Hawo 1
1 Solomo ƒe hawo ƒe ha.
This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.
2 Tsɔ wò nu gbugbɔ nu nam, elabena wò lɔlɔ̃ doa dzidzɔ nam wu wain.
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine.
3 Wò ami ʋeʋĩ si nèsi la le ʋeʋẽm ɖem nyuie; wò ŋkɔ le abe ami si wowu la ene. Mewɔ nuku be ɖetugbiwo lɔ̃ wò nenema gbegbe o!
The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.
4 Kplɔm ɖe asi, na míaɖe abla! Fia la nekplɔm yi eƒe xɔ mee. Míatso aseye, akpɔ dzidzɔ ɖe ŋutiwò, eye míakafu wò lɔlɔ̃ wu wain. Ele eteƒe be wole lɔ̃wòm alea!
Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.
5 O! Yerusalem vinyɔnuwo, ame yie menye, ke menyo abe Kedar ƒe agbadɔwo kple Solomo ƒe agbadɔ ƒe mɔnuvɔwo ene.
I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Mègate ŋku nɔ kpɔyem, elabena menyo o; nyae be ɣee ɖum menyɔ alea. Danyevi ŋutsuwo do dɔmedzoe ɖe ŋunye, eye wona mekpɔ woƒe waingblewo dzi, ke megblẽ nye ŋutɔ nye waingble ya ɖi.
Do not stare because I am dark, for the sun has gazed upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me a keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have neglected.
7 Gblɔe nam, wò ame si melɔ̃na, afi ka nènyia wò lãhawo le, eye ne ŋdɔ ʋu la, afi ka nènana wotsyɔa akɔ ɖo? Nu ka ŋuti manɔ abe nyɔnu si tsyɔ nu ŋkume ene le xɔ̃wòwo ƒe lãhawo gbɔ?
Tell me, O one I love, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest them at midday? Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions?
8 Wò, tugbewo ƒe fia, ne mènyae o la, do afɔ na alẽhawo, eye nànyi wò gbɔ̃viwo le lãkplɔlawo ƒe agbadɔwo gbɔ.
If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.
9 Nye lɔlɔ̃tɔ, metsɔ wò sɔ kple sɔnɔ si wotsi ɖe Farao ƒe tasiaɖam ɖeka ŋuti.
I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
10 Togɛ si nède la wɔe be wò alɔgo nya kpɔ nyuie, eye kɔga siwo nède la hã dze wò.
Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 Míawɔ sikatogɛwo na wò, eye woawɔ klosalokpɛviwo ɖe ete.
We will make you ornaments of gold, studded with beads of silver.
12 Esi fia la le nuɖukplɔ̃ ŋu la, nye ami ʋeʋĩe le ya ɖem.
While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
13 Nye lɔlɔ̃tɔ le nam abe lifigoe le nye akɔnu ene.
My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.
14 Nye lɔlɔ̃tɔ le nam abe henaseƒoƒo si wogbe hebla tso En Gedi waingble me ene.
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-gedi.
15 Nye lɔlɔ̃tɔ, èdze tugbe loo! O, aleke nènya le kpɔkpɔm ale! Wò ŋkuwo le abe ahɔnɛtɔwo ene.
How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.
16 Nye lɔlɔ̃tɔ, èdze ɖeka ŋutɔ! O, aleke nèhedze ɖekae nye esi! Míaƒe aba de ama nyuie.
How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how delightful! The soft grass is our bed.
17 Míaƒe xɔ ƒe daɖedziwo nye sedatiwo, eye míaƒe xɔ ƒe dzisasãwo nye vɔvɔli.
The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are fragrant firs.
