Mmebusɛm 22
1 Din pa ye sen ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wobedi wo ni ye sen dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
A good name is better than great riches: and good favour 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 prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
4 Ahobrɛase ne Awuradesuro ɛma ahonya ne anuonyam ne nkwa.
The fruit of humility 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.
Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.
6 Kyerɛ abofra ɔkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ onyin a ɔremfi so.
It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Adefo di ahiafo so, na boseagyefo yɛ nea ɔde fɛm somfo.
The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
8 Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
9 Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
10 Pam ɔfɛwdifo na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwaw ne animka to atwa.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
11 Obi a ɔdɔ koma a mu tew na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam no, benya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
13 Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyiri hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wobekum me wɔ mmɔnten so.”
The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall 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 strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
15 Agyimisɛm kyekyere abofra koma ho, nanso nteɛso abaa bɛpam no akɔ akyiri.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
16 Obi besisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya, anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefo ade, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
18 efisɛ eye sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wo koma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
19 Sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo nnɛ, yiw ɛyɛ wo.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
20 Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
21 a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokware ne nea akyinnye nni ho, sɛnea wubenya mmuae pa ama nea ɔsomaa wo no ana?
That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
22 Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
23 efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
24 Mfa obi a ne koma yɛ den no adamfo, na mfa wo ho mmɔ nea ne bo nkyɛ fuw,
Be not 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 thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
26 Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
27 na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
28 Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
29 Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
