Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkɔmhyɛ a ne maame kyerɛɛ no:
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
Ao me babarima, me yafunu ba, Ao mebɔhyɛ ba,
3 Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.
nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmaa ho, wɔn a wɔgu 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,
Lemuel, nsã nyɛ mma ahemfo; asanom nyɛ mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifoɔ pere nsaden ho;
5 Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
sɛ wɔnom nsã a, wɔn werɛ bɛfiri deɛ mmara no ka, na wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no rennya deɛ wɔwɔ ho ɛkwan.
6 Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
Fa nsaden ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsã 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 mfiri wɔn hia na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhoɔ bio.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
Kasa ma wɔn a wɔntumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfoɔ yiedie.
9 Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
Kasa na bu atɛntenenee; kasa ma ahiafoɔ ne onnibie yiedie.
10 A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
Ɔyere pa, hwan na ɔbɛnya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sene nhwene pa.
11 The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotosoɔ pa ara na biribiara a ɛwɔ boɔ nhia no.
12 She doeth him good and not evil, all the days of her life:
Ɔde deɛ ɛyɛ brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwa nna nyinaa mu.
13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
Ɔhwehwɛ odwannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwono wɔ fɛ so.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
Ɔte sɛ adwadifoɔ ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuane firi akyirikyiri ba.
15 And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
Adeɛ nnya nkyeeɛ no na wasɔre; ɔsiesie aduane ma nʼabusuafoɔ 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:
Ɔdwene afuo ho, na ɔtɔ; ɔfiri deɛ ɔnya mu yɛ bobefuo.
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 nʼadwadie ho wɔ mfasoɔ, na ne kanea ɛnnum 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:
Ɔgo ne nsam ma ahiafoɔ na ne nsa so onibie 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 fiefoɔ ho; ɛfiri sɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ aduradeɛ a wɔde ko awɔ.
22 Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ɔfira nwera ne serekye ntoma.
23 Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
Ne kunu wɔ animuonyam wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano, baabi a ɔne asase no so mpanimfoɔ tena.
24 Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
Ɔpempam nwera ntadeɛ tontɔn, na ɔtu abɔwomu ma adwadifoɔ.
25 Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne animuonyam; na ɔnsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26 Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokorɛ 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 fidua mu nnwuma so na ɔnnyegye aniha 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 sɛ,
29 Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
“Mmaa pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ edin, na wo deɛ, wosene wɔn nyinaa.”
30 Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
Ɔbaa kɔnɔfoɔ yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twam ntɛm so; nanso ɔbaa a ɔsuro Awurade no fata nkamfoɔ.
31 Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
Fa abasobɔdeɛ a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano.
