Proverbs 31
1 The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkɔmhyɛ a ne maame kyerɛɛ no:
2 What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, son of my vows?
Ao me babarima, me yafunu ba, Ao mebɔhyɛ ba,
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy kings.
nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmaa ho, wɔn a wɔgu 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,
Lemuel, nsã nyɛ mma ahemfo; asanom nyɛ mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifoɔ pere nsaden ho;
5 because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
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 a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
Fa nsaden ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsã 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 mfiri wɔn hia na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhoɔ bio.
8 Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
Kasa ma wɔn a wɔntumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfoɔ yiedie.
9 Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
Kasa na bu atɛntenenee; kasa ma ahiafoɔ ne onnibie yiedie.
10 Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
Ɔyere pa, hwan na ɔbɛnya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sene nhwene pa.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never be poor.
Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotosoɔ pa ara na biribiara a ɛwɔ boɔ nhia no.
12 She does good things for him and not evil all the days of her life.
Ɔde deɛ ɛyɛ brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwa nna nyinaa mu.
13 She selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.
Ɔhwehwɛ odwannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwono wɔ fɛ so.
14 She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far away.
Ɔte sɛ adwadifoɔ ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuane firi akyirikyiri ba.
15 She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
Adeɛ nnya nkyeeɛ no na wasɔre; ɔsiesie aduane ma nʼabusuafoɔ na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
16 She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
Ɔdwene afuo ho, na ɔtɔ; ɔfiri deɛ ɔnya mu yɛ bobefuo.
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 nʼadwadie ho wɔ mfasoɔ, na ne kanea ɛnnum 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.
Ɔgo ne nsam ma ahiafoɔ na ne nsa so onibie 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 fiefoɔ ho; ɛfiri sɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ aduradeɛ a wɔde ko awɔ.
22 She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ɔfira nwera ne serekye ntoma.
23 Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
Ne kunu wɔ animuonyam wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano, baabi a ɔne asase no so mpanimfoɔ tena.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and she supplies sashes to the merchants.
Ɔpempam nwera ntadeɛ tontɔn, na ɔtu abɔwomu ma adwadifoɔ.
25 She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs at the time to come.
Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne animuonyam; na ɔnsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokorɛ nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
27 She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Ɔhwɛ ne fidua mu nnwuma so na ɔnnyegye aniha 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 sɛ,
29 “Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
“Mmaa pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ edin, na wo deɛ, wosene wɔn nyinaa.”
30 Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.
Ɔbaa kɔnɔfoɔ yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twam ntɛm so; nanso ɔbaa a ɔsuro Awurade no fata nkamfoɔ.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.
Fa abasobɔdeɛ a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano.
