Hawo 1
1 Solomo ƒe hawo ƒe ha.
The Song of Songs, which pertaineth to Solomon.
2 Tsɔ wò nu gbugbɔ nu nam, elabena wò lɔlɔ̃ doa dzidzɔ nam wu wain.
[SHE] Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! [THEY] For better are thy caresses 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!
Like the fragrance of thy precious oils, Oil poured out, is thy name, For this cause, virgins love thee.
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!
[SHE] Draw me! [THEY] After thee, will we run! [SHE] The king, hath brought me, into his chambers. [THEY] We will exult and rejoice in thee, we will mention thy caresses, beyond wine, Sincerely they love thee.
5 O! Yerusalem vinyɔnuwo, ame yie menye, ke menyo abe Kedar ƒe agbadɔwo kple Solomo ƒe agbadɔ ƒe mɔnuvɔwo ene.
[SHE] Swarthy, I am but comely, ye daughters of Jerusalem. [THEY] 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.
[SHE] Do not look on me, because, I, am so swarthy, because the sun hath scorched me, —My mother’s sons, were angry with me, they set me to keep the vineyards, Mine own vineyard, have I not kept. …
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, thou loved of my soul! Where wilt thou pasture thy flock? Where wilt thou let them recline at noon? For why should I be as one that wrappeth a veil about her, by the flocks of thy companions?
8 Wò, tugbewo ƒe fia, ne mènyae o la, do afɔ na alẽhawo, eye nànyi wò gbɔ̃viwo le lãkplɔlawo ƒe agbadɔwo gbɔ.
[HE] If thou know not of thyself, most beautiful among women! get thee forth in the footsteps of the flock, and pasture thy kids by the huts of the shepherds. …
9 Nye lɔlɔ̃tɔ, metsɔ wò sɔ kple sɔnɔ si wotsi ɖe Farao ƒe tasiaɖam ɖeka ŋuti.
To a mare of mine, in the chariots of Pharaoh, have I likened thee, my fair one!
10 Togɛ si nède la wɔe be wò alɔgo nya kpɔ nyuie, eye kɔga siwo nède la hã dze wò.
Comely are thy cheeks, with bead-rows, thy neck, with strings of gems.
11 Míawɔ sikatogɛwo na wò, eye woawɔ klosalokpɛviwo ɖe ete.
[THEY] Rows of golden ornaments, will we make thee, with studs of silver.
12 Esi fia la le nuɖukplɔ̃ ŋu la, nye ami ʋeʋĩe le ya ɖem.
[SHE] By the time the king is in his circle, my nard, will have given out its fragrance:
13 Nye lɔlɔ̃tɔ le nam abe lifigoe le nye akɔnu ene.
A bag of myrrh, is my beloved to me, between my breasts, shall it tarry the night!
14 Nye lɔlɔ̃tɔ le nam abe henaseƒoƒo si wogbe hebla tso En Gedi waingble me ene.
A cluster of henna, is my beloved to me, in the vineyards of En-gedi.
15 Nye lɔlɔ̃tɔ, èdze tugbe loo! O, aleke nènya le kpɔkpɔm ale! Wò ŋkuwo le abe ahɔnɛtɔwo ene.
[HE] Lo! thou art beautiful my fair one, lo! thou art beautiful, Thine eyes, [are] doves!
16 Nye lɔlɔ̃tɔ, èdze ɖeka ŋutɔ! O, aleke nèhedze ɖekae nye esi! Míaƒe aba de ama nyuie.
[SHE] Lo! thou art beautiful, my beloved, Yea delightful! [BOTH] Yea! our couch, is covered with leaves:
17 Míaƒe xɔ ƒe daɖedziwo nye sedatiwo, eye míaƒe xɔ ƒe dzisasãwo nye vɔvɔli.
The beams of our house, are cedars, Our fretted ceiling, is cypress-trees.
