Proverbs 23
1 When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
Sɛ wo ne ɔhene bi to nsa didi a, hwɛ nea esi wʼanim no yiye,
2 and cut down if you have a big appetite.
Sɛ woyɛ adidibrada a, hyɛ wo ho so.
3 Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
Nni nʼaduan akɔnnɔ akɔnnɔ no akyi, efisɛ saa aduan no daadaa nnipa.
4 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
Mmiri wo mogya ani mpɛ sika; hu nyansa na tɔ wo bo ase.
5 It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
Wʼani bɔɔ sika so ara pɛ, na atu ayera, ampa ara ebefuw ntaban na atu akɔ wim sɛ ɔkɔre.
6 Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
Nni obi a ɔyɛ pɛpɛe aduan, nni nʼakɔnnɔ aduan akyi;
7 for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
efisɛ ɔyɛ obi a bere biara osusuw sika ho. Ɔka se, “Didi na nom,” nanso ɛnyɛ ne koma mu.
8 You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
Kakra a woadi no wobɛfe, na ɛno nti wo nkamfo so remma mfaso.
9 Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
Nkasa nkyerɛ ɔkwasea, efisɛ ɔremfa nyansa a ɛwɔ wo kasa mu no.
10 Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye ngu, na ntra ɔhye nkɔ ayisaa mfuw mu,
11 for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
efisɛ wɔn Gyefo yɛ den, na obedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn.
12 Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
Ma wo koma mmra nkyerɛkyerɛ so, na wɛn wʼaso tie nimdeɛ.
13 Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
Ntwentwɛn abofra nteɛso so; sɛ wode abaa teɛ no a, ɔrenwu.
Fa abaa twe nʼaso na gye ne kra fi owu mu. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
Me ba, sɛ wo koma hu nyansa a, ɛno de, me koma ani begye;
16 I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
sɛ wʼano ka nea ɛteɛ a me mu ade nyinaa ani begye.
17 Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
Mma wʼani mmere abɔnefo, mmom bɔ Awurade suro ho mmɔden bere biara.
18 for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
Ampa ara anidaso wɔ hɔ ma wo daakye, na wʼanidaso renyɛ ɔkwa.
19 Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
Me ba, tie, na hu nyansa, ma wo koma mfa ɔkwantrenee so.
20 Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
Mfa wo ho mmɔ akɔwensafo anaasɛ wɔn a wɔpɛ nam mmoroso ho,
21 For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
efisɛ, akɔwensafo ne adidibradafo bɛyɛ ahiafo, na anikum fura wɔn ntamagow.
22 Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
Tie wʼagya a ɔwoo wo no, na sɛ wo na bɔ aberewa a, mmu no animtiaa.
23 Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
Tɔ nokware na ntɔn da; nya nyansa, ahohyɛso ne nhumu.
24 Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
Ɔtreneeni agya wɔ anigye bebree; nea ɔwɔ ɔba nyansafo no ani gye ne ho.
25 Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
Ma wʼagya ne wo na ani nnye; ma ɔbea a ɔwoo wo no nnya ahosɛpɛw.
26 My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
Me ba, fa wo koma ma me na ma wʼani nkɔ mʼakwan ho,
27 A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
na oguamanfo yɛ amoa donkudonku ɔyere huhuni yɛ ɔdaadaafo.
28 Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
Ɔtɛw, twɛn, te sɛ ɔkwanmukafo, na ɔma mmarima mu atorofo dɔɔso.
29 Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
Hena na wɔadome no? Hena na odi awerɛhow? Hena na odi aperepere? Hena na onwiinwii? Hena na ɔwɔ atape nko ara? Hena na mogya ada nʼani so?
30 —those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
Wɔn a wɔkyɛ nsa ho, na wɔka nsa a wɔafrafra hwɛ.
31 Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
Nhwɛ nsa ani kɔkɔɔ no haa, bere a ɛretwa yerɛw yerɛw wɔ kuruwa mu, na ɛkɔ yɔɔ no.
32 In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
Awiei no, ɛka te sɛ ɔwɔ na ɛwɔ bɔre te sɛ ahurutoa.
33 You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
Wʼani behu nneɛma a wunhuu da, na woadwene nneɛma basabasa ho.
34 You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
Wobɛtɔ ntintan te sɛ hyɛn mu dwumayɛni a, okura hyɛn dua a, ɛrehinhim mu den, na ehinhim wɔ po so.
35 “People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
Na wobɛka se, “Wɔbɔ me, nanso mimpira. Wɔboro me, nanso mente ɔyaw biara. Bere bɛn na menyan akɔpɛ nsa anom bio?”
