Lododowo 1
1 Israel fia Solomo, David ƒe vi ƒe lododowo nye esiawo:
The proverbs of Solomon [Peaceable, Recompense], the son of David [Beloved], king of Israel [God prevails]:
2 na nunya kple amehehe, na nya goglowo gɔmesese,
to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
3 hena agbe dzɔdzɔe kple agbe ɖevi nɔnɔ, be woawɔ nu si dzɔ, nu si le eteƒe kple nu si nyo,
to receive instruction in wisdom, in righteousness, mishpat ·justice·, and equity;
4 be ame gblɔewo nadze aɖaŋu eye woana nunya kple sidzedze sɔhɛwo,
to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:
5 nunyalawo neɖo to, ne woasrɔ̃ nu akpe ɖe esi wonya xoxo la ŋu eye ame siwo si sidzedze le xoxo la naxɔ aɖaŋu,
that the wise man may sh'ma ·hear obey·, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
6 be woase nunyalawo ƒe lododowo abebubuwo kple adzowo gɔme.
to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
7 Yehowa vɔvɔ̃e nye nunya ƒe gɔmedzedze, ke bometsilawo doa vlo nunya kple amehehe.
The fear of Adonai is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Vinye, ɖo to fofowò ƒe nuxɔxlɔ̃ eye mègagbe nu le dawò ƒe nufiame gbɔ o.
My son, sh'ma ·hear obey· your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:
9 Anye seƒoƒokuku aɖo atsyɔ̃ na wò ta kple kɔga anɔ kɔwò.
for they will be a garland to chen ·grace· your head, and chains around your neck.
10 Vinye, ne nu vɔ̃ wɔlawo le nuwò blem la, mègalɔ̃ na wo o.
My son, if people who sin ·intentionally miss the mark goal· entice you, don’t consent.
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,
If they say, “Come with us, Let’s lay in wait for blood; let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 ne míamii agbagbee abe tsiẽƒe ene, eye míamii blibo abe ame siwo ge dze ʋe globo me ene (Sheol h7585)
let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol ·Place of the dead·, and whole, like those who go down into the pit (of Abbadon, the unrighteous side of Sheol). (Sheol h7585)
13 ekema nu xɔasi vovovowo asu mía si eye míatsɔ afunyinuwo ayɔ míaƒe xɔwo mee
We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
14 eya ta de mía dzi ale be míana gakotoku ɖeka wò” la,
You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse.”
15 vinye, mègakplɔ wo ɖo o, mègaka afɔ woƒe toƒewo o
My son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
16 elabena woƒe afɔ ɖea abla ɖe nu vɔ̃ ŋu eye wogona ɖe ʋukɔkɔɖi ŋu.
for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
17 Enye movidzɔdzɔ be woaɖo ɖɔ ɖi na xeviwo le wo katã ƒe ŋkume!
For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:
18 Ame siawo de xa ɖi na woawo ŋutɔ ƒe ʋu eye wole adeklo dzi ɖe woawo ŋutɔ ɖokuiwo ŋu!
but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 Aleae ame siwo tia viɖe ƒoɖi yome la ƒe nuwuwu anɔ, elabena eɖea ame siwo ƒe asi su edzi la ƒe agbe ɖa.
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
20 Nunya le ɣli dom le mɔtata dzi eye wòkɔ gbe dzi le ƒuƒoƒewo.
Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public 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 calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
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, you simple ones, will you 'ahav ·affectionately love· thoughtless living? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and 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.
Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
24 Ke esi miegbe tɔtɔ nam esi meyɔ mi, esi meke nye abɔwo me, mietsɔ ɖeke le eme o
Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25 eye miedo toku nye aɖaŋuɖoɖowo, hegbe nye mokaname ta la,
but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
26 nye hã mako mi le miaƒe gbegblẽ ta eye maɖe alɔme le mia ŋu ne dzɔgbevɔ̃e ƒo ɖe mia dzi,
I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;
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 calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.
28 “Ekema woayɔm gake nyematɔ o, woadim gake womakpɔm o.
Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
29 Le esi wolé fu sidzedze eye wometia Yehowavɔvɔ̃ o,
because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Adonai.
30 le esi wogbe nye aɖaŋuɖoɖo hedo vlo nye mokaname ta.
They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
31 Azɔ la woaɖu woƒe mɔwo ƒe kutsetse eye woƒe ɖoɖowo ƒe kutsetse aɖi ƒo na wo
Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
32 elabena gegemewo ƒe afɔɖeɖe baɖawo awu wo eye bometsilawo ƒe ɖekematsɔleme atsrɔ̃ wo.
For the backsliding apostasy and willful rejection of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33 Ke ame sia ame si ɖoa tom la, anɔ agbe le dedinɔnɔ me eye aɖe dzi ɖi bɔkɔɔ, mavɔ̃ na dzɔgbevɔ̃e o.”
But whoever sh'ma ·hears obeys· me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
