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 better is good-will than silver and gold.
2 Ɔdefo ne ohiani wɔ ade baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfo.
The rich and the 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.
The prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple rush 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 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 deceitful; He that will preserve his life will be far from them.
6 Kyerɛ abofra ɔkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ onyin a ɔremfi so.
Train up a child in accordance with his way, 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 ruleth over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
He who soweth iniquity shall reap calamity, And the rod of his punishment is prepared.
9 Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, Because he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Pam ɔfɛwdifo na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwaw ne animka to atwa.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and reproach will cease.
11 Obi a ɔdɔ koma a mu tew na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam no, benya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
He who loveth purity of heart, Grace is upon his lips, and the king will be his friend.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
The eyes of the LORD watch over knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
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 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 with whom the LORD is angry shall fall therein.
15 Agyimisɛm kyekyere abofra koma ho, nanso nteɛso abaa bɛpam no akɔ akyiri.
Folly is bound to the heart of a child; But the rod of correction will 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 oppresseth the poor to increase his wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And give heed to my instruction!
18 efisɛ eye sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wo koma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
For it will be a pleasant thing, if thou keep them in thy bosom, When they are altogether established upon 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, I have this day given to thee instruction, yea, to thee.
20 Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
Behold, I have written to thee excellent things Concerning counsel and knowledge;
21 a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokware ne nea akyinnye nni ho, sɛnea wubenya mmuae pa ama nea ɔsomaa wo no ana?
That I may make thee know rectitude, and words of truth; That thou mayst bring back words of truth to them that send thee.
22 Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
Rob not the poor man, because he is poor, Nor crush thou the destitute at the gate;
23 efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
For the LORD will maintain their cause, And despoil their spoilers of life.
24 Mfa obi a ne koma yɛ den no adamfo, na mfa wo ho mmɔ nea ne bo nkyɛ fuw,
Make no friendship with a passionate man, Nor be the companion of a man prone to wrath;
25 anyɛ saa a, wubesua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afiri mu.
Lest thou learn his ways, And take to thyself a snare.
26 Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
Be not thou one of those who strike hands, Of those who are sureties for debts.
27 na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
When thou hast nothing to pay, Why should thy bed be taken from under thee?
28 Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have made.
29 Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall be the minister of kings; He shall not serve obscure men.
