ɖe anyi na mi eye mena mienya nye susuwo.
Pay attention to my warnings, and I'll pour out my deepest thoughts to you—I'll explain what I know to you.
24 Ke esi miegbe tɔtɔ nam esi meyɔ mi, esi meke nye abɔwo me, mietsɔ ɖeke le eme o
For I have called you, but you refused to listen; I reached out my hand to you, but you didn't care.
25 eye miedo toku nye aɖaŋuɖoɖowo, hegbe nye mokaname ta la,
You ignored everything I said; you wouldn't accept any of my warnings.
26 nye hã mako mi le miaƒe gbegblẽ ta eye maɖe alɔme le mia ŋu ne dzɔgbevɔ̃e ƒo ɖe mia dzi,
So I'll laugh at you when you're in trouble; I'll mock you when you're in a panic.
27 ɛ̃, ne eƒo ɖe mia dzi abe ahom sesẽ ene, gbegblẽ hã zɔ to mia dzi abe yali ene, eye xaxa kple hiã va mia dzi kpoyi!
When panic rains down on you like a storm, when trouble hits you like a whirlwind, when sorrow and pain come on you,
28 “Ekema woayɔm gake nyematɔ o, woadim gake womakpɔm o.
then you'll call out to me for help, but I won't answer; you'll search hard for me, but won't find me.
29 Le esi wolé fu sidzedze eye wometia Yehowavɔvɔ̃ o,
Why?—because they hated knowledge, and they didn't choose to respect the Lord.
30 le esi wogbe nye aɖaŋuɖoɖo hedo vlo nye mokaname ta.
They're not willing to accept my advice; they despise all my warnings.
31 Azɔ la woaɖu woƒe mɔwo ƒe kutsetse eye woƒe ɖoɖowo ƒe kutsetse aɖi ƒo na wo
So they'll have to eat the fruit of their own choices, bloated by their own devious schemes.
32 elabena gegemewo ƒe afɔɖeɖe baɖawo awu wo eye bometsilawo ƒe ɖekematsɔleme atsrɔ̃ wo.
Stupid people are killed by their rebellion; foolish people are destroyed by their lack of concern.
33 Ke ame sia ame si ɖoa tom la, anɔ agbe le dedinɔnɔ me eye aɖe dzi ɖi bɔkɔɔ, mavɔ̃ na dzɔgbevɔ̃e o.”
But everyone who listens to me will be kept safe, and will live without worrying about problems.”
