Proverbs 30
1 These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel: “I am weary, O God, and worn out.
Yake babarima Agur nsɛm a ɔkae a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ: Saa ɔbarima yi ka kyerɛɛ Itiel ne Ukal se:
2 Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man.
“Me na minnim hwee koraa wɔ nnipa mu, minni onipa ntease.
3 I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
Minsuaa nyansa, na minni Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ nso.
4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son— surely you know!
Hena na waforo akɔ ɔsoro na wasian aba fam? Hena na wabɔ mframa boa wɔ ne nsam? Hena na ɔde nʼatade abɔ nsu boa? Hena na ɔbɔɔ asase tamaa yi? Ne din de dɛn, na ne babarima nso din de dɛn? Sɛ wunim a ka kyerɛ me!
5 Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
“Onyankopɔn asɛm biara yɛ nokware; ɔyɛ nkatabo ma wɔn a woguan toa no.
6 Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Mfa biribi nka nʼasɛm ho, anyɛ saa a ɔbɛka wʼanim ama woayɛ ɔtorofo.
7 Two things I ask of You— do not refuse me before I die:
“Awurade, nneɛma abien na mehwehwɛ afi wo nkyɛn; mfa nkame me ansa na mawu:
8 Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion.
ma me ne atoro ne nnaadaasɛm ntam nware koraa; mma mennyɛ ohiani anaa ɔdefo; nanso ma me me daa aduan nkutoo.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
Anyɛ saa a, ebia minya me ho pii a ɛbɛma mapa wo na maka se, ‘Hena ne Awurade?’ Anaa mɛyɛ ohiani na mabɔ korɔn, na ama magu me Nyankopɔn din ho fi.
10 Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.
“Nsɛe ɔsomfo din nkyerɛ ne wura; sɛ woyɛ saa a, ɔbɛdome wo na wubetua so ka.
11 There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
“Nnipa bi dome wɔn agyanom, na wonhyira wɔn nanom nso;
12 There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.
Wɔn a wɔteɛ wɔ wɔn ankasa ani so nanso wɔnhohoroo wɔn ho fi no;
13 There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances—
wɔn a wɔn ani tra ntɔn, na wobu animtiaa;
14 there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.
wɔn a wɔn se yɛ afoa na asekan hyehyɛ wɔn abogye mu wɔn na wɔbɛtɔre ahiafo ase afi asase so, na wɔayi ahiafo afi adesamma mu.
15 The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
“Amemem wɔ mmabea baanu a wɔteɛ mu se, ‘Fa ma! Fa ma!’ “Nneɛma abiɛsa na ɛmmee da anan na ɛnka da se, ‘Eye!’
16 Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’ (Sheol h7585)
Ɔda, obonin awotwaa, asase a ɛyɛ wosee daa, ne ogya a ɛnka da se, ‘Eye!’ (Sheol h7585)
17 As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.
“Ani a eyi agya ahi, na ebu ɛna animtiaa no, obon mu kwaakwaadabi betutu, na apete abedi.
18 There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:
“Nneɛma abiɛsa na ɛyɛ me nwonwa, anan na mente ase:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship at sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.
Ɔkwan a ɔkɔre nam so wɔ wim, sɛnea ɔwɔ nantew ɔbotan so, ɔkwan a hyɛn nam so wɔ po tamaa so, ne sɛnea ɔbarima dɔ ababaa.
20 This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
“Ɔbea ɔwaresɛefo kwan ni: Odidi, ɔpepa nʼano na ɔka se, ‘Menyɛɛ mfomso biara.’
21 Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
“Nneɛma abiɛsa na ɛma asase wosow, anan na asase ntumi nnyina ano:
22 a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,
akoa a wabɛyɛ ɔhene, ɔkwasea a wadidi amee,
23 an unloved woman who marries, and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.
ɔbea a wɔmpɛ no na waware, afenaa a otu nʼawuraa tena nʼanan mu.
24 Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:
“Nneɛma nketenkete anan na ɛwɔ asase so, nanso wɔyɛ anyansafo ankasa:
25 The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
Ntɛtea yɛ abɔde nketewa a wonni ahoɔden, nanso wɔboaboa wɔn aduan ano ahuhuru bere mu;
26 the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;
Nkukuban yɛ abɔde a wonni ahoɔden, nanso wɔyɛ wɔn afi wɔ abotan mu,
27 the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;
mmoadabi nni ɔhene, nanso wɔsa so akuwakuw, kɔ wɔn anim;
28 and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.
wotumi de nsa kyere ɔketew, nanso wohu no abirɛmpɔn ahemfi.
29 There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:
“Nneɛma abiɛsa na wɔwɔ abirɛmpɔnnantew, anan na wɔkeka wɔn ho te sɛ abirɛmpɔn:
30 a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;
gyata, mmoadoma hene a, biribiara mmɔ no hu;
31 a strutting rooster; a he-goat; and a king with his army around him.
akokɔnini a ɔretutu taataa, ɔpapo, ne ɔhene a nʼasraafo atwa no ho ahyia.
32 If you have foolishly exalted yourself or if you have plotted evil, put your hand over your mouth.
“Sɛ woayɛ ɔkwasea ama wo ho so, anaa woadwene bɔne a, ma wʼani nwu na mua wʼano!
33 For as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”
Sɛnea wɔka nufusu nu mu a srade fi mu ba, na wokyinkyim hwene a etu mogya no, saa ara na abufuw de akasakasa ba.”
