Proverbs 24
1 Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
Mma wʼani mmerɛ amumuyɛfoɔ, mfa wo ho mmɔ wɔn;
2 Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
Ɛfiri sɛ, wɔn akoma dwene atirimuɔdensɛm ho, na wɔn ano ka deɛ ɛde basabasayɛ ba ho asɛm.
3 By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
Wɔde nyansa na ɛsi efie, na nhunumu mu na wɔma ɛtim;
4 By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
ɛnam nimdeɛ so na wɔnya ademudeɛ a ɛho yɛ na na ɛyɛ fɛ hyehyɛ nʼadan mu.
5 A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
Onyansafoɔ wɔ tumi a ɛso, na onimdefoɔ nyini ahoɔden mu;
6 Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
deɛ ɔretu sa hia akwankyerɛ, deɛ ɔrepɛ nkonimdie no hia afotufoɔ pii.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.
Nyansa wɔ akyiri dodo ma ɔkwasea; wɔ apono ano dwabɔ mu no ɔnni hwee ka.
8 He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
Onipa ɔbɔ pɔ bɔne no wɔbɛfrɛ no ɔkɔtwebrɛfoɔ.
9 The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
Ogyimifoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ yɛ bɔne, nnipa kyiri ɔfɛdifoɔ.
10 If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
Sɛ wʼabamu go wɔ ɔhaw mu a, na wʼahoɔden sua!
11 Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
Gye wɔn a wɔde wɔn rekɔ akɔkum wɔn no nkwa; na sianka wɔn a wɔtɔ ntintan kɔ akumiiɛ.
12 If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to 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 Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
Me ba, di ɛwoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ ɛyɛ; ɛwokyɛm mu woɔ yɛ wʼanomu dɛ.
14 So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.
Hunu nso sɛ nyansa yɛ wo kra dɛ; sɛ wonya a, wowɔ anidasoɔ ma daakye, na wʼanidasoɔ renyɛ kwa.
15 Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
Nkɔtɛ ɔteneneeni fie sɛ ɔkwanmukafoɔ, na ɛnkɔto nhyɛ nʼatenaeɛ so,
16 For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.
Ɛwom sɛ ɔteneneeni hwe ase mpɛn nson deɛ, nanso ɔsɔre bio, na amumuyɛfoɔ deɛ, amanehunu baako ma wɔhwe ase.
17 When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
Sɛ wo ɔtamfoɔ hwe ase a mma ɛnyɛ wo dɛ; na sɛ ɔsunti a mma wʼakoma nni ahurisie,
18 Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛhunu wʼadwene na ɔrempɛ na ɔbɛyi nʼabufuhyeɛ afiri ne so.
19 Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
Ɛnha wo ho wɔ abɔnefoɔ enti na ɛmma wʼani mmere amumuyɛfoɔ nso,
20 For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
ɛfiri sɛ, ɔbɔnefoɔ nni anidasoɔ biara daakye, na wɔbɛdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea.
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
Me ba, suro Awurade ne ɔhene, na mfa wo ho mmɔ adɔnyɛfoɔ ho,
22 For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of 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 to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
Yeinom nso yɛ anyansafoɔ Nsɛnka: Atemmuo a animhwɛ wɔ mu no nyɛ:
24 They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
Obiara a ɔbɛka akyerɛ deɛ ɔdi fɔ sɛ, “Wo ho nni asɛm” no nnipa bɛdome no na amanaman remmɔ no din pa.
25 They that rebuke him, 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 answereth right words.
Mmuaeɛ pa te sɛ mfeano.
27 Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
Wie wo mfikyidwuma na siesie wo mfuo; ɛno akyi, si wo fie.
28 Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.
Nni adanseɛ ntia ɔyɔnko a ɔnyɛɛ wo hwee, na mfa wʼano nnaadaa.
29 Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every 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 the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:
Menante faa onihafoɔ afuo ho twaa mu wɔ deɛ ɔnni adwene bobefuo nso ho;
31 And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
nkasɛɛ afu wɔ baabiara, wira afu akata asase no so, na aboɔ afasuo no nso abubu.
32 Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
Mede mʼadwene kɔɔ deɛ mehunuiɛ no so na mesuaa biribi firii mu:
33 Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
nna kakra, nkotɔ kakra, nsa a woabobɔ de rehome kakra,
34 And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary 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.
