Proverbs 22
1 A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.
Edin pa yɛ sene ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wɔbɛdi wo ni yɛ sene dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
2 The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.
Ɔdefoɔ ne ohiani wɔ adeɛ baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfoɔ.
3 The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.
Onitefoɔ hunu amanehunu a ɛreba na ɔhinta ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim kɔnya amane.
4 The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
Ahobrɛaseɛ ne Awurade suro ma ahonya ne animuonyam ne nkwa.
5 Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.
Nkasɛɛ ne mfidie wɔ amumuyɛfoɔ akwan so, nanso deɛ ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
6 The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.
Kyerɛ abɔfra ɛkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ ɔnyini a ɔremfiri so.
7 The rich rule over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender.
Adefoɔ di ahiafoɔ so, na boseagyeni yɛ deɛ ɔde fɛm ɔsomfoɔ.
8 Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
Deɛ ɔdua amumuyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuhyeɛ abaa.
9 Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.
Ɔyamyɛfoɔ bɛnya nhyira ɛfiri sɛ ɔne ahiafoɔ kyɛ nʼaduane.
10 Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.
Pam ɔfɛdifoɔ na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwa ne atɛnnidie to atwa.
11 Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
Obi a ɔdɔ akoma a emu teɛ na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam bɛnya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.
Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofoɔ nsɛm.
13 The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.”
Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyire hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wɔbɛkum me wɔ mmɔntene so.”
14 The mouth of a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it.
Ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ anomu yɛ amena donkudonku; deɛ ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuo ase no bɛtɔ mu.
15 Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
Agyimisɛm kyekyere abɔfra akoma ho, nanso ntenesoɔ abaa bɛpamo akɔ akyiri.
16 Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need.
Obi bɛsisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefoɔ adeɛ, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
17 Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wʼakoma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
18 It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,
ɛfiri sɛ ɛyɛ sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wʼakoma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
19 so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.
Sɛdeɛ wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo ɛnnɛ, aane wo.
20 Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,
Mentwerɛɛ mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, deɛ ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
21 so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to those who sent you.
a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokorɛ ne deɛ akyinnyeɛ nni ho, sɛdeɛ wobɛnya mmuaeɛ pa ama deɛ ɔsomaa woɔ no anaa?
22 Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.
Mmɔ ahiafoɔ korɔno, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafoɔ enti, na nnsisi wɔn a wɔnni bie wɔ asɛnniiɛ,
23 For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛdi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafoɔ fa.
24 Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
Mfa obi a ne bo ha no adamfo, na mmfa wo ho mmɔ deɛ ne bo nkyɛre fu,
25 lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
anyɛ saa a, wobɛsua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afidie mu.
26 Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.
Ɛnyɛ deɛ ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di agyinamu, anaasɛ deɛ ɔdi akagyinamu;
27 For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed?
na sɛ wonni deɛ wɔde tua a wɔbɛhwan wo mpa mpo afiri wʼase.
28 Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
Ntutu tete aboɔ a wɔde ato hyeɛ; deɛ wo nananom de sisii hɔ no.
29 Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.
Wohunu odwumayɛfoɔ a ne nsa akokwa nʼadwuma ho anaa? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwaa anim.
