Proverbs 22
1 A good name is preferable to abundant riches, and good grace, to silver and to gold.
Din pa ye sen ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wobedi wo ni ye sen dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker them all.
Ɔdefo ne ohiani wɔ ade baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfo.
3 The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Onitefo hu amanehunu a ɛreba na ohintaw ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim konya amane.
4 The reward of humility [and] the fear of the Lord are riches and honor, and life.
Ahobrɛase ne Awuradesuro ɛma ahonya ne anuonyam ne nkwa.
5 Thorns and snares are on the way of a perverse man: he that doth guard his soul will keep far from them.
Nsɔe ne mfiri wɔ amumɔyɛfo akwan so, nanso nea ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
6 Train up the lad in accordance with his course: even when he groweth old, will he not depart from it.
Kyerɛ abofra ɔkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ onyin a ɔremfi so.
7 A rich man ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the man that lendeth.
Adefo di ahiafo so, na boseagyefo yɛ nea ɔde fɛm somfo.
8 He that soweth injustice will reap wrong-doing; and the rod of God's wrath will not fail.
Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
9 A man of a benevolent eye will indeed be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
10 Drive away the scorner, and strife will go off; and then will cease contention and dishonor.
Pam ɔfɛwdifo na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwaw ne animka to atwa.
11 He that loveth with a pure heart, and hath grace on his lips, will have the king as his friend.
Obi a ɔdɔ koma a mu tew na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam no, benya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
12 The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge, and he overturneth the words of the treacherous.
Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
13 The slothful saith, There is a lion without, in the midst of the streets shall I be murdered.
Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyiri hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wobekum me wɔ mmɔnten so.”
14 A deep pit is the mouth of adulterous women: he that hath obtained the indignation of the Lord will fall thereinto.
Ɔbea waresɛefo anom yɛ amoa donkudonku; nea ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuw ase no bɛtɔ mu.
15 When folly is bound fast to the heart of a lad, the rod of correction must remove it far from him.
Agyimisɛm kyekyere abofra koma ho, nanso nteɛso abaa bɛpam no akɔ akyiri.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, [must at length] give to the rich, and come only to want.
Obi besisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya, anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefo ade, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
17 Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thy bosom, if they be altogether firmly seated upon thy lips.
efisɛ eye sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wo koma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, have I made them known to thee this day, yea, even to thee.
Sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo nnɛ, yiw ɛyɛ wo.
20 Have not I written for thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
21 That I might make thee know rectitude, the sayings of truth; that thou mightest bring back answers of truth to those that send thee?
a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokware ne nea akyinnye nni ho, sɛnea wubenya mmuae pa ama nea ɔsomaa wo no ana?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither crush the afflicted in the gate;
Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
23 For the Lord will plead their cause, and despoil the life of those that despoil them.
efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger; and with a man of fury thou must have no intercourse:
Mfa obi a ne koma yɛ den no adamfo, na mfa wo ho mmɔ nea ne bo nkyɛ fuw,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare for thy own soul.
anyɛ saa a, wubesua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afiri mu.
26 Be not one of those that pledge their hand, or of those that are sureties for debts.
Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
27 If thou have nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have established.
Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
29 Seest thou a man that is diligent in his work? before kings may he place himself: let him not place himself before obscure men.
Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
