Proverbs 24
1 Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
Mma wʼani mmerɛ amumuyɛfoɔ, mfa wo ho mmɔ wɔn;
2 For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
Ɛfiri sɛ, wɔn akoma dwene atirimuɔdensɛm ho, na wɔn ano ka deɛ ɛde basabasayɛ ba ho asɛm.
3 By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
Wɔde nyansa na ɛsi efie, na nhunumu mu na wɔma ɛtim;
4 By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
ɛnam nimdeɛ so na wɔnya ademudeɛ a ɛho yɛ na na ɛyɛ fɛ hyehyɛ nʼadan mu.
5 A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.
Onyansafoɔ wɔ tumi a ɛso, na onimdefoɔ nyini ahoɔden mu;
6 For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.
deɛ ɔretu sa hia akwankyerɛ, deɛ ɔrepɛ nkonimdie no hia afotufoɔ pii.
7 Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
Nyansa wɔ akyiri dodo ma ɔkwasea; wɔ apono ano dwabɔ mu no ɔnni hwee ka.
8 Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
Onipa ɔbɔ pɔ bɔne no wɔbɛfrɛ no ɔkɔtwebrɛfoɔ.
9 The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
Ogyimifoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ yɛ bɔne, nnipa kyiri ɔfɛdifoɔ.
10 If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
Sɛ wʼabamu go wɔ ɔhaw mu a, na wʼahoɔden sua!
11 Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.
Gye wɔn a wɔde wɔn rekɔ akɔkum wɔn no nkwa; na sianka wɔn a wɔtɔ ntintan kɔ akumiiɛ.
12 If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.
Sɛ woka sɛ, “Na yɛnnim yei ho hwee a,” deɛ ɔkari akoma hwɛ no nhunu anaa? Deɛ ɔbɔ wo nkwa ho ban no nnim anaa? Ɔrentua deɛ obiara ayɛ so ka anaa?
13 My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.
Me ba, di ɛwoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ ɛyɛ; ɛwokyɛm mu woɔ yɛ wʼanomu dɛ.
14 So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.
Hunu nso sɛ nyansa yɛ wo kra dɛ; sɛ wonya a, wowɔ anidasoɔ ma daakye, na wʼanidasoɔ renyɛ kwa.
15 Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
Nkɔtɛ ɔteneneeni fie sɛ ɔkwanmukafoɔ, na ɛnkɔto nhyɛ nʼatenaeɛ so,
16 For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
Ɛwom sɛ ɔteneneeni hwe ase mpɛn nson deɛ, nanso ɔsɔre bio, na amumuyɛfoɔ deɛ, amanehunu baako ma wɔhwe ase.
17 When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,
Sɛ wo ɔtamfoɔ hwe ase a mma ɛnyɛ wo dɛ; na sɛ ɔsunti a mma wʼakoma nni ahurisie,
18 lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛhunu wʼadwene na ɔrempɛ na ɔbɛyi nʼabufuhyeɛ afiri ne so.
19 Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
Ɛnha wo ho wɔ abɔnefoɔ enti na ɛmma wʼani mmere amumuyɛfoɔ nso,
20 For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
ɛfiri sɛ, ɔbɔnefoɔ nni anidasoɔ biara daakye, na wɔbɛdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea.
21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
Me ba, suro Awurade ne ɔhene, na mfa wo ho mmɔ adɔnyɛfoɔ ho,
22 For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
ɛfiri sɛ saa baanu yi de ɔsɛeɛ bɛba wɔn so mpofirim, na hwan na ɔnim amanehunu ko a wɔbɛtumi de aba?
23 Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
Yeinom nso yɛ anyansafoɔ Nsɛnka: Atemmuo a animhwɛ wɔ mu no nyɛ:
24 Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
Obiara a ɔbɛka akyerɛ deɛ ɔdi fɔ sɛ, “Wo ho nni asɛm” no nnipa bɛdome no na amanaman remmɔ no din pa.
25 Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.
Na wɔn a wɔbu afɔdifoɔ fɔ no ɛbɛsi wɔn yie, na nhyira bɛba wɔn so.
26 He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.
Mmuaeɛ pa te sɛ mfeano.
27 Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
Wie wo mfikyidwuma na siesie wo mfuo; ɛno akyi, si wo fie.
28 Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.
Nni adanseɛ ntia ɔyɔnko a ɔnyɛɛ wo hwee, na mfa wʼano nnaadaa.
29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.
Nka sɛ, “Deɛ wayɛ me no me nso mɛyɛ no bi; deɛ ɔyɛeɛ no metua ne so ka.”
30 I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,
Menante faa onihafoɔ afuo ho twaa mu wɔ deɛ ɔnni adwene bobefuo nso ho;
31 and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
nkasɛɛ afu wɔ baabiara, wira afu akata asase no so, na aboɔ afasuo no nso abubu.
32 When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
Mede mʼadwene kɔɔ deɛ mehunuiɛ no so na mesuaa biribi firii mu:
33 You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.
nna kakra, nkotɔ kakra, nsa a woabobɔ de rehome kakra,
34 And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”
bɛma ohia aba wo so sɛ ɔkwanmukafoɔ na nneɛma ho nna bɛba wo so sɛ obi a ɔkura akodeɛ. Na ohia bɛto akyere wo sɛ ɔkwanmukafoɔ; ahokyere bɛtoa wo sɛ ɔkorɔmfoɔ.
