Mmebusɛm 24
1 Mma wʼani mmere amumɔyɛfo, mfa wo ho mmɔ wɔn;
Do not be envious of those who are evil, nor desire to associate with them,
2 Efisɛ wɔn koma dwene atirimɔdensɛm ho, na wɔn ano ka nea ɛde basabasayɛ ba ho asɛm.
because their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about trouble.
3 Wɔde nyansa na esi fi, na nhumu mu na wɔma etim;
Through wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established.
4 ɛnam nimdeɛ so na wonya ademude a ɛho yɛ na na ɛyɛ fɛ hyehyɛ nʼadan mu.
By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 Onyansafo wɔ tumi a ɛso, na onimdefo nyin ahoɔden mu;
A warrior of wisdom is strong, and a man of knowledge increases his strength;
6 nea ɔretu sa hia akwankyerɛ, nea ɔrehwehwɛ nkonimdi no hia afotufo pii.
for by wise direction you can wage your war and with many advisors there is victory.
7 Nyansa wɔ soro dodo ma ɔkwasea; wɔ apon ano aguabɔ mu no, ɛnsɛ sɛ wobue wɔn ano.
Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.
8 Onipa a ɔbɔ pɔw bɔne no, wɔbɛfrɛ no ɔkɔtwebrɛfo.
There is one who plans to do evil— people call him a master of schemes.
9 Ogyimifo nhyehyɛe yɛ bɔne, nnipa kyi ɔfɛwdifo.
A foolish plan is sin and men despise a mocker.
10 Sɛ wʼaba mu gow wɔ ɔhaw mu a, na wʼahoɔden sua!
If you become weak with fear in the day of trouble, then your strength is small.
11 Gye wɔn a wɔde wɔn rekɔ akokum wɔn no nkwa; na sianka wɔn a wɔtɔ ntintan kɔ akumii.
Rescue those who are being taken away to death and hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.
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 say, “Behold, we knew nothing about this,” does not the one who weighs the heart understand what you are saying? The one who guards your life, does he not know it? Will God not give to each one what he deserves?
13 Me ba, di ɛwo, efisɛ eye; ɛwokyɛm mu wo yɛ wʼanom dɛ.
My son, eat honey because it is good, because the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Hu nso sɛ nyansa yɛ wo kra dɛ; sɛ wunya a, wowɔ anidaso ma daakye, na wʼanidaso renyɛ ɔkwa.
Such is wisdom for your soul— if you find it, there will be a future and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Nkɔtɛw ɔtreneeni fi sɛ ɔkwanmukafo, na nkɔtow nhyɛ nʼatenae so,
Do not lie in wait like the wicked person who attacks the house of the righteous person. Do not destroy his home!
16 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ɔtreneeni hwe ase mpɛn ason de, nanso ɔsɔre bio, na amumɔyɛfo de amanehunu baako ma wɔhwe ase.
For the righteous person falls down seven times and rises again, but wicked people are brought down by calamity.
17 Sɛ wo tamfo hwe ase a mma ɛnyɛ wo dɛ; na sɛ ohintiw a mma wo koma nni ahurusi,
Do not celebrate when your enemy falls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 efisɛ Awurade behu wʼadwene na ɔrempɛ na obeyi nʼabufuwhyew afi no so.
or Yahweh will see and disapprove and turn away his wrath from him.
19 Nhaw wo ho wɔ abɔnefo nti, na mma wʼani mmere amumɔyɛfo nso,
Do not worry because of evildoers, and do not envy wicked people,
20 efisɛ, ɔbɔnefo nni anidaso biara daakye, na wobedum amumɔyɛfo kanea.
for the evil person has no future and the lamp of wicked people will go out.
21 Me ba, suro Awurade ne ɔhene, na mfa wo ho mmɔ atuatewfo ho,
Fear Yahweh, and fear the king, my son; do not associate with those who rebel against them,
22 efisɛ saa baanu yi de, ɔsɛe bɛba wɔn so mpofirim; na hena na onim amanehunu ko a wobetumi de aba?
for suddenly their disaster will come and who knows the extent of the destruction that will come from both of them?
23 Eyinom nso yɛ anyansafo Nsɛnka: Atemmu a nhwɛanim wɔ mu no nye:
These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging a case at law is not good.
24 Obiara a ɔbɛka akyerɛ nea odi fɔ se, “Wo ho nni asɛm” no, nnipa bɛdome no na amanaman remmɔ no din pa.
Whoever says to the wicked person, “You are a righteous person,” will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.
25 Na wɔn a wobu afɔdifo fɔ no, ebesi wɔn yiye, na nhyira bɛba wɔn so.
But those who discipline the wicked will have delight and gifts of goodness will come to them.
26 Mmuae pa te sɛ mfewano.
The one who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.
27 Wie wo mfikyidwuma na siesie wo mfuw; ɛno akyi, si wo fi.
Prepare your outdoor work, and make everything ready for yourself in the field; after that, build your house.
28 Nni adanse ntia ɔyɔnko a ɔnyɛɛ wo hwee, na mfa wʼano nnaadaa.
Do not bear witness against your neighbor without cause and do not deceive 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 what he has done to me; I will pay him back for what he has done.”
30 Menantew faa onihawfo afuw ho, twaa mu wɔ nea onni adwene bobeturo nso ho;
I went by the field of a lazy man, past the vineyard of the man having no sense.
31 nsɔe afuw wɔ baabiara, wura afuw akata asase no so, na abo afasu no nso abubu.
Thorns had grown up everywhere, the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Mede me koma kɔɔ nea mihuu no so na misuaa biribi fii mu:
Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
33 nna kakra, nkotɔ kakra, nsa a woabobɔw de rehome kakra
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands 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 poverty comes marching upon you, and your needs like an armed soldier.
