Proverbs 22
1 Yíyan orúkọ rere sàn ju púpọ̀ ọrọ̀ lọ, àti ojúrere dára ju fàdákà àti wúrà lọ.
A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.
2 Ọlọ́rọ̀ àti tálákà péjọpọ̀: Olúwa ni ẹlẹ́dàá gbogbo wọn.
The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 Ọlọ́gbọ́n ènìyàn ti rí ibi tẹ́lẹ̀, ó ṣé ara rẹ̀ mọ́: ṣùgbọ́n àwọn òpè tẹ̀síwájú, a sì jẹ wọ́n ní yà.
The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
4 Èrè ìrẹ̀lẹ̀ àti ìbẹ̀rù Olúwa ni ọrọ̀ ọlá, àti ìyè.
The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
5 Ègún àti ìdẹ̀kùn ń bẹ ní ọ̀nà aláyídáyidà: ẹni tí ó bá pa ọkàn rẹ̀ mọ́ yóò jìnnà sí wọn.
Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.
6 Tọ́ ọmọdé ní ọ̀nà tí yóò tọ̀: nígbà tí ó bá dàgbà, kì yóò kúrò nínú rẹ̀.
If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.
7 Ọlọ́rọ̀ ṣe olórí olùpọ́njú, ajigbèsè sì ṣe ìránṣẹ́ fún ẹni tí a jẹ ní gbèsè.
The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.
8 Ẹni tí ó bá fúnrúgbìn ẹ̀ṣẹ̀, yóò ká asán: ọ̀pá ìbínú rẹ̀ yóò kùnà.
By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
9 Ẹni tí ó ní ojú àánú ni a ó bùkún fún; nítorí tí ó fi nínú oúnjẹ rẹ̀ fún olùpọ́njú.
He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Lé ẹlẹ́gàn sí ìta, ìjà yóò sì jáde; nítòótọ́ ìjà àti ẹ̀gàn yóò dẹ́kun.
Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
11 Ẹni tí ó fẹ́ ìwà funfun ti àyà, tí ó sì ń sọ̀rọ̀ iyì jáde, ọba yóò ṣe ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ̀.
He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12 Ojú Olúwa pa ìmọ̀ mọ́, ó sì yí ọ̀rọ̀ olùrékọjá pò.
The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
13 Ọ̀lẹ wí pé, “Kìnnìún ń bẹ lóde! Yóò pa mí ní ìgboro!”
The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.
14 Ẹnu àwọn àjèjì obìnrin, ihò jíjìn ni; ẹni tí a ń bínú sí láti ọ̀dọ̀ Olúwa wá ni yóò ṣubú sínú rẹ̀.
The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.
15 Àyà ọmọdé ni ìwà wèrè dì sí; ṣùgbọ́n pàṣán ìtọ́ni ni yóò lé e jìnnà kúrò lọ́dọ̀ rẹ̀.
Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.
16 Ẹni tó ń ni tálákà lára láti ní ọrọ̀, tí ó sì ń ta ọlọ́rọ̀ lọ́rẹ, yóò di aláìní bí ó ti wù kó rí. Gbọ́ ọ̀rọ̀ ọlọ́gbọ́n ènìyàn.
He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.
17 Dẹtí rẹ sílẹ̀, kí o gbọ́ ọ̀rọ̀ àwọn ọlọ́gbọ́n, kí o sì fi àyà rẹ sí ẹ̀kọ́ mi.
Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
18 Nítorí ohun dídùn ni bí ìwọ bá pa wọ́n mọ́ ní inú rẹ; nígbà tí a sì pèsè wọn tán ní ètè rẹ.
For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
19 Kí ìgbẹ́kẹ̀lé rẹ lè wà ní ti Olúwa, èmi fihàn ọ́ lónìí, àní fún ọ.
So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
20 Èmi kò ha ti kọ̀wé ohun dáradára sí ọ ní ti ìmọ̀ràn àti ní ti ẹ̀kọ́,
Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
21 kí ó lè mú ọ mọ ìdájú ọ̀rọ̀ òtítọ́; kí ìwọ le máa fi ìdáhùn òtítọ́ fún àwọn tí ó rán ọ?
To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?
22 Má ṣe ja tálákà ní olè, nítorí tí ó jẹ́ tálákà: bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kí o má sì ṣe ni olùpọ́njú lára ní ibodè,
Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:
23 nítorí Olúwa yóò gbèjà wọn, yóò sì gba ọkàn àwọn tí ń gba tiwọn náà.
For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
24 Má ṣe bá oníbìínú ènìyàn ṣe ọ̀rẹ́; má sì ṣe bá ọkùnrin onínú-fùfù rìn.
Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
25 Kí ìwọ má ba à kọ́ ìwà rẹ̀, ìwọ a sì gba ìkẹ́kùn fún ara rẹ.
For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
26 Má ṣe wà nínú àwọn tí ń ṣe ìgbọ̀nwọ́, tàbí nínú àwọn tí ó dúró fún gbèsè.
Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
27 Bí ìwọ kò bá ní nǹkan tí ìwọ ó fi san, nítorí kín ni yóò ṣe gba ẹni rẹ kúrò lábẹ́ rẹ?
If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
28 Má ṣe yẹ ààlà ilẹ̀ ìgbàanì, tí àwọn baba rẹ ti pa.
Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
29 Ìwọ ha rí ènìyàn tí ó ń fi àìṣe ìmẹ́lẹ́ ṣe iṣẹ́ rẹ̀? Òun yóò dúró níwájú àwọn ọba; òun kì yóò dúró níwájú àwọn ènìyàn lásán.
Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.
