Proverbs 30
1 These are the words of Agur, son of Jakeh. An oracle. This is what the man says, God, I'm really tired, I'm worn out.
Yake babarima Agur nsɛm a ɔkaeɛ a ɛyɛ nkɔmhyɛ: Saa ɔbarima yi ka kyerɛɛ Itiel ne Ukal sɛ:
2 I'm so stupid I'm not really a man; I can't even think like a human being.
“Me na mennim hwee koraa wɔ nnipa mu, menni onipa nteaseɛ.
3 I have not learned wisdom; I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
Mensuaa nyansa, na menni Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ nso.
4 Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? Who holds the winds in the palm of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has set the earth's boundaries? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Are you sure you don't know?
Hwan na waforo akɔ soro na wasiane aba fam? Hwan na wabɔ mframa boa wɔ ne nsa mu? Hwan na ɔde nʼatadeɛ abɔ nsuo boa? Hwan na ɔbɔɔ asase hahanaa yi? Ne din de sɛn, na ne ba barima nso din de sɛn? Sɛ wonim a ka kyerɛ me!
5 Every word God says has been proved true. He defends everyone who comes to him for protection.
“Onyankopɔn asɛm biara yɛ nokorɛ; ɔyɛ kyɛm ma wɔn a wɔdwane toa no.
6 Don't add anything to his words, or he will criticize you and you'll be shown to be a liar.
Mfa biribi nka nʼasɛm ho, anyɛ saa a ɔbɛka wʼanim ama woayɛ ɔtorofoɔ.
7 God, I want to request two things from you. Please don't refuse to let me have them before I come to die.
“Ao Awurade, nneɛma mmienu na mehwehwɛ firi wo nkyɛn; mfa nkame me ansa na mawu:
8 Keep me from being false, help me not to tell lies. Don't make me poor or rich; just provide me with the food I need.
Yi atorɔ ne ahohwisɛm firi me mu; mma mennyɛ ohiani anaa ɔdefoɔ; nanso ma me deɛ medi daa.
9 Otherwise if I have plenty of money, I may give up on you, saying, “Who is the Lord?” while if I'm poor I may steal and bring the name of my God into disrepute.
Anyɛ saa a, ebia menya me ho pii ama mapa wo na maka sɛ, ‘Hwan ne Awurade?’ Anaa mɛyɛ ohiani na mabɔ korɔno, na ama magu me Onyankopɔn din ho fi.
10 Don't slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you and you'll suffer for it.
“Nsɛe ɔsomfoɔ din nkyerɛ ne wura; sɛ woyɛ saa a, ɔbɛdome wo na wobɛtua so ka.
11 There are some who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
“Nnipa bi dome wɔn agyanom, na wɔnnhyira wɔn maamenom nso;
12 There are some who see themselves as pure but they're still filthy—they have not been washed.
Wɔn a wɔtene wɔ wɔn ankasa ani so a ɛnso wɔnhohoroo wɔn ho fi;
13 There are some who think themselves so high and mighty, and who look down on others.
wɔn a wɔn ani tra ntɔn, na wɔbu animtiaa;
14 There are some who have teeth like swords, incisors like knives, ready to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from society.
wɔn a wɔn se yɛ akofena na sekammoa hyehyɛ wɔn apantan wɔn na wɔbɛtɔre ahiafoɔ ase afiri asase so, na woayi onibie afiri adasamma mu.
15 The leech has two daughters who cry out, “Give me! Give me!” There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, “Enough!”:
“Amemem wɔ mmammaa mmienu a wɔteam sɛ, ‘Fa ma me! Fa ma me.’ “Nneɛma mmiɛnsa na ɛmmee da. Dabi, nneɛma ɛnan wɔ hɔ a ɛnka da sɛ, ‘Ɛyɛ!’
16 The grave, the womb that doesn't become pregnant, the earth thirsty for water, and the fire that never says, “Enough!” (Sheol h7585)
Damena, obonini awotwaa, asase a ɛyɛ wesee daa, ne ogya a ɛnka da sɛ, ‘Ɛyɛ!’ (Sheol h7585)
17 People who ridicule their fathers and despise obedience to the mother will have their eyes pecked out by wild ravens and eaten by young vultures.
“Ani a ɛyi agya ahi, na ɛbu ɛna animtia no, bɔnhwa ho anene bɛtutu, na apete abɛdi.
18 These three things are amazingly hard for me, four things I just can't understand:
“Nneɛma mmiɛnsa na ɛyɛ me nwanwa, ɛnan na mente aseɛ:
19 The way an eagle soars in the sky, the way a snake slides over a rock, the way a ship sails across the sea, the way a man and a woman fall in love.
Ɛkwan a ɔkɔdeɛ nam so wɔ ewiem, sɛdeɛ ɔwɔ nante ɔbotan so, ɛkwan a ɛhyɛn nam so wɔ ɛpo hahanaa so, ne sɛdeɛ ɔbarima dɔ ababaawa.
20 This is the way of a woman who commits adultery: she eats, she wipes her mouth, and then says, “I haven't done anything wrong!”
“Ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ ɛkwan nie: Ɔdidi, ɔpepa nʼano na ɔka sɛ, ‘Menyɛɛ mfomsoɔ biara.’
21 Three things make the earth tremble, there are four things it can't support:
“Nneɛma mmiɛnsa na ɛma asase woso, ɛnan na asase ɛntumi nnyina ano:
22 a slave becoming a king, a stupid person eating like a pig,
akoa a wabɛyɛ ɔhene, ɔkwasea a wadidi amee,
23 an unbearable woman getting married, and a maidservant taking her mistress's place.
ɔbaa a wɔmmpɛ no na wawareɛ, afenaa a ɔtu nʼawurakwaa tena nʼanan mu.
24 There are four things on earth that are small, but very wise:
“Nneɛma nketenkete ɛnan na ɛwɔ asase so, nanso wɔyɛ anyansafoɔ ankasa:
25 Ants—they're not strong, but they work hard all summer storing up food.
Ntɛtea yɛ abɔdeɛ nketewa a wɔnni ahoɔden, nanso wɔboaboa wɔn aduane ano ahuhuro berɛ mu;
26 Hyraxes—they don't have much power, but they make their homes in the rock.
Nkukuban—yɛ abɔdeɛ a wɔnni ahoɔden, nanso wɔyɛ wɔn afie wɔ abotan mu,
27 Locusts—they don't have a king, but they all march in line abreast.
ntutummɛ nni ɔhene, nanso wɔsa so akuakuo, kɔ wɔn anim;
28 Lizards—you can catch them in your hands, but they live in the king's palace.
wɔtumi de nsa kyere ɔkoterɛ, nanso wɔhunu no aberempɔn ahemfie.
29 There are three things that are glorious to watch as they walk, four that look dignified as they move:
“Nneɛma mmiɛnsa na wɔwɔ aberempɔn nanteɛ, ɛnan na wɔkeka wɔn ho te sɛ aberempɔn:
30 The lion, supreme among wild animals, who isn't frightened of anything.
gyata, mmoadoma ɔhene a, biribiara mmɔ no hu;
31 The strutting starling, the male goat, and a king with his army.
akokɔnini a ɔretutu taataa, ɔpapo, ne ɔhene a nʼasraafoɔ atwa ne ho ahyia.
32 If you have been foolishly boasting about yourself, or if you've been planning to do something wrong, stop and put your hand over your mouth.
“Sɛ woayɛ ɔkwasea ama wo ho so, anaa woadwene bɔne a, ma wʼani nwu na mua wʼano!
33 Just as churning milk produces butter, and twisting someone's nose makes it bleed, so stirring up anger causes arguments.
Sɛdeɛ wɔka nufosuo nu mu a sradeɛ firi mu ba na wɔkyinkyim hwene a ɛtu mogya no, saa ara na abufuo de akasakasa ba.”
