Proverbs 22
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
Din pa ye sen ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wobedi wo ni ye sen dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.
Ɔdefo ne ohiani wɔ ade baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfo.
3 A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
Onitefo hu amanehunu a ɛreba na ohintaw ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim konya amane.
4 The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.
Ahobrɛase ne Awuradesuro ɛma ahonya ne anuonyam ne nkwa.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever guards his soul stays 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 rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
Adefo di ahiafo so, na boseagyefo yɛ nea ɔde fɛm somfo.
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
Pam ɔfɛwdifo na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwaw ne animka to atwa.
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
Obi a ɔdɔ koma a mu tew na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam no, benya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
12 Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyiri hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wobekum me wɔ mmɔnten so.”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.
Ɔbea waresɛefo anom yɛ amoa donkudonku; nea ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuw ase no bɛtɔ mu.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Agyimisɛm kyekyere abofra koma ho, nanso nteɛso abaa bɛpam no akɔ akyiri.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
Obi besisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya, anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefo ade, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
efisɛ eye sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wo koma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
19 I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in Yahweh.
Sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo nnɛ, yiw ɛyɛ wo.
20 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokware ne nea akyinnye nni ho, sɛnea wubenya mmuae pa ama nea ɔsomaa wo no ana?
22 Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
23 for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,
Mfa obi a ne koma yɛ den no adamfo, na mfa wo ho mmɔ nea ne bo nkyɛ fuw,
25 lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
anyɛ saa a, wubesua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afiri mu.
26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
27 If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
28 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.
Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
