< 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, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
3 Onitefo hu amanehunu a ɛreba na ohintaw ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim konya amane.
The prudent hath 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 Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
5 Nsɔe ne mfiri wɔ amumɔyɛfo akwan so, nanso nea ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
Thorns — snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso 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 turneth not from it.
7 Adefo di ahiafo so, na boseagyefo yɛ nea ɔde fɛm somfo.
The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
9 Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
The good of eye — he is blessed, For he hath 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 goeth 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.
Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13 Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyiri hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wobekum me wɔ mmɔnten so.”
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
14 Ɔbea waresɛefo anom yɛ amoa donkudonku; nea ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuw ase no bɛtɔ mu.
A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth 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 chastisement putteth it far from him.
16 Obi besisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya, anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefo ade, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set 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 thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.
19 Sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo nnɛ, yiw ɛyɛ wo.
That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
20 Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
Have I not written to thee 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 thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
22 Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
23 efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath 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,
Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
25 anyɛ saa a, wubesua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afiri mu.
Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
26 Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27 na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
28 Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
29 Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!