Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkɔmhyɛ a ne maame kyerɛɛ no:
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
Ao me babarima, me yafunu ba, Ao mebɔhyɛ ba,
3 Give not your strength unto women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmaa ho, wɔn a wɔgu ahemfo asu no.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Lemuel, nsã nyɛ mma ahemfo; asanom nyɛ mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifoɔ pere nsaden ho;
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
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 strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Fa nsaden ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsã 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 mfiri wɔn hia na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhoɔ bio.
8 Open your mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Kasa ma wɔn a wɔntumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfoɔ yiedie.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Kasa na bu atɛntenenee; kasa ma ahiafoɔ ne onnibie yiedie.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Ɔyere pa, hwan na ɔbɛnya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sene nhwene pa.
11 The heart of her husband does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotosoɔ pa ara na biribiara a ɛwɔ boɔ nhia no.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Ɔde deɛ ɛyɛ brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwa nna nyinaa mu.
13 She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands.
Ɔhwehwɛ odwannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwono wɔ fɛ so.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from far.
Ɔte sɛ adwadifoɔ ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuane firi akyirikyiri ba.
15 She rises also while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Adeɛ nnya nkyeeɛ no na wasɔre; ɔsiesie aduane ma nʼabusuafoɔ na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
16 She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
Ɔdwene afuo ho, na ɔtɔ; ɔfiri deɛ ɔnya mu yɛ bobefuo.
17 She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms.
Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle goes not out by night.
Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼadwadie ho wɔ mfasoɔ, na ne kanea ɛnnum anadwo.
19 She lays 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 stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reachs forth her hands to the needy.
Ɔgo ne nsam ma ahiafoɔ na ne nsa so onibie 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 fiefoɔ ho; ɛfiri sɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ aduradeɛ a wɔde ko awɔ.
22 She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ɔfira nwera ne serekye ntoma.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
Ne kunu wɔ animuonyam wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano, baabi a ɔne asase no so mpanimfoɔ tena.
24 She makes fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles unto the merchant.
Ɔpempam nwera ntadeɛ tontɔn, na ɔtu abɔwomu ma adwadifoɔ.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne animuonyam; na ɔnsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokorɛ nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness.
Ɔhwɛ ne fidua mu nnwuma so na ɔnnyegye aniha so.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira; ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no sɛ,
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all.
“Mmaa pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ edin, na wo deɛ, wosene wɔn nyinaa.”
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Ɔbaa kɔnɔfoɔ yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twam ntɛm so; nanso ɔbaa a ɔsuro Awurade no fata nkamfoɔ.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Fa abasobɔdeɛ a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano.
