Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
Mma wʼani mmerɛ amumuyɛfoɔ, mfa wo ho mmɔ wɔn;
2 for their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
Ɛfiri sɛ, wɔn akoma dwene atirimuɔdensɛm ho, na wɔn ano ka deɛ ɛde basabasayɛ ba ho asɛm.
3 Through wisdom is a house built, and by understanding it is established;
Wɔde nyansa na ɛsi efie, na nhunumu mu na wɔma ɛtim;
4 and by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant substance.
ɛnam nimdeɛ so na wɔnya ademudeɛ a ɛho yɛ na na ɛyɛ fɛ hyehyɛ nʼadan mu.
5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Onyansafoɔ wɔ tumi a ɛso, na onimdefoɔ nyini ahoɔden mu;
6 For with good advice shalt thou make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
deɛ ɔretu sa hia akwankyerɛ, deɛ ɔrepɛ nkonimdie no hia afotufoɔ pii.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he will not open his mouth in the gate.
Nyansa wɔ akyiri dodo ma ɔkwasea; wɔ apono ano dwabɔ mu no ɔnni hwee ka.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a master of intrigues.
Onipa ɔbɔ pɔ bɔne no wɔbɛfrɛ no ɔkɔtwebrɛfoɔ.
9 The purpose of folly is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.
Ogyimifoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ yɛ bɔne, nnipa kyiri ɔfɛdifoɔ.
10 [If] thou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.
Sɛ wʼabamu go wɔ ɔhaw mu a, na wʼahoɔden sua!
11 Deliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to slaughter.
Gye wɔn a wɔde wɔn rekɔ akɔkum wɔn no nkwa; na sianka wɔn a wɔtɔ ntintan kɔ akumiiɛ.
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.
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 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste:
Me ba, di ɛwoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ ɛyɛ; ɛwokyɛm mu woɔ yɛ wʼanomu dɛ.
14 so consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Hunu nso sɛ nyansa yɛ wo kra dɛ; sɛ wonya a, wowɔ anidasoɔ ma daakye, na wʼanidasoɔ renyɛ kwa.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.
Nkɔtɛ ɔteneneeni fie sɛ ɔkwanmukafoɔ, na ɛnkɔto nhyɛ nʼatenaeɛ so,
16 For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.
Ɛwom sɛ ɔteneneeni hwe ase mpɛn nson deɛ, nanso ɔsɔre bio, na amumuyɛfoɔ deɛ, amanehunu baako ma wɔhwe ase.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;
Sɛ wo ɔtamfoɔ hwe ase a mma ɛnyɛ wo dɛ; na sɛ ɔsunti a mma wʼakoma nni ahurisie,
18 lest Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger from him.
ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛhunu wʼadwene na ɔrempɛ na ɔbɛyi nʼabufuhyeɛ afiri ne so.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, [and] be not envious of the wicked:
Ɛnha wo ho wɔ abɔnefoɔ enti na ɛmma wʼani mmere amumuyɛfoɔ nso,
20 for there shall be no future to the evil [man]; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
ɛfiri sɛ, ɔbɔnefoɔ nni anidasoɔ biara daakye, na wɔbɛdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea.
21 My son, fear Jehovah and the king: meddle not with them that are given to change.
Me ba, suro Awurade ne ɔhene, na mfa wo ho mmɔ adɔnyɛfoɔ ho,
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
ɛfiri sɛ saa baanu yi de ɔsɛeɛ bɛba wɔn so mpofirim, na hwan na ɔnim amanehunu ko a wɔbɛtumi de aba?
23 These things also come from the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
Yeinom nso yɛ anyansafoɔ Nsɛnka: Atemmuo a animhwɛ wɔ mu no nyɛ:
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him;
Obiara a ɔbɛka akyerɛ deɛ ɔdi fɔ sɛ, “Wo ho nni asɛm” no nnipa bɛdome no na amanaman remmɔ no din pa.
25 but to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing cometh upon them.
Na wɔn a wɔbu afɔdifoɔ fɔ no ɛbɛsi wɔn yie, na nhyira bɛba wɔn so.
26 He kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.
Mmuaeɛ pa te sɛ mfeano.
27 Prepare thy work without, and put thy field in order, and afterwards build thy house.
Wie wo mfikyidwuma na siesie wo mfuo; ɛno akyi, si wo fie.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?
Nni adanseɛ ntia ɔyɔnko a ɔnyɛɛ wo hwee, na mfa wʼano nnaadaa.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me, I will render to the man according to his work.
Nka sɛ, “Deɛ wayɛ me no me nso mɛyɛ no bi; deɛ ɔyɛeɛ no metua ne so ka.”
30 I went by the field of a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding;
Menante faa onihafoɔ afuo ho twaa mu wɔ deɛ ɔnni adwene bobefuo nso ho;
31 and lo, it was all grown over with thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down.
nkasɛɛ afu wɔ baabiara, wira afu akata asase no so, na aboɔ afasuo no nso abubu.
32 Then I looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I received instruction:
Mede mʼadwene kɔɔ deɛ mehunuiɛ no so na mesuaa biribi firii mu:
33 — A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest!
nna kakra, nkotɔ kakra, nsa a woabobɔ de rehome kakra,
34 So shall thy poverty come [as] a roving plunderer, and thy penury as 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.
