Proverbs 22
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
Edin pa yɛ sene ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wɔbɛdi wo ni yɛ sene dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Jehovah is the maker of them all.
Ɔdefoɔ ne ohiani wɔ adeɛ baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfoɔ.
3 The shrewd see danger and take cover, but the naive keep on going and suffer for it.
Onitefoɔ hunu amanehunu a ɛreba na ɔhinta ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim kɔnya amane.
4 The result of humility and the fear of Jehovah is wealth, honor, and life.
Ahobrɛaseɛ ne Awurade suro ma ahonya ne animuonyam ne nkwa.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
Nkasɛɛ ne mfidie wɔ amumuyɛfoɔ akwan so, nanso deɛ ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Kyerɛ abɔfra ɛkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ ɔnyini a ɔremfiri so.
7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
Adefoɔ di ahiafoɔ so, na boseagyeni yɛ deɛ ɔde fɛm ɔsomfoɔ.
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will fail. God blesses a cheerful and generous person, but the vanity of his deeds he will bring to an end.
Deɛ ɔdua amumuyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuhyeɛ abaa.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
Ɔyamyɛfoɔ bɛnya nhyira ɛfiri sɛ ɔne ahiafoɔ kyɛ nʼaduane.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
Pam ɔfɛdifoɔ na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwa ne atɛnnidie to atwa.
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.
Obi a ɔdɔ akoma a emu teɛ na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam bɛnya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
12 The eyes of Jehovah watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofoɔ nsɛm.
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside. I will be killed in the streets."
Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyire hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wɔbɛkum me wɔ mmɔntene so.”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under Jehovah's wrath will fall into it.
Ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ anomu yɛ amena donkudonku; deɛ ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuo ase no bɛtɔ mu.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Agyimisɛm kyekyere abɔfra akoma ho, nanso ntenesoɔ abaa bɛpamo akɔ akyiri.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
Obi bɛsisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefoɔ adeɛ, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
17 The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your heart to my instruction.
Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wʼakoma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
ɛfiri sɛ ɛyɛ sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wʼakoma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
19 That your trust may be in Jehovah, I teach you today, even you.
Sɛdeɛ wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo ɛnnɛ, aane wo.
20 Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
Mentwerɛɛ mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, deɛ ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokorɛ ne deɛ akyinnyeɛ nni ho, sɛdeɛ wobɛnya mmuaeɛ pa ama deɛ ɔsomaa woɔ no anaa?
22 Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;
Mmɔ ahiafoɔ korɔno, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafoɔ enti, na nnsisi wɔn a wɔnni bie wɔ asɛnniiɛ,
23 for Jehovah will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛdi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafoɔ fa.
24 Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:
Mfa obi a ne bo ha no adamfo, na mmfa wo ho mmɔ deɛ ne bo nkyɛre fu,
25 lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
anyɛ saa a, wobɛsua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afidie mu.
26 Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
Ɛnyɛ deɛ ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di agyinamu, anaasɛ deɛ ɔdi akagyinamu;
27 If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
na sɛ wonni deɛ wɔde tua a wɔbɛhwan wo mpa mpo afiri wʼase.
28 Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
Ntutu tete aboɔ a wɔde ato hyeɛ; deɛ wo nananom de sisii hɔ no.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.
Wohunu odwumayɛfoɔ a ne nsa akokwa nʼadwuma ho anaa? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwaa anim.
