Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ a ne na kyerɛɛ no:
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
Tie, me babarima! Tie, me yafunu ba, Tie, me bɔhyɛ ba, me mpaebɔ ho mmuae!
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmea ho, wɔn a wogu ahemfo asu no.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Enye mma ahemfo, Lemuel, asanom nye mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifo pere bobesa ho;
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
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 strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Fa bobesa ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsa ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfi wɔn hia, na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhow bio.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Kasa ma wɔn a wontumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfo yiyedi.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Kasa na bu atɛntrenee; kasa ma ahiafo ne onnibi yiyedi.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Ɔyere pa, hena na obenya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sen nhene pa.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotoso pa ara, na biribiara a ɛwɔ bo nhia no.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Ɔde nea eye brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwanna nyinaa mu.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Ɔhwehwɛ oguannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwen wɔ fɛw so.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Ɔte sɛ aguadifo ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuan fi akyirikyiri ba.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Ade nnya nkyee no na wasɔre; osiesie aduan ma nʼabusuafo na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Osusuw afuw ho na ɔtɔ; ofi nea onya mu yɛ bobeturo.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼaguadi so wɔ mfaso, na ne kanea anum anadwo.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Ogow ne nsam ma ahiafo na ne nsa so ohiani so.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Sɛ sukyerɛmma tɔ a ne yam nhyehye no wɔ ne fifo ho; efisɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ adurade a wɔde ko awɔw.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ofura nwera ne sirikyi ntama.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Ne kunu wɔ anuonyam wɔ kuropɔn pon ano, faako a ɔne asase no so mpanyimfo tena.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Ɔpempam nwera ntade tontɔn, na otu nkyekyeremu ma aguadifo.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne anuonyam; na onsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokware nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Ɔhwɛ ne fi mu nnwuma so na onnyigye anihaw so.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira; ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no se,
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
“Mmea pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ din na wo de, wosen wɔn nyinaa.”
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth YHWH, she shall be praised.
Ɔbea kɔnnɔfo yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twa mu ntɛm so; nanso ɔbea a osuro Awurade no fata nkamfo.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Fa abasobɔde a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn pon ano.
