Mmebusɛm 22
1 Din pa ye sen ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wobedi wo ni ye sen dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.
2 Ɔdefo ne ohiani wɔ ade baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfo.
The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.
3 Onitefo hu amanehunu a ɛreba na ohintaw ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim konya amane.
The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
4 Ahobrɛase ne Awuradesuro ɛma ahonya ne anuonyam ne nkwa.
The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.
5 Nsɔe ne mfiri wɔ amumɔyɛfo akwan so, nanso nea ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them.
6 Kyerɛ abofra ɔkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ onyin a ɔremfi so.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Adefo di ahiafo so, na boseagyefo yɛ nea ɔde fɛm somfo.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8 Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Pam ɔfɛwdifo na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwaw ne animka to atwa.
Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
11 Obi a ɔdɔ koma a mu tew na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam no, benya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
13 Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyiri hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wobekum me wɔ mmɔnten so.”
The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
14 Ɔbea waresɛefo anom yɛ amoa donkudonku; nea ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuw ase no bɛtɔ mu.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
15 Agyimisɛm kyekyere abofra koma ho, nanso nteɛso abaa bɛpam no akɔ akyiri.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Obi besisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya, anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefo ade, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise— apply your mind to my knowledge—
18 efisɛ eye sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wo koma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
19 Sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo nnɛ, yiw ɛyɛ wo.
So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.
20 Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
21 a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokware ne nea akyinnye nni ho, sɛnea wubenya mmuae pa ama nea ɔsomaa wo no ana?
to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
22 Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.
24 Mfa obi a ne koma yɛ den no adamfo, na mfa wo ho mmɔ nea ne bo nkyɛ fuw,
Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
25 anyɛ saa a, wubesua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afiri mu.
or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
27 na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.
29 Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
