Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ a ne na kyerɛɛ no:
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
Tie, me babarima! Tie, me yafunu ba, Tie, me bɔhyɛ ba, me mpaebɔ ho mmuae!
3 Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.
Nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmea ho, wɔn a wogu ahemfo asu no.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
Enye mma ahemfo, Lemuel, asanom nye mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifo pere bobesa ho;
5 Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
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 him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
Fa bobesa ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsa ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfi wɔn hia, na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhow bio.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
Kasa ma wɔn a wontumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfo yiyedi.
9 Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
Kasa na bu atɛntrenee; kasa ma ahiafo ne onnibi yiyedi.
10 A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
Ɔyere pa, hena na obenya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sen nhene pa.
11 The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotoso pa ara, na biribiara a ɛwɔ bo nhia no.
12 She doeth 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 seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
Ɔhwehwɛ oguannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwen wɔ fɛw so.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
Ɔte sɛ aguadifo ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuan fi akyirikyiri ba.
15 And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
Ade nnya nkyee no na wasɔre; osiesie aduan ma nʼabusuafo na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
16 She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
Osusuw afuw ho na ɔtɔ; ofi nea onya mu yɛ bobeturo.
17 She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
18 She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼaguadi so wɔ mfaso, na ne kanea anum anadwo.
19 Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
20 Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:
Ogow ne nsam ma ahiafo na ne nsa so ohiani so.
21 She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
Sɛ sukyerɛmma tɔ a ne yam nhyehye no wɔ ne fifo ho; efisɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ adurade a wɔde ko awɔw.
22 Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ofura nwera ne sirikyi ntama.
23 Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
Ne kunu wɔ anuonyam wɔ kuropɔn pon ano, faako a ɔne asase no so mpanyimfo tena.
24 Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
Ɔpempam nwera ntade tontɔn, na otu nkyekyeremu ma aguadifo.
25 Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne anuonyam; na onsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26 Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokware nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
27 She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
Ɔhwɛ ne fi mu nnwuma so na onnyigye anihaw so.
28 Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira; ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no se,
29 Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
“Mmea pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ din na wo de, wosen wɔn nyinaa.”
30 Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
Ɔbea kɔnnɔfo yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twa mu ntɛm so; nanso ɔbea a osuro Awurade no fata nkamfo.
31 Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
Fa abasobɔde a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn pon ano.
