Proverbs 31
1 These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
Fia Lemuel ƒe nyawo, nyagblɔɖi si dadaa fiae lae nye esi:
2 You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
“Oo vinye, O nye dɔmevi, O nye adzɔgbeɖevi,
3 Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
Mègagblẽ wò ŋusẽ ɖe nyɔnuwo ŋu kple wò lãmeka ɖe ame siwo gblẽa fiawo dome la ŋu o.
4 Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
“O Lemuel, esia menye fiawo tɔ o, menye fiawo tɔ be woano wain o eye menye dziɖulawo tɔ be woadzro aha sesẽ o.
5 If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
Ne menye nenema o la, woamu aha aŋlɔ nu si sea gblɔ la be eye woaxɔ ablɔɖe le ame siwo wote ɖe anyi la si.
6 Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
Tsɔ aha muame na ame siwo le tsɔtsrɔ̃m kple wain na ane siwo le nuxaxa me,
7 If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
na woanoe aŋlɔ woƒe ahedada be eye womagaɖo ŋku woƒe hiãtuame dzi akpɔ o.
8 Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
“Ƒo nu ɖe ame siwo mate ŋu aƒo nu ɖe wo ɖokui nu o la nu eye nàʋli amemanɔsitɔwo ƒe ablɔɖe ta.
9 Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
Ƒo nu eye nàdrɔ̃ ʋɔnu dzɔdzɔe, ʋli ame dahewo kple hiãtɔwo ƒe ablɔɖe ta.”
10 It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
Ame ka akpɔ srɔ̃nyɔnu si ƒe agbe dze ame ŋu? Exɔ asi wu adzagba.
11 Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
Srɔ̃a kana ɖe edzi blibo eye nu sia nu si ŋu asixɔxɔ le la mevena le egbɔ o.
12 She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
Le nyɔnu sia ƒe agbemeŋkekewo katã me la, ehea nyui ko vɛ, ke menye vɔ̃ o.
13 She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
Edia ɖetifu kple avemeka eye wòwɔa dɔ kple eƒe asiwo faa.
14 She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
Ele abe asiʋu ene eye wòhea nuɖuɖu tso didiƒe vaa aƒee.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
Efɔna ne ŋu mekpɔ ke o, edia nuɖuɖu na eƒe ƒometɔwo eye wòmaa dɔ na eƒe dɔlanyɔnuwo.
16 She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
Ebua ta me le agble ŋu eye wòƒlenɛ, eɖena tso eƒe nukpɔkpɔwo me tsɔna dea waingblee.
17 She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
Ewɔa dɔ kple ŋkubiã eye eƒe alɔwo sẽna ɖe eƒe dɔwo ŋu.
18 She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
Ekpɔa egbɔ be yeƒe asitsatsa ɖe vi geɖe eye yeƒe akaɖi metsina le zã me o.
19 She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
Ɖetifutreti le eƒe asi me eye wòtsɔa eƒe asibidɛwo léa ɖetitrekekee.
20 She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
Eʋua asi na ame dahewo eye wòdoa asi ɖe hiãtɔwo gbɔ.
21 She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
Ne snodzaɣi ɖo la, mevɔ̃na ɖe eƒe aƒekɔ nu o elabena wo katã tsyɔ kuntru dzĩ.
22 She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
Elɔ̃a abadzivɔ na eƒe aba eye wòdoa aklala biɖibiɖi ƒe awu kple awu blɔ.
23 Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
Wodea bubu srɔ̃a ŋu le dua ƒe agbonu ne enɔ anyigba la dzi dumegãwo dome.
24 She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
Etɔa aklala biɖibiɖi ƒe awuwo dzrana eye wòdzraa alidziblanu na asitsalawo.
25 She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
Edo ŋusẽ kple bubu abe awu ene eye ate ŋu ako ŋkeke siwo gbɔna.
26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
Eƒoa nu kple nunya eye nufiame anukwaretɔ le eƒe aɖe dzi.
27 She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
Ekpɔa eƒe aƒekɔ ƒe nyawo gbɔ nyuie eye meɖua kuviabolo o.
28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
Viawo tsona yɔnɛ be yayratɔ, nenemae srɔ̃a hã yɔnɛ, hekafunɛ be,
29 [He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
“‘Nyɔnu siwo wɔa nu ɖɔʋuwo la li fũu, gake wò la, èƒo wo katã ta.’
30 Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
Nyonyo la, beblee, eye tugbedzedze nu hã va yina kaba; gake woakafu nyɔnu si vɔ̃a Yehowa.
31 Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
Mitsɔ fetu si wòdze na la nɛ, eye eƒe dɔwɔwɔwo ahe kafukafu vɛ nɛ le dua ƒe agbowo nu.”
