Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ a ne na kyerɛɛ no:
2 What shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
Tie, me babarima! Tie, me yafunu ba, Tie, me bɔhyɛ ba, me mpaebɔ ho mmuae!
3 Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.
Nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmea ho, wɔn a wogu ahemfo asu no.
4 Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
Enye mma ahemfo, Lemuel, asanom nye mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifo pere bobesa ho;
5 For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
sɛ wɔnom nsa a wɔn werɛ befi nea mmara no ka, na wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so no rennya nea ɛyɛ wɔn kyɛfa.
6 Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
Fa bobesa ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsa ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
7 Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfi wɔn hia, na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhow bio.
8 Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
Kasa ma wɔn a wontumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfo yiyedi.
9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
Kasa na bu atɛntrenee; kasa ma ahiafo ne onnibi yiyedi.
10 Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
Ɔyere pa, hena na obenya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sen nhene pa.
11 Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotoso pa ara, na biribiara a ɛwɔ bo nhia no.
12 She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
Ɔde nea eye brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwanna nyinaa mu.
13 She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
Ɔhwehwɛ oguannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwen wɔ fɛw so.
14 Like a merchant's ship, she brings food from far away.
Ɔte sɛ aguadifo ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuan fi akyirikyiri ba.
15 She gets up while it's still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
Ade nnya nkyee no na wasɔre; osiesie aduan ma nʼabusuafo na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
16 She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
Osusuw afuw ho na ɔtɔ; ofi nea onya mu yɛ bobeturo.
17 She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
18 She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼaguadi so wɔ mfaso, na ne kanea anum anadwo.
19 She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
20 She's generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
Ogow ne nsam ma ahiafo na ne nsa so ohiani so.
21 She doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm clothing.
Sɛ sukyerɛmma tɔ a ne yam nhyehye no wɔ ne fifo ho; efisɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ adurade a wɔde ko awɔw.
22 She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ofura nwera ne sirikyi ntama.
23 Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
Ne kunu wɔ anuonyam wɔ kuropɔn pon ano, faako a ɔne asase no so mpanyimfo tena.
24 She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
Ɔpempam nwera ntade tontɔn, na otu nkyekyeremu ma aguadifo.
25 She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne anuonyam; na onsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26 She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokware nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
27 She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
Ɔhwɛ ne fi mu nnwuma so na onnyigye anihaw so.
28 Her children are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira; ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no se,
29 “Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
“Mmea pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ din na wo de, wosen wɔn nyinaa.”
30 Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.
Ɔbea kɔnnɔfo yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twa mu ntɛm so; nanso ɔbea a osuro Awurade no fata nkamfo.
31 Give her the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
Fa abasobɔde a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn pon ano.
