Proverbs 26

1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

Abe ale si sno dzanae le dzomeŋɔli alo tsi dzanae le nuŋeɣi ene la, nenemae bubu medze bometsila o.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse does not come to rest.

Abe ale si atsutsrɔe dzonae alo sagbadrɛ saa agbae ene la, nenemae ɖiŋu si wodo na ame ɖe madzɔmadzɔ dzi la tsia yamee.

3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!

Sɔƒoka li na sɔ, numega li na tedzi nenemae ameƒoti li na bometsila ƒe dzimegbe!

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

Mègaɖo nya ŋu na bometsila le eƒe bometsitsi nu o, ne menye nenema o la, wò ŋutɔ hã ànɔ abe eya amea ene.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Ɖo nya ŋu na bometsila le eƒe bometsitsi nu, ne menye nenema o la ava bu eɖokui nunyalae le eɖokui gbɔ.

6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

Dudede asi na bometsila le abe ame ŋutɔ ƒe afɔ lalã alo dzɔgbevɔ̃e nono ene.

7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Abe ale si atatututɔ ƒe afɔ nɔa yamee ene la, nenemae lododo le le bometsila ƒe nu mee.

8 As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

Abe ale si wotsɔa kpe dea akafomee ene la, nenemae bubudede bometsila ŋu le.

9 Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Abe ale si ŋuti nɔna le ahamula ƒe asimee ene la, nenemae lododo nɔna le bometsila ƒe nu mee.

10 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.

Ame si daa aŋutrɔ bometsila dzodzro la le abe ame si dɔa dɔ ame si le eme tsom la ene.

11 As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.

Abe ale si avu trɔna gayia nu si wòdzɔ gbɔe ene la, nenemae bometsila gawɔa bometsinu si wòwɔ va yi.

12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Èkpɔ ame aɖe si nye nunyala le eya ŋutɔ ŋkume kpɔa? Mɔkpɔkpɔ geɖe li na bometsila wu eya amea.

13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”

Kuviatɔ gblɔna be, “Dzata le mɔa dzi, dzata si le gbe tem ŋɔdzitɔe la le tsatsam le ablɔwo me!”

14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.

Abe ale si ʋɔtru trona le eƒe megbega mee ene la, nenemae kuviatɔ nɔa tɔtrɔm le eƒe aba dzii.

15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

Kuviatɔ tsɔ eƒe asi de nuɖugba me gake kuvia ɖoe ale gbegbe be, edede nu me zu dɔ nɛ.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.

Kuviatɔ nye nunyala le eya ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkume, wu ame adre siwo ɖoa nya ŋu nunyatɔe.

17 Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

Ame si le eme tsom gake de nu dzrenya si metsɔ egbɔ o me la le abe ame si lé towo kple eve na avu ene.

18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,

Abe ale si aɖaʋatɔ daa akakati bibi alo aŋutrɔ si ŋu aɖi le la ene la,

19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”

nenemae nye ame si ble ehavi eye emegbe wògblɔ nɛ be, “Fefem ko mele!”

20 For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

Ne nake meli o la, dzo tsina; ne sakplitɔ meli o la, dzre kena.

21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.

Abe ale si aka léa dzo eye nake doa dzo ene la, nenema ŋutsu dzretɔ ƒlɔa dzre ɖoe.

22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.

Amenyagblɔla ƒe nyawo vivina abe nuɖuɖu vivi si woka de nu me la ene; eyina ɖe ame ƒe dɔgbowo me ke.

23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.

Abe ale si wofaa sikatsi ɖe anyikplu ŋu ene la, nenema nuyi xɔdzo si ŋu dzi vɔ̃ɖi kpe ɖo la le.

24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.

Ame baɖa tsɔa eƒe nuyi trɔa eɖokui bubue, gake eɣlaa beble ɖe eƒe dzi me.

25 When his speech is charming, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Togbɔ be eƒe nyawo nya le sesem hã la, mègaxɔ edzi se o elabena ŋunyɔnu adre le eƒe dzi me.

26 His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Eƒe susu baɖa aɣla ɖe beble megbe, gake woaʋu go eƒe vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi le amehawo dome.

27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

Ne ame aɖe ɖe ʋe la, eya ŋutɔ age adze eme eye ame si amli kpe la, kpe si wòmli la age adze eya ŋutɔ dzi.

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Alakpaɖe léa fu ame siwo ŋuti wòle abi demii, eye nu si blea ame la hea gbegblẽ vɛ.