Proverbs 31
1 The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ a ne na kyerɛɛ no:
2 What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, son of my vows?
Tie, me babarima! Tie, me yafunu ba, Tie, me bɔhyɛ ba, me mpaebɔ ho mmuae!
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy kings.
Nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmea ho, wɔn a wogu ahemfo asu no.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
Enye mma ahemfo, Lemuel, asanom nye mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifo pere bobesa ho;
5 because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
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 a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
Fa bobesa ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsa ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
7 He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfi wɔn hia, na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhow bio.
8 Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
Kasa ma wɔn a wontumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfo yiyedi.
9 Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
Kasa na bu atɛntrenee; kasa ma ahiafo ne onnibi yiyedi.
10 Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
Ɔyere pa, hena na obenya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sen nhene pa.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never be poor.
Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotoso pa ara, na biribiara a ɛwɔ bo nhia no.
12 She does good things for him and not evil all the days of her life.
Ɔde nea eye brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwanna nyinaa mu.
13 She selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.
Ɔhwehwɛ oguannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwen wɔ fɛw so.
14 She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far away.
Ɔte sɛ aguadifo ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuan fi akyirikyiri ba.
15 She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
Ade nnya nkyee no na wasɔre; osiesie aduan ma nʼabusuafo na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
16 She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
Osusuw afuw ho na ɔtɔ; ofi nea onya mu yɛ bobeturo.
17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
18 She perceives what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼaguadi so wɔ mfaso, na ne kanea anum anadwo.
19 She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
20 She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
Ogow ne nsam ma ahiafo na ne nsa so ohiani so.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
Sɛ sukyerɛmma tɔ a ne yam nhyehye no wɔ ne fifo ho; efisɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ adurade a wɔde ko awɔw.
22 She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ofura nwera ne sirikyi ntama.
23 Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
Ne kunu wɔ anuonyam wɔ kuropɔn pon ano, faako a ɔne asase no so mpanyimfo tena.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and she supplies sashes to the merchants.
Ɔpempam nwera ntade tontɔn, na otu nkyekyeremu ma aguadifo.
25 She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs at the time to come.
Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne anuonyam; na onsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokware nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
27 She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Ɔhwɛ ne fi mu nnwuma so na onnyigye anihaw so.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed, and her husband praises her, saying,
Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira; ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no se,
29 “Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
“Mmea pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ din na wo de, wosen wɔn nyinaa.”
30 Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.
Ɔbea kɔnnɔfo yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twa mu ntɛm so; nanso ɔbea a osuro Awurade no fata nkamfo.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.
Fa abasobɔde a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn pon ano.
