Proverbs 31
1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ a ne na kyerɛɛ no:
2 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
Tie, me babarima! Tie, me yafunu ba, Tie, me bɔhyɛ ba, me mpaebɔ ho mmuae!
3 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
Nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmea ho, wɔn a wogu ahemfo asu no.
4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
Enye mma ahemfo, Lemuel, asanom nye mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifo pere bobesa ho;
5 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
sɛ wɔnom nsa a wɔn werɛ befi nea mmara no ka, na wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so no rennya nea ɛyɛ wɔn kyɛfa.
6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
Fa bobesa ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsa ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfi wɔn hia, na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhow bio.
8 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
Kasa ma wɔn a wontumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfo yiyedi.
9 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
Kasa na bu atɛntrenee; kasa ma ahiafo ne onnibi yiyedi.
10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
Ɔyere pa, hena na obenya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sen nhene pa.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotoso pa ara, na biribiara a ɛwɔ bo nhia no.
12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
Ɔde nea eye brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwanna nyinaa mu.
13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
Ɔhwehwɛ oguannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwen wɔ fɛw so.
14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
Ɔte sɛ aguadifo ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuan fi akyirikyiri ba.
15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
Ade nnya nkyee no na wasɔre; osiesie aduan ma nʼabusuafo na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
Osusuw afuw ho na ɔtɔ; ofi nea onya mu yɛ bobeturo.
17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼaguadi so wɔ mfaso, na ne kanea anum anadwo.
19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
Ogow ne nsam ma ahiafo na ne nsa so ohiani so.
21 Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
Sɛ sukyerɛmma tɔ a ne yam nhyehye no wɔ ne fifo ho; efisɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ adurade a wɔde ko awɔw.
22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ofura nwera ne sirikyi ntama.
23 And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
Ne kunu wɔ anuonyam wɔ kuropɔn pon ano, faako a ɔne asase no so mpanyimfo tena.
24 She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
Ɔpempam nwera ntade tontɔn, na otu nkyekyeremu ma aguadifo.
25 She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne anuonyam; na onsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokware nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
Ɔhwɛ ne fi mu nnwuma so na onnyigye anihaw so.
28 And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira; ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no se,
29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.
“Mmea pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ din na wo de, wosen wɔn nyinaa.”
30 Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
Ɔbea kɔnnɔfo yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twa mu ntɛm so; nanso ɔbea a osuro Awurade no fata nkamfo.
31 Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
Fa abasobɔde a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn pon ano.
