Proverbs 22
1 A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favor rather than silver and gold.
Din pa ye sen ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wobedi wo ni ye sen dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.
Ɔdefo ne ohiani wɔ ade baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfo.
3 A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Onitefo hu amanehunu a ɛreba na ohintaw ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim konya amane.
4 By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honor, and life.
Ahobrɛase ne Awuradesuro ɛma ahonya ne anuonyam ne nkwa.
5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Nsɔe ne mfiri wɔ amumɔyɛfo akwan so, nanso nea ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Kyerɛ abofra ɔkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ onyin a ɔremfi so.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender.
Adefo di ahiafo so, na boseagyefo yɛ nea ɔde fɛm somfo.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall end; yes, strife and reproach shall cease.
Pam ɔfɛwdifo na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwaw ne animka to atwa.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king [shall be] his friend.
Obi a ɔdɔ koma a mu tew na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam no, benya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyiri hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wobekum me wɔ mmɔnten so.”
14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit: he that is abhorred by the LORD shall fall therein.
Ɔbea waresɛefo anom yɛ amoa donkudonku; nea ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuw ase no bɛtɔ mu.
15 Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Agyimisɛm kyekyere abofra koma ho, nanso nteɛso abaa bɛpam no akɔ akyiri.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches], [and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want.
Obi besisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya, anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefo ade, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
17 Bow down thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
18 For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keepest them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
efisɛ eye sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wo koma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
Sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo nnɛ, yiw ɛyɛ wo.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send to thee?
a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokware ne nea akyinnye nni ho, sɛnea wubenya mmuae pa ama nea ɔsomaa wo no ana?
22 Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Mfa obi a ne koma yɛ den no adamfo, na mfa wo ho mmɔ nea ne bo nkyɛ fuw,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
anyɛ saa a, wubesua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afiri mu.
26 Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.
Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men].
Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
