Proverbs 22
1 A good reputation is a much better choice than plenty of money; respect is better than silver and gold.
Edin pa yɛ sene ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wɔbɛdi wo ni yɛ sene dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord created them all.
Ɔdefoɔ ne ohiani wɔ adeɛ baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfoɔ.
3 If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and pay for it.
Onitefoɔ hunu amanehunu a ɛreba na ɔhinta ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim kɔnya amane.
4 The reward you receive for being humble and respecting the Lord is wealth, honor, and life.
Ahobrɛaseɛ ne Awurade suro ma ahonya ne animuonyam ne nkwa.
5 Thorns and traps lie in the path of crooked people; those who value their lives will stay away from them.
Nkasɛɛ ne mfidie wɔ amumuyɛfoɔ akwan so, nanso deɛ ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
6 Teach children the right way to live, and when they grow up they'll go on doing so.
Kyerɛ abɔfra ɛkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ ɔnyini a ɔremfiri so.
7 The rich rule the poor, and borrowers are slaves to their lenders.
Adefoɔ di ahiafoɔ so, na boseagyeni yɛ deɛ ɔde fɛm ɔsomfoɔ.
8 Those who sow injustice will reap disaster, and the angry beatings they inflict on others will be stopped.
Deɛ ɔdua amumuyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuhyeɛ abaa.
9 If you're generous, you'll be blessed, for you share your food with those in need.
Ɔyamyɛfoɔ bɛnya nhyira ɛfiri sɛ ɔne ahiafoɔ kyɛ nʼaduane.
10 Get rid of the scornful, and you'll get rid of conflict too—no more arguments or insults!
Pam ɔfɛdifoɔ na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwa ne atɛnnidie to atwa.
11 Anyone who loves sincerity and a gracious way of speaking will have the king as their friend.
Obi a ɔdɔ akoma a emu teɛ na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam bɛnya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
12 The Lord watches over true knowledge, but counteracts the words of liars.
Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofoɔ nsɛm.
13 Lazy people make claims like, “There's a lion outside! I might be killed if I go out there!”
Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyire hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wɔbɛkum me wɔ mmɔntene so.”
14 The seductive words of an immoral woman are a dangerous trap—if the Lord's angry with you, then you'll fall right in.
Ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ anomu yɛ amena donkudonku; deɛ ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuo ase no bɛtɔ mu.
15 Children are naturally foolish; physical correction helps them to see sense.
Agyimisɛm kyekyere abɔfra akoma ho, nanso ntenesoɔ abaa bɛpamo akɔ akyiri.
16 If you oppress the poor to make yourself rich, or if you're generous to the rich, you'll end up poor yourself.
Obi bɛsisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefoɔ adeɛ, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
17 Pay attention and listen to the words of the wise, and think carefully about my teachings—
Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wʼakoma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
18 for it's good to keep them in mind so you can be ready to share them.
ɛfiri sɛ ɛyɛ sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wʼakoma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
19 I'm explaining this to you today so you can trust in the Lord—yes, you!
Sɛdeɛ wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo ɛnnɛ, aane wo.
20 Haven't I written down for you thirty sayings of advice and wisdom?
Mentwerɛɛ mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, deɛ ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
21 They are to make it clear to you what's right and true, so you can give a truthful explanation 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 For you shouldn't steal from the poor just because they're poor; and you shouldn't crush those with limited means in court,
Mmɔ ahiafoɔ korɔno, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafoɔ enti, na nnsisi wɔn a wɔnni bie wɔ asɛnniiɛ,
23 for the Lord will plead their case, and he will take back whatever was stolen from them.
ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛdi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafoɔ fa.
24 Don't make friends with someone who gets upset easily; don't associate with angry people,
Mfa obi a ne bo ha no adamfo, na mmfa wo ho mmɔ deɛ ne bo nkyɛre fu,
25 in case you learn to be like them and make a mess of your life.
anyɛ saa a, wobɛsua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afidie mu.
26 Don't shake hands and guarantee someone's debt,
Ɛnyɛ deɛ ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di agyinamu, anaasɛ deɛ ɔdi akagyinamu;
27 for if you can't pay, why should your bed be taken away from beneath you?
na sɛ wonni deɛ wɔde tua a wɔbɛhwan wo mpa mpo afiri wʼase.
28 Don't move ancient boundary markers that your forefathers put in place.
Ntutu tete aboɔ a wɔde ato hyeɛ; deɛ wo nananom de sisii hɔ no.
29 If you see someone skilled in what they do, they'll work for kings and not for ordinary people.
Wohunu odwumayɛfoɔ a ne nsa akokwa nʼadwuma ho anaa? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwaa anim.
