Proverbs 31
1 The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ a ne na kyerɛɛ no:
2 “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
Tie, me babarima! Tie, me yafunu ba, Tie, me bɔhyɛ ba, me mpaebɔ ho mmuae!
3 Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys 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, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
Enye mma ahemfo, Lemuel, asanom nye mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifo pere bobesa ho;
5 lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is 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 him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Fa bobesa ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsa ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfi wɔn hia, na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhow bio.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
Kasa ma wɔn a wontumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfo yiyedi.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
Kasa na bu atɛntrenee; kasa ma ahiafo ne onnibi yiyedi.
10 Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
Ɔyere pa, hena na obenya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sen nhene pa.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotoso pa ara, na biribiara a ɛwɔ bo nhia no.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
Ɔde nea eye brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwanna nyinaa mu.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
Ɔhwehwɛ oguannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwen wɔ fɛw so.
14 She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
Ɔte sɛ aguadifo ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuan fi akyirikyiri ba.
15 She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
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 arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼaguadi so wɔ mfaso, na ne kanea anum anadwo.
19 She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
20 She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
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 with 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 for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ofura nwera ne sirikyi ntama.
23 Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among 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 delivers sashes to the merchant.
Ɔpempam nwera ntade tontɔn, na otu nkyekyeremu ma aguadifo.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne anuonyam; na onsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokware nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
Ɔhwɛ ne fi mu nnwuma so na onnyigye anihaw so.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira; ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no se,
29 “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
“Mmea pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ din na wo de, wosen wɔn nyinaa.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
Ɔbea kɔnnɔfo yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twa mu ntɛm so; nanso ɔbea a osuro Awurade no fata nkamfo.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
Fa abasobɔde a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn pon ano.
