Proverbs 30
1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
Yake babarima Agur nsɛm a ɔkaeɛ a ɛyɛ nkɔmhyɛ: Saa ɔbarima yi ka kyerɛɛ Itiel ne Ukal sɛ:
2 "Surely I am the most ignorant man, and do not have a man's understanding.
“Me na mennim hwee koraa wɔ nnipa mu, menni onipa nteaseɛ.
3 I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
Mensuaa nyansa, na menni Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ nso.
4 Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established every part of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you know?
Hwan na waforo akɔ soro na wasiane aba fam? Hwan na wabɔ mframa boa wɔ ne nsa mu? Hwan na ɔde nʼatadeɛ abɔ nsuo boa? Hwan na ɔbɔɔ asase hahanaa yi? Ne din de sɛn, na ne ba barima nso din de sɛn? Sɛ wonim a ka kyerɛ me!
5 "Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
“Onyankopɔn asɛm biara yɛ nokorɛ; ɔyɛ kyɛm ma wɔn a wɔdwane toa no.
6 Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
Mfa biribi nka nʼasɛm ho, anyɛ saa a ɔbɛka wʼanim ama woayɛ ɔtorofoɔ.
7 "Two things I have asked of you; do not deny me before I die:
“Ao Awurade, nneɛma mmienu na mehwehwɛ firi wo nkyɛn; mfa nkame me ansa na mawu:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me;
Yi atorɔ ne ahohwisɛm firi me mu; mma mennyɛ ohiani anaa ɔdefoɔ; nanso ma me deɛ medi daa.
9 lest I be full, deny you, and say, 'Who is the LORD?' or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Anyɛ saa a, ebia menya me ho pii ama mapa wo na maka sɛ, ‘Hwan ne Awurade?’ Anaa mɛyɛ ohiani na mabɔ korɔno, na ama magu me Onyankopɔn din ho fi.
10 "Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
“Nsɛe ɔsomfoɔ din nkyerɛ ne wura; sɛ woyɛ saa a, ɔbɛdome wo na wobɛtua so ka.
11 There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn't bless their mother.
“Nnipa bi dome wɔn agyanom, na wɔnnhyira wɔn maamenom nso;
12 There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness.
Wɔn a wɔtene wɔ wɔn ankasa ani so a ɛnso wɔnhohoroo wɔn ho fi;
13 There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes. Their eyelids are lifted up.
wɔn a wɔn ani tra ntɔn, na wɔbu animtiaa;
14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
wɔn a wɔn se yɛ akofena na sekammoa hyehyɛ wɔn apantan wɔn na wɔbɛtɔre ahiafoɔ ase afiri asase so, na woayi onibie afiri adasamma mu.
15 "The leach has two daughters: 'Give, give.' "There are three things that are never satisfied; four that do not say, 'Enough:'
“Amemem wɔ mmammaa mmienu a wɔteam sɛ, ‘Fa ma me! Fa ma me.’ “Nneɛma mmiɛnsa na ɛmmee da. Dabi, nneɛma ɛnan wɔ hɔ a ɛnka da sɛ, ‘Ɛyɛ!’
16 Sheol, the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water; and the fire that doesn't say, 'Enough.' (Sheol h7585)
Damena, obonini awotwaa, asase a ɛyɛ wesee daa, ne ogya a ɛnka da sɛ, ‘Ɛyɛ!’ (Sheol h7585)
17 "The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother: the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
“Ani a ɛyi agya ahi, na ɛbu ɛna animtia no, bɔnhwa ho anene bɛtutu, na apete abɛdi.
18 "There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I do not understand:
“Nneɛma mmiɛnsa na ɛyɛ me nwanwa, ɛnan na mente aseɛ:
19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent on a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maiden.
Ɛkwan a ɔkɔdeɛ nam so wɔ ewiem, sɛdeɛ ɔwɔ nante ɔbotan so, ɛkwan a ɛhyɛn nam so wɔ ɛpo hahanaa so, ne sɛdeɛ ɔbarima dɔ ababaawa.
20 "So is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says, 'I have done nothing wrong.'
“Ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ ɛkwan nie: Ɔdidi, ɔpepa nʼano na ɔka sɛ, ‘Menyɛɛ mfomsoɔ biara.’
21 "For three things the earth tremble, and under four, it can't bear up:
“Nneɛma mmiɛnsa na ɛma asase woso, ɛnan na asase ɛntumi nnyina ano:
22 For a servant when he is king; a fool when he is filled with food;
akoa a wabɛyɛ ɔhene, ɔkwasea a wadidi amee,
23 for an unloved woman when she is married; and a handmaid who is heir to her mistress.
ɔbaa a wɔmmpɛ no na wawareɛ, afenaa a ɔtu nʼawurakwaa tena nʼanan mu.
24 "There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:
“Nneɛma nketenkete ɛnan na ɛwɔ asase so, nanso wɔyɛ anyansafoɔ ankasa:
25 the ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.
Ntɛtea yɛ abɔdeɛ nketewa a wɔnni ahoɔden, nanso wɔboaboa wɔn aduane ano ahuhuro berɛ mu;
26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.
Nkukuban—yɛ abɔdeɛ a wɔnni ahoɔden, nanso wɔyɛ wɔn afie wɔ abotan mu,
27 The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.
ntutummɛ nni ɔhene, nanso wɔsa so akuakuo, kɔ wɔn anim;
28 You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces.
wɔtumi de nsa kyere ɔkoterɛ, nanso wɔhunu no aberempɔn ahemfie.
29 "There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:
“Nneɛma mmiɛnsa na wɔwɔ aberempɔn nanteɛ, ɛnan na wɔkeka wɔn ho te sɛ aberempɔn:
30 The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn't turn away for any;
gyata, mmoadoma ɔhene a, biribiara mmɔ no hu;
31 the greyhound, the male goat also; and the king against whom there is no rising up.
akokɔnini a ɔretutu taataa, ɔpapo, ne ɔhene a nʼasraafoɔ atwa ne ho ahyia.
32 "If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.
“Sɛ woayɛ ɔkwasea ama wo ho so, anaa woadwene bɔne a, ma wʼani nwu na mua wʼano!
33 For as the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife."
Sɛdeɛ wɔka nufosuo nu mu a sradeɛ firi mu ba na wɔkyinkyim hwene a ɛtu mogya no, saa ara na abufuo de akasakasa ba.”
