Mmebusɛm 22
1 Din pa ye sen ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wobedi wo ni ye sen dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.
2 Ɔdefo ne ohiani wɔ ade baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfo.
The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.
3 Onitefo hu amanehunu a ɛreba na ohintaw ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim konya amane.
The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.
4 Ahobrɛase ne Awuradesuro ɛma ahonya ne anuonyam ne nkwa.
The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Nsɔe ne mfiri wɔ amumɔyɛfo akwan so, nanso nea ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.
6 Kyerɛ abofra ɔkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ onyin a ɔremfi so.
The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.
7 Adefo di ahiafo so, na boseagyefo yɛ nea ɔde fɛm somfo.
The rich rule over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
9 Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.
10 Pam ɔfɛwdifo na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwaw ne animka to atwa.
Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.
11 Obi a ɔdɔ koma a mu tew na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam no, benya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.
13 Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyiri hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wobekum me wɔ mmɔnten so.”
The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.”
14 Ɔbea waresɛefo anom yɛ amoa donkudonku; nea ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuw ase no bɛtɔ mu.
The mouth of a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it.
15 Agyimisɛm kyekyere abofra koma ho, nanso nteɛso abaa bɛpam no akɔ akyiri.
Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
16 Obi besisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya, anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefo ade, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
18 efisɛ eye sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wo koma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,
19 Sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo nnɛ, yiw ɛyɛ wo.
so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.
20 Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,
21 a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokware ne nea akyinnye nni ho, sɛnea wubenya mmuae pa ama nea ɔsomaa wo no ana?
so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to those who sent you.
22 Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.
23 efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
24 Mfa obi a ne koma yɛ den no adamfo, na mfa wo ho mmɔ nea ne bo nkyɛ fuw,
Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
25 anyɛ saa a, wubesua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afiri mu.
lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
26 Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.
27 na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed?
28 Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
29 Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.
