Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ a ne na kyerɛɛ no:
2 “What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
Tie, me babarima! Tie, me yafunu ba, Tie, me bɔhyɛ ba, me mpaebɔ ho mmuae!
3 Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
Nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmea ho, wɔn a wogu ahemfo asu no.
4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
Enye mma ahemfo, Lemuel, asanom nye mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifo pere bobesa ho;
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
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 to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Fa bobesa ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsa ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
7 He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfi wɔn hia, na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhow bio.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
Kasa ma wɔn a wontumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfo yiyedi.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
Kasa na bu atɛntrenee; kasa ma ahiafo ne onnibi yiyedi.
10 [ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
Ɔyere pa, hena na obenya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sen nhene pa.
11 The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotoso pa ara, na biribiara a ɛwɔ bo nhia no.
12 She has done 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 has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
Ɔhwehwɛ oguannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwen wɔ fɛw so.
14 She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
Ɔte sɛ aguadifo ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuan fi akyirikyiri ba.
15 Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
Ade nnya nkyee no na wasɔre; osiesie aduan ma nʼabusuafo na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
16 She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
Osusuw afuw ho na ɔtɔ; ofi nea onya mu yɛ bobeturo.
17 She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
18 She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼaguadi so wɔ mfaso, na ne kanea anum anadwo.
19 She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
20 She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
Ogow ne nsam ma ahiafo na ne nsa so ohiani so.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, 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 has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ofura nwera ne sirikyi ntama.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
Ne kunu wɔ anuonyam wɔ kuropɔn pon ano, faako a ɔne asase no so mpanyimfo tena.
24 She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
Ɔpempam nwera ntade tontɔn, na otu nkyekyeremu ma aguadifo.
25 Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne anuonyam; na onsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26 She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokware nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
Ɔhwɛ ne fi mu nnwuma so na onnyigye anihaw so.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira; ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no se,
29 “The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
“Mmea pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ din na wo de, wosen wɔn nyinaa.”
30 Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
Ɔbea kɔnnɔfo yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twa mu ntɛm so; nanso ɔbea a osuro Awurade no fata nkamfo.
31 Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
Fa abasobɔde a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn pon ano.
