Mmebusɛm 22
1 Din pa ye sen ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wobedi wo ni ye sen dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 Ɔdefo ne ohiani wɔ ade baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfo.
The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
3 Onitefo hu amanehunu a ɛreba na ohintaw ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim konya amane.
An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
4 Ahobrɛase ne Awuradesuro ɛma ahonya ne anuonyam ne nkwa.
The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
5 Nsɔe ne mfiri wɔ amumɔyɛfo akwan so, nanso nea ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
6 Kyerɛ abofra ɔkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ onyin a ɔremfi so.
7 Adefo di ahiafo so, na boseagyefo yɛ nea ɔde fɛm somfo.
The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
8 Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but [a man] shall fully prove the folly of his works.
9 Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory an honour; but he takes away the life of them that posses [them].
10 Pam ɔfɛwdifo na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwaw ne animka to atwa.
Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.
11 Obi a ɔdɔ koma a mu tew na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam no, benya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
13 Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyiri hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wobekum me wɔ mmɔnten so.”
The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
14 Ɔbea waresɛefo anom yɛ amoa donkudonku; nea ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuw ase no bɛtɔ mu.
The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.
15 Agyimisɛm kyekyere abofra koma ho, nanso nteɛso abaa bɛpam no akɔ akyiri.
Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are [then] far from him.
16 Obi besisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya, anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefo ade, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Incline your ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply your heart,
18 efisɛ eye sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wo koma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
that you may know that they are good: and if you lay them to heart, they shall also gladden you on your lips.
19 Sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo nnɛ, yiw ɛyɛ wo.
That your hope may be in the Lord, and he may make your way known to you.
20 Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
And do you too repeatedly record them for yourself on the table of your heart, for counsel and knowledge.
21 a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokware ne nea akyinnye nni ho, sɛnea wubenya mmuae pa ama nea ɔsomaa wo no ana?
I therefore teach you truth, and knowledge good to hear; that you may answer words of truth to them that question you.
22 Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless [man] in the gates.
23 efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
For the Lord will plead his cause, and you shall deliver your soul in safety.
24 Mfa obi a ne koma yɛ den no adamfo, na mfa wo ho mmɔ nea ne bo nkyɛ fuw,
Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
25 anyɛ saa a, wubesua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afiri mu.
lest you learn of his ways, and get snares to your soul.
26 Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
27 na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under you.
28 Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
Remove not the old landmarks, which your fathers placed.
29 Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
It is fit that an observant man and [one] diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
