Proverbs 23
1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
Sɛ wo ne ɔhene bi to nsa didi a, hwɛ nea esi wʼanim no yiye,
2 and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
Sɛ woyɛ adidibrada a, hyɛ wo ho so.
3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
Nni nʼaduan akɔnnɔ akɔnnɔ no akyi, efisɛ saa aduan no daadaa nnipa.
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
Mmiri wo mogya ani mpɛ sika; hu nyansa na tɔ wo bo ase.
5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
Wʼani bɔɔ sika so ara pɛ, na atu ayera, ampa ara ebefuw ntaban na atu akɔ wim sɛ ɔkɔre.
6 Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
Nni obi a ɔyɛ pɛpɛe aduan, nni nʼakɔnnɔ aduan akyi;
7 for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
efisɛ ɔyɛ obi a bere biara osusuw sika ho. Ɔka se, “Didi na nom,” nanso ɛnyɛ ne koma mu.
8 You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
Kakra a woadi no wobɛfe, na ɛno nti wo nkamfo so remma mfaso.
9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Nkasa nkyerɛ ɔkwasea, efisɛ ɔremfa nyansa a ɛwɔ wo kasa mu no.
10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye ngu, na ntra ɔhye nkɔ ayisaa mfuw mu,
11 for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
efisɛ wɔn Gyefo yɛ den, na obedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn.
12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
Ma wo koma mmra nkyerɛkyerɛ so, na wɛn wʼaso tie nimdeɛ.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
Ntwentwɛn abofra nteɛso so; sɛ wode abaa teɛ no a, ɔrenwu.
Fa abaa twe nʼaso na gye ne kra fi owu mu. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
Me ba, sɛ wo koma hu nyansa a, ɛno de, me koma ani begye;
16 My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
sɛ wʼano ka nea ɛteɛ a me mu ade nyinaa ani begye.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
Mma wʼani mmere abɔnefo, mmom bɔ Awurade suro ho mmɔden bere biara.
18 For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Ampa ara anidaso wɔ hɔ ma wo daakye, na wʼanidaso renyɛ ɔkwa.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
Me ba, tie, na hu nyansa, ma wo koma mfa ɔkwantrenee so.
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
Mfa wo ho mmɔ akɔwensafo anaasɛ wɔn a wɔpɛ nam mmoroso ho,
21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
efisɛ, akɔwensafo ne adidibradafo bɛyɛ ahiafo, na anikum fura wɔn ntamagow.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Tie wʼagya a ɔwoo wo no, na sɛ wo na bɔ aberewa a, mmu no animtiaa.
23 Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Tɔ nokware na ntɔn da; nya nyansa, ahohyɛso ne nhumu.
24 The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
Ɔtreneeni agya wɔ anigye bebree; nea ɔwɔ ɔba nyansafo no ani gye ne ho.
25 May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!
Ma wʼagya ne wo na ani nnye; ma ɔbea a ɔwoo wo no nnya ahosɛpɛw.
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
Me ba, fa wo koma ma me na ma wʼani nkɔ mʼakwan ho,
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.
na oguamanfo yɛ amoa donkudonku ɔyere huhuni yɛ ɔdaadaafo.
28 Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
Ɔtɛw, twɛn, te sɛ ɔkwanmukafo, na ɔma mmarima mu atorofo dɔɔso.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Hena na wɔadome no? Hena na odi awerɛhow? Hena na odi aperepere? Hena na onwiinwii? Hena na ɔwɔ atape nko ara? Hena na mogya ada nʼani so?
30 Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
Wɔn a wɔkyɛ nsa ho, na wɔka nsa a wɔafrafra hwɛ.
31 Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
Nhwɛ nsa ani kɔkɔɔ no haa, bere a ɛretwa yerɛw yerɛw wɔ kuruwa mu, na ɛkɔ yɔɔ no.
32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
Awiei no, ɛka te sɛ ɔwɔ na ɛwɔ bɔre te sɛ ahurutoa.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
Wʼani behu nneɛma a wunhuu da, na woadwene nneɛma basabasa ho.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
Wobɛtɔ ntintan te sɛ hyɛn mu dwumayɛni a, okura hyɛn dua a, ɛrehinhim mu den, na ehinhim wɔ po so.
35 “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
Na wobɛka se, “Wɔbɔ me, nanso mimpira. Wɔboro me, nanso mente ɔyaw biara. Bere bɛn na menyan akɔpɛ nsa anom bio?”
