Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Wain nye fewuɖula eye aha muame nye avuwɔla, ame si wokplɔ trae la menya nu o.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
Fia ƒe dziku doa vɔvɔ̃ abe dzata ƒe gbetete ene ame si do dziku nɛ la bua eƒe agbe.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
Bubu wònye na ŋutsu ne eƒo asa na dzre gake bometsila ɖe sia ɖe wɔa dzre kabakaba.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Kuviatɔ meŋlɔa agble le agbledeɣi o, eya ta edia nu le nuŋeɣi doa kpoe.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Ŋutsu ƒe tameɖoɖowo nye tɔ goglo, gake ame si si nugɔmesese su la akui wòavɔ.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Ŋutsu geɖewo gblɔna be lɔlɔ̃ matrɔ le yewo si gake ame ka ate ŋu akpɔ ŋutsu nuteƒewɔla?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
Ame dzɔdzɔe nɔa agbe si ŋu kpɔtsɔtsɔ mele o; yayra anɔ viawo dzi emegbe gɔ̃ hã.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
Ne fia nɔ anyi ɖe eƒe fiazikpui dzi be yeadrɔ̃ ʋɔnu la, eɖe vɔ̃wo katã ɖa kple eƒe ŋkuwo.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
Ame ka ate ŋu agblɔ bena, “Mewɔ nye dzi dzadzɛe, ŋutinye kɔ eye vɔ̃ mele ŋutinye o?”
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Yehowa lé fu nudakpe vovovo eve kple nudzidzenu vovovo eve siaa.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Wonyaa ɖevi gɔ̃ hã to eƒe nuwɔna me, ne ele agbe dzadzɛ eye eƒe nuwɔnawo le eteƒe.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
Yehowa wɔ to si sea nu kple ŋku si kpɔa nu la siaa.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Mègalɔ̃ alɔ̃ tsu dɔdɔ o, ne menye nenema o la, àva zu hiãtɔ, nɔ ŋu ekema àɖu nu wòasusɔ.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
Nuƒlela gblɔna be, “Menyo o, menyo o,” emegbe la, eyina ɖanɔa adegbe ƒom be yeƒle nu ɖiɖi.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
Sika li, adzagba hã li fũu gake nuyi siwo gblɔa nunyanya la, kpe xɔasi veviwo wonye.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Xɔ avɔ le ame si da megbe na amedzro la si, tsɔe ɖo awɔbae ne eda megbe na nyɔnu gbolowɔla.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Nuɖuɖu si wokpɔ to amefuflu me la vivina na ŋutsu, gake le nuwuwu la, eƒe nu me yɔna kple kpekui sɔŋ.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
Wɔ ɖoɖo to aɖaŋuxɔxɔ me, ne èle aʋa wɔm la, bia mɔfiame.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
Amenyagblɔla ʋua go nya ɣaɣla eya ta ƒo asa na ŋutsu nukpoloeƒola.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Ne ŋutsu do ɖiŋu na fofoa alo dadaa la, woatsi eƒe akaɖi ne ele viviti tsiɖitsiɖi me.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
Domenyinu si wokpɔ to mɔ kpui dzi le gɔmedzedzea me la, yayra manɔ edzi le nuwuwua o.
22 Do not say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Mègagblɔ be, “Maɖo vɔ̃ si nèwɔ ɖe ŋunye la teƒe na wò” o! Kpɔ Yehowa ƒe asinu ekema aɖe wò.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
Yehowa lé fu nudakpe ƒomevi vovovowo eye nudanu amebatɔ hã menyoa Yehowa ŋu o.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
Yehowa fiaa afɔɖeɖe ame, ke aleke ame aɖe awɔ ase eya ŋutɔ ƒe mɔwo gɔme?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
Mɔ wònye na ame ne ekɔ nane ŋu tamemabumabutɔe eye emegbe hafi wòva bu adzɔgbe si wòɖe la ŋuti.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
Fia nyanu gbɔa ame vɔ̃ɖiwo eye wòzɔa wo dzi kple luƒotasiaɖam.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
Yehowa ƒe akaɖi kpɔa ame ƒe gbɔgbɔ me eye wòdzroa eƒe ememe ke kpɔ.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Lɔlɔ̃ kple nuteƒewɔwɔ nana fia nɔa dedinɔnɔ me eye to lɔlɔ̃ me eƒe fiazikpui lia ke.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
Ɖekakpuiwo ƒe ŋusẽe nye woƒe ŋutikɔkɔe eye ta ƒowɔ nye ame tsitsiwo ƒe atsyɔ̃.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Kɔ kple abixɔxɔ ɖea vɔ̃ ɖa eye ƒoƒo klɔa ame ƒe ememe ke.
