Proverbs 22
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
Ŋkɔ nyui didi nyo wu kesinɔnuwo eye ŋudzedzekpɔkpɔ nyo wu klosalo kple sika.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is the maker of them all.
Nu ɖeka siae nàkpɔ le kesinɔtɔ kple ame dahe ŋu: Yehowae nye wo katã Wɔla.
3 A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
Nunyala kpɔ dzɔgbevɔ̃e gbɔna eye wòɣla eɖokui gake bometsila ya yiyim ko wòle eye wòkpea fu ɖe enu.
4 The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.
Ɖokuibɔbɔ kple Yehowavɔvɔ̃ hea kesinɔnu, bubu kple agbe vɛ.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever guards his soul stays far from them.
Ŋu kple mɔkawo le ame vɔ̃ɖi la ƒe mɔ dzi, ke ame si dzɔ eƒe luʋɔ ŋuti la, ate ɖa xaa tso wo gbɔ.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
He ɖevi ɖe mɔ si wòato la dzi eye ne etsi la, mate ɖa le edzi o.
7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
Kesinɔtɔwo ɖua gã ɖe ame dahewo dzi eye nugbanadola zua dɔla na ame si do nugbana la nɛ.
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
Ame si ƒã vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi la axa dzɔgbevɔ̃e, eye woatsrɔ eƒe dɔmedzoe ƒe ameƒoti.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
Woayra ame si nyoa dɔ me na amewo elabena emaa eƒe nuɖuɖu kple ame dahewo.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
Nya fewuɖula la do goe eye dzre hã ado go, nenema ke nyahehe kple dzudzu hã awu nu.
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
Ame si lɔ̃ dzi dzadzɛ kple nuƒoƒo si me nya dzetowo le la, eyae fia la adze xɔ̃e.
12 The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
Yehowa ƒe ŋkuwo le nugɔmesese ŋu, ke etrɔa gbo nuteƒemawɔlawo ƒe nyawo.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
Kuviatɔ gblɔna be, “Dzata le gota!” alo “Woava wum le ablɔ dzi!”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.
Nyɔnu ahasitɔ ƒe nu la, ʋe globo wònye eye ame si dzi Yehowa ƒe dziku le la eyae age adze eme.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Wobla bometsitsi ɖe ɖevi ƒe dzi ŋu, ke ɖɔɖɔɖo ƒe ameƒoti ana wòate ɖa xaa tso egbɔ.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
Ame si tea ame dahewo ɖe anyi be yeadzi yeƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖe edzi kple ame si naa nu kesinɔtɔ la siaa age ɖe hiã me.
17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
Ƒu to anyi eye nàse nunyalawo ƒe nyawo, na wò dzi naku ɖe nu si fiam mele ŋuti,
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
elabena edoa dzidzɔ na ame ne èɣla wo ɖe wò dzi me, eye wo katã nanɔ klalo le wò nuyiwo dzi.
19 I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the LORD.
Ale be nàɖo dzi ɖe Yehowa ŋu, esia ta mele nu fiam wò ɖo egbea, ɛ̃, wòe mele nu fiam.
20 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
Ɖe nyemeŋlɔ nufiamenya blaetɔ̃ na wò, aɖaŋuɖonyawo kple nugɔmesenyawo
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
be woafia nyateƒe kple kakaɖedzinyawo wò be nàtsɔ nunyanyawo aɖo nya ŋu na ame si dɔ wò la oa?
22 Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
Mègaba ame dahewo le esi woda ahe ta o eye mègate hiãtɔ ɖe to le ʋɔnu o,
23 for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
elabena Yehowa axɔ nya ɖe wo nu eye wòaha ame si ha wo.
24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,
Mègadze xɔ̃ ŋutsu dɔmedzoetɔ o eye mègade ha kple ame si doa dziku kabakaba o,
25 lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
ne menye nenema o la, àva srɔ̃ eƒe mɔwo eye nàtsɔ ɖokuiwò ade mɔ me.
26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
Mèganye ame si ƒua asi akɔ ɖe fenyila nu alo dea megbe na ame si do nugbana la o;
27 If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
eye ne mèkpɔ ga axe fea o la, woaɖe aba si dzi nèmlɔna la gɔ̃ hã le tewò.
28 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.
Mègaɖe blemaliƒokpe si fofowòwo ɖi la ɖa o.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
Èkpɔ ame si bi ɖe eƒe dɔ me la le dɔ wɔma? Asubɔ le fiawo ŋgɔ eye menye le ame tsɛwo ŋgɔ o.
