Proverbs 22
1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold — good grace.
Din pa ye sen ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wobedi wo ni ye sen dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
2 Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
Ɔdefo ne ohiani wɔ ade baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfo.
3 The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
Onitefo hu amanehunu a ɛreba na ohintaw ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim konya amane.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
Ahobrɛase ne Awuradesuro ɛma ahonya ne anuonyam ne nkwa.
5 Thorns — snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.
Nsɔe ne mfiri wɔ amumɔyɛfo akwan so, nanso nea ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.
Kyerɛ abofra ɔkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ onyin a ɔremfi so.
7 The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
Adefo di ahiafo so, na boseagyefo yɛ nea ɔde fɛm somfo.
8 Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
9 The good of eye — he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
10 Cast out a scorner — and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
Pam ɔfɛwdifo na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwaw ne animka to atwa.
11 Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] 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 Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
13 The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyiri hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wobekum me wɔ mmɔnten so.”
14 A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
Ɔbea waresɛefo anom yɛ amoa donkudonku; nea ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuw ase no bɛtɔ mu.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.
Agyimisɛm kyekyere abofra koma ho, nanso nteɛso abaa bɛpam no akɔ akyiri.
16 He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.
Obi besisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya, anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefo ade, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
18 For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for 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 Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
Sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo nnɛ, yiw ɛyɛ wo.
20 Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
21 To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending 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, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
23 For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
24 Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
Mfa obi a ne koma yɛ den no adamfo, na mfa wo ho mmɔ nea ne bo nkyɛ fuw,
25 Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
anyɛ saa a, wubesua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afiri mu.
26 Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
28 Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
29 Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!
Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
