Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkɔmhyɛ a ne maame kyerɛɛ no:
2 What shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
Ao me babarima, me yafunu ba, Ao mebɔhyɛ ba,
3 Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.
nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmaa ho, wɔn a wɔgu ahemfo asu no.
4 Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
Lemuel, nsã nyɛ mma ahemfo; asanom nyɛ mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifoɔ pere nsaden ho;
5 For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
sɛ wɔnom nsã a, wɔn werɛ bɛfiri deɛ mmara no ka, na wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no rennya deɛ wɔwɔ ho ɛkwan.
6 Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
Fa nsaden ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsã 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 mfiri wɔn hia na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhoɔ bio.
8 Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
Kasa ma wɔn a wɔntumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfoɔ yiedie.
9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
Kasa na bu atɛntenenee; kasa ma ahiafoɔ ne onnibie yiedie.
10 Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
Ɔyere pa, hwan na ɔbɛnya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sene nhwene pa.
11 Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotosoɔ pa ara na biribiara a ɛwɔ boɔ nhia no.
12 She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
Ɔde deɛ ɛyɛ brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwa nna nyinaa mu.
13 She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
Ɔhwehwɛ odwannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwono wɔ fɛ so.
14 Like a merchant's ship, she brings food from far away.
Ɔte sɛ adwadifoɔ ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuane firi 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.
Adeɛ nnya nkyeeɛ no na wasɔre; ɔsiesie aduane ma nʼabusuafoɔ 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.
Ɔdwene afuo ho, na ɔtɔ; ɔfiri deɛ ɔnya mu yɛ bobefuo.
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 nʼadwadie ho wɔ mfasoɔ, na ne kanea ɛnnum 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.
Ɔgo ne nsam ma ahiafoɔ na ne nsa so onibie 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 fiefoɔ ho; ɛfiri sɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ aduradeɛ a wɔde ko awɔ.
22 She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ɔfira nwera ne serekye ntoma.
23 Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
Ne kunu wɔ animuonyam wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano, baabi a ɔne asase no so mpanimfoɔ tena.
24 She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
Ɔpempam nwera ntadeɛ tontɔn, na ɔtu abɔwomu ma adwadifoɔ.
25 She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne animuonyam; na ɔnsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26 She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokorɛ nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
27 She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
Ɔhwɛ ne fidua mu nnwuma so na ɔnnyegye aniha 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 sɛ,
29 “Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
“Mmaa pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ edin, na wo deɛ, wosene wɔn nyinaa.”
30 Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.
Ɔbaa kɔnɔfoɔ yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twam ntɛm so; nanso ɔbaa a ɔsuro Awurade no fata nkamfoɔ.
31 Give her the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
Fa abasobɔdeɛ a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano.
