Mmebusɛm 24
1 Mma wʼani mmere amumɔyɛfo, mfa wo ho mmɔ wɔn;
Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
2 Efisɛ wɔn koma dwene atirimɔdensɛm ho, na wɔn ano ka nea ɛde basabasayɛ ba ho asɛm.
For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
3 Wɔde nyansa na esi fi, na nhumu mu na wɔma etim;
By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
4 ɛnam nimdeɛ so na wonya ademude a ɛho yɛ na na ɛyɛ fɛ hyehyɛ nʼadan mu.
By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
5 Onyansafo wɔ tumi a ɛso, na onimdefo nyin ahoɔden mu;
A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.
6 nea ɔretu sa hia akwankyerɛ, nea ɔrehwehwɛ nkonimdi no hia afotufo pii.
For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.
7 Nyansa wɔ soro dodo ma ɔkwasea; wɔ apon ano aguabɔ mu no, ɛnsɛ sɛ wobue wɔn ano.
Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
8 Onipa a ɔbɔ pɔw bɔne no, wɔbɛfrɛ no ɔkɔtwebrɛfo.
Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
9 Ogyimifo nhyehyɛe yɛ bɔne, nnipa kyi ɔfɛwdifo.
The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
10 Sɛ wʼaba mu gow wɔ ɔhaw mu a, na wʼahoɔden sua!
If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
11 Gye wɔn a wɔde wɔn rekɔ akokum wɔn no nkwa; na sianka wɔn a wɔtɔ ntintan kɔ akumii.
Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.
12 Sɛ woka se, “Na yennim eyi ho hwee a,” nea ɔkari koma hwɛ no nhu ana? Nea ɔbɔ wo nkwa ho ban no nnim ana? Ɔrentua nea obiara ayɛ so ka ana?
If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.
13 Me ba, di ɛwo, efisɛ eye; ɛwokyɛm mu wo yɛ wʼanom dɛ.
My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.
14 Hu nso sɛ nyansa yɛ wo kra dɛ; sɛ wunya a, wowɔ anidaso ma daakye, na wʼanidaso renyɛ ɔkwa.
So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.
15 Nkɔtɛw ɔtreneeni fi sɛ ɔkwanmukafo, na nkɔtow nhyɛ nʼatenae so,
Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ɔtreneeni hwe ase mpɛn ason de, nanso ɔsɔre bio, na amumɔyɛfo de amanehunu baako ma wɔhwe ase.
For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
17 Sɛ wo tamfo hwe ase a mma ɛnyɛ wo dɛ; na sɛ ohintiw a mma wo koma nni ahurusi,
When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,
18 efisɛ Awurade behu wʼadwene na ɔrempɛ na obeyi nʼabufuwhyew afi no so.
lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
19 Nhaw wo ho wɔ abɔnefo nti, na mma wʼani mmere amumɔyɛfo nso,
Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
20 efisɛ, ɔbɔnefo nni anidaso biara daakye, na wobedum amumɔyɛfo kanea.
For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
21 Me ba, suro Awurade ne ɔhene, na mfa wo ho mmɔ atuatewfo ho,
My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
22 efisɛ saa baanu yi de, ɔsɛe bɛba wɔn so mpofirim; na hena na onim amanehunu ko a wobetumi de aba?
For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
23 Eyinom nso yɛ anyansafo Nsɛnka: Atemmu a nhwɛanim wɔ mu no nye:
Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
24 Obiara a ɔbɛka akyerɛ nea odi fɔ se, “Wo ho nni asɛm” no, nnipa bɛdome no na amanaman remmɔ no din pa.
Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
25 Na wɔn a wobu afɔdifo fɔ no, ebesi wɔn yiye, na nhyira bɛba wɔn so.
Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.
26 Mmuae pa te sɛ mfewano.
He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.
27 Wie wo mfikyidwuma na siesie wo mfuw; ɛno akyi, si wo fi.
Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
28 Nni adanse ntia ɔyɔnko a ɔnyɛɛ wo hwee, na mfa wʼano nnaadaa.
Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.
29 Nka se, “Nea wayɛ me no me nso mɛyɛ no bi; nea ɔyɛe no mitua no so ka.”
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.
30 Menantew faa onihawfo afuw ho, twaa mu wɔ nea onni adwene bobeturo nso ho;
I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,
31 nsɔe afuw wɔ baabiara, wura afuw akata asase no so, na abo afasu no nso abubu.
and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
32 Mede me koma kɔɔ nea mihuu no so na misuaa biribi fii mu:
When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
33 nna kakra, nkotɔ kakra, nsa a woabobɔw de rehome kakra
You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.
34 bɛma ohia aba wo so sɛ ɔkwanmukafo, na nneɛma ho nna bɛba wo so sɛ obi a okura akode. Na ohia bɛtow akyere wo sɛ ɔkwanmukafo; ahokyere bɛtoa wo sɛ ɔkorɔmfowerɛmfo.
And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”
