Mmebusɛm 22
1 Din pa ye sen ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wobedi wo ni ye sen dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 Ɔdefo ne ohiani wɔ ade baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfo.
The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
3 Onitefo hu amanehunu a ɛreba na ohintaw ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim konya amane.
A prudent man forsees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 Ahobrɛase ne Awuradesuro ɛma ahonya ne anuonyam ne nkwa.
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
5 Nsɔe ne mfiri wɔ amumɔyɛfo akwan so, nanso nea ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: he that does keep his soul shall be 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 rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9 Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Pam ɔfɛwdifo na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwaw ne animka to atwa.
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 Obi a ɔdɔ koma a mu tew na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam no, benya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.
13 Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyiri hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wobekum me wɔ mmɔnten so.”
The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
14 Ɔbea waresɛefo anom yɛ amoa donkudonku; nea ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuw ase no bɛtɔ mu.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
15 Agyimisɛm kyekyere abofra koma ho, nanso nteɛso abaa bɛpam no akɔ akyiri.
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it 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 to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to lack.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart unto my knowledge.
18 efisɛ eye sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wo koma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall likewise be fitted in your lips.
19 Sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo nnɛ, yiw ɛyɛ wo.
That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you.
20 Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
Have not I written to you excellent things in counsels 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 make you know the certainty of the words of truth; that you might answer the words of truth to them that send unto you?
22 Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24 Mfa obi a ne koma yɛ den no adamfo, na mfa wo ho mmɔ nea ne bo nkyɛ fuw,
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go:
25 anyɛ saa a, wubesua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afiri mu.
Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.
26 Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
Be not you one of them that shake hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27 na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.
29 Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
