Proverbs 22
1 A good name is to be chosen over great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.
Edin pa yɛ sene ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wɔbɛdi wo ni yɛ sene dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
2 Rich and poor people have this in common— Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
Ɔdefoɔ ne ohiani wɔ adeɛ baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfoɔ.
3 A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.
Onitefoɔ hunu amanehunu a ɛreba na ɔhinta ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim kɔnya amane.
4 The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh is riches, honor, and life.
Ahobrɛaseɛ ne Awurade suro ma ahonya ne animuonyam ne nkwa.
5 Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep far from them.
Nkasɛɛ ne mfidie wɔ amumuyɛfoɔ akwan so, nanso deɛ ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
6 Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.
Kyerɛ abɔfra ɛkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ ɔnyini a ɔremfiri so.
7 Rich people rule over poor people and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.
Adefoɔ di ahiafoɔ so, na boseagyeni yɛ deɛ ɔde fɛm ɔsomfoɔ.
8 He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.
Deɛ ɔdua amumuyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuhyeɛ abaa.
9 The one who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
Ɔyamyɛfoɔ bɛnya nhyira ɛfiri sɛ ɔne ahiafoɔ kyɛ nʼaduane.
10 Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.
Pam ɔfɛdifoɔ na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwa ne atɛnnidie to atwa.
11 The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, he will have the king for his friend.
Obi a ɔdɔ akoma a emu teɛ na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam bɛnya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
12 The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofoɔ nsɛm.
13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the street! I will be killed in the open places.”
Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyire hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wɔbɛkum me wɔ mmɔntene so.”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.
Ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ anomu yɛ amena donkudonku; deɛ ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuo ase no bɛtɔ mu.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.
Agyimisɛm kyekyere abɔfra akoma ho, nanso ntenesoɔ abaa bɛpamo akɔ akyiri.
16 The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth, or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.
Obi bɛsisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefoɔ adeɛ, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
17 Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge,
Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wʼakoma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
18 for it will be pleasant for you 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 So your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach them to you today—even to you.
Sɛdeɛ wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo ɛnnɛ, aane wo.
20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction and knowledge,
Mentwerɛɛ mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, deɛ ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
21 to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those 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 rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,
Mmɔ ahiafoɔ korɔno, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafoɔ enti, na nnsisi wɔn a wɔnni bie wɔ asɛnniiɛ,
23 for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.
ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛdi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafoɔ fa.
24 Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger and you must not go with one who rages,
Mfa obi a ne bo ha no adamfo, na mmfa wo ho mmɔ deɛ ne bo nkyɛre fu,
25 or you will learn his ways and you will take bait for your soul.
anyɛ saa a, wobɛsua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afidie mu.
26 Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.
Ɛnyɛ deɛ ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di agyinamu, anaasɛ deɛ ɔdi akagyinamu;
27 If you lack the means to pay, what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?
na sɛ wonni deɛ wɔde tua a wɔbɛhwan wo mpa mpo afiri wʼase.
28 Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that your fathers have set.
Ntutu tete aboɔ a wɔde ato hyeɛ; deɛ wo nananom de sisii hɔ no.
29 Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common people.
Wohunu odwumayɛfoɔ a ne nsa akokwa nʼadwuma ho anaa? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwaa anim.
