Mmebusɛm 22
1 Din pa ye sen ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wobedi wo ni ye sen dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
2 Ɔdefo ne ohiani wɔ ade baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfo.
Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.
3 Onitefo hu amanehunu a ɛreba na ohintaw ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim konya amane.
The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4 Ahobrɛase ne Awuradesuro ɛma ahonya ne anuonyam ne nkwa.
The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, 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 [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoever is keeping his soul is far from them.
6 Kyerɛ abofra ɔkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ onyin a ɔremfi so.
Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
7 Adefo di ahiafo so, na boseagyefo yɛ nea ɔde fɛm somfo.
The rich rules over the poor, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
9 Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
10 Pam ɔfɛwdifo na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwaw ne animka to atwa.
Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
11 Obi a ɔdɔ koma a mu tew na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam no, benya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyiri hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wobekum me wɔ mmɔnten so.”
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
14 Ɔbea waresɛefo anom yɛ amoa donkudonku; nea ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuw ase no bɛtɔ mu.
The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
15 Agyimisɛm kyekyere abofra koma ho, nanso nteɛso abaa bɛpam no akɔ akyiri.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of discipline puts it far from him.
16 Obi besisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya, anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefo ade, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
18 efisɛ eye sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wo koma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
19 Sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo nnɛ, yiw ɛyɛ wo.
That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
20 Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
21 a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokware ne nea akyinnye nni ho, sɛnea wubenya mmuae pa ama nea ɔsomaa wo no ana?
To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
22 Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
23 efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Mfa obi a ne koma yɛ den no adamfo, na mfa wo ho mmɔ nea ne bo nkyɛ fuw,
Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
25 anyɛ saa a, wubesua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afiri mu.
Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
26 Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27 na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
28 Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
29 Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
Have you seen a man speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, He does not station himself before obscure men!
