Proverbs 21
1 Ọkàn ọba ń bẹ lọ́wọ́ Olúwa; a máa darí rẹ̀ lọ ibi tí ó fẹ́ bí ipa omi.
The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
2 Gbogbo ọ̀nà ènìyàn dàbí i pé ó dára lójú rẹ̀, ṣùgbọ́n, Olúwa ló ń díwọ̀n ọkàn.
People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
3 Ṣíṣe ohun tí ó dára tí ó sì tọ̀nà ó ṣe ìtẹ́wọ́gbà sí Olúwa ju ẹbọ lọ.
Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
4 Ojú tí ó gbéga àti ọkàn ìgbéraga, ìmọ́lẹ̀ àwọn ènìyàn búburú, ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ ni!
Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
5 Ètè àwọn olóye jásí èrè bí ìkánjú ṣe máa ń fa òsì kíákíá.
Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
6 Ìṣúra tí a kójọ nípasẹ̀ ahọ́n tí ń parọ́ jẹ́ ìrì lásán àti ìkẹ́kùn ikú.
Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
7 Ìwà ipá àwọn ènìyàn búburú yóò wọ́ wọn lọ, nítorí wọ́n kọ̀ láti ṣe ohun tí ó tọ́.
The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
8 Ọ̀nà ẹlẹ́ṣẹ̀ kún fún ìwà ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ ṣùgbọ́n iṣẹ́ onínú funfun jẹ́ títọ́.
Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
9 Ó sàn láti máa gbé ní kọ̀rọ̀ orí òrùlé ju láti ṣe àjọpín ilé pẹ̀lú aya oníjà.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
10 Ènìyàn búburú ń fẹ́ ibi aládùúgbò rẹ̀ kì í rí àánú kankan gbà lọ́dọ̀ rẹ̀.
Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
11 Nígbà tí a bá ń fìyà jẹ ẹlẹ́gàn, òpè a máa kọ́gbọ́n, nígbà tí a bá sì kọ́ ọlọ́gbọ́n yóò ní ìmọ̀.
When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
12 Olódodo ṣàkíyèsí ilé ènìyàn búburú ó sì mú ènìyàn búburú wá sí ìparun.
The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
13 Ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá ti di etí rẹ̀ sí igbe olùpọ́njú, òun tìkára rẹ̀ yóò ké pẹ̀lú; ṣùgbọ́n a kì yóò gbọ́.
If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
14 Ọ̀rẹ́ ìkọ̀kọ̀, mú ìbínú kúrò: àti owó àbẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀ láti ibi ìkọ̀kọ̀ wá, dẹ́kun ìbínú líle.
A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
15 Ayọ̀ ni fún olódodo láti ṣe ìdájọ́: ṣùgbọ́n ìparun ni fún àwọn oníṣẹ́ ẹ̀ṣẹ̀.
When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
16 Ẹni tí ó bá yà kúrò ní ọ̀nà òye, yóò máa gbé inú ìjọ àwọn òkú.
Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
17 Ẹni tí ó bá fẹ́ afẹ́, yóò di tálákà: ẹni tí ó fẹ́ ọtí wáìnì pẹ̀lú òróró kò le lọ́rọ̀.
If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
18 Ènìyàn búburú ni yóò ṣe owó ìràpadà fún olódodo, àti olùrékọjá fún ẹni dídúró ṣinṣin.
The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
19 Ó sàn láti jókòó ní aginjù ju pẹ̀lú oníjà obìnrin àti òṣónú lọ.
It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
20 Ìṣúra iyebíye àti òróró wà ní ibùgbé ọlọ́gbọ́n; ṣùgbọ́n òmùgọ̀ ènìyàn n bà á jẹ́.
The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
21 Ẹni tí ó bá tẹ̀lé òdodo àti àánú yóò rí ìyè, òdodo, àti ọlá.
If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
22 Ọlọ́gbọ́n gòkè odi ìlú àwọn alágbára, ó sì bi ibi gíga agbára ìgbẹ́kẹ̀lé wọn ṣubú.
The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
23 Ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá pa ẹnu àti ahọ́n rẹ̀ mọ́, ó pa ọkàn rẹ̀ mọ́ kúrò nínú ìyọnu.
If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
24 Agbéraga àti alágídí ènìyàn ń gan orúkọ ara rẹ̀ nítorí ó ń hùwà nínú ìwà ìgbéraga rẹ̀, àti nínú ìbínú púpọ̀púpọ̀.
A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
25 Ẹlẹ́rìí èké yóò ṣègbé, àwọn tí ó gbọ́ ọ̀rọ̀ rẹ̀ yóò parun láé; nítorí tí ọwọ́ rẹ̀ kọ iṣẹ́ ṣíṣe.
Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
26 Ó ń fi ìlara ṣe ojúkòkòrò ní gbogbo ọjọ́: ṣùgbọ́n olódodo a máa fi fún ni kì í sì í dáwọ́ dúró.
Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
27 Ẹbọ ènìyàn búburú, ìríra ni: mélòó mélòó ni nígbà tí ó mú un wá pẹ̀lú èrò ìwà ibi?
The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
28 Ẹlẹ́rìí èké yóò ṣègbé: ṣùgbọ́n ọ̀rọ̀ ẹni tí ó gbọ́, yóò dúró.
The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
29 Ènìyàn búburú mú ojú ara rẹ̀ le: ṣùgbọ́n ẹni ìdúró ṣinṣin ni ó ń mú ọ̀nà rẹ̀ tọ́.
The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
30 Kò sí ọgbọ́n, kò sí ìmòye, tàbí ìmọ̀ràn tí ó le mókè níwájú Olúwa.
Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
31 A ń múra ẹṣin sílẹ̀ de ọjọ́ ogun: ṣùgbọ́n ìṣẹ́gun jẹ́ ti Olúwa.
You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
