Mmebusɛm 24
1 Mma wʼani mmere amumɔyɛfo, mfa wo ho mmɔ wɔn;
Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2 Efisɛ wɔn koma dwene atirimɔdensɛm ho, na wɔn ano ka nea ɛde basabasayɛ ba ho asɛm.
for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Wɔde nyansa na esi fi, na nhumu mu na wɔma etim;
Through wisdom a house is built; 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 rare and beautiful treasure.
5 Onyansafo wɔ tumi a ɛso, na onimdefo nyin ahoɔden mu;
A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
6 nea ɔretu sa hia akwankyerɛ, nea ɔrehwehwɛ nkonimdi no hia afotufo pii.
for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
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. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8 Onipa a ɔbɔ pɔw bɔne no, wɔbɛfrɛ no ɔkɔtwebrɛfo.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 Ogyimifo nhyehyɛe yɛ bɔne, nnipa kyi ɔfɛwdifo.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 Sɛ wʼaba mu gow wɔ ɔhaw mu a, na wʼahoɔden sua!
If you falter in the time of trouble, 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 led away to death! Indeed, 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 didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13 Me ba, di ɛwo, efisɛ eye; ɛwokyɛm mu wo yɛ wʼanom dɛ.
My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which 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.
so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
15 Nkɔtɛw ɔtreneeni fi sɛ ɔkwanmukafo, na nkɔtow nhyɛ nʼatenae so,
Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
16 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ɔtreneeni hwe ase mpɛn ason de, nanso ɔsɔre bio, na amumɔyɛfo de amanehunu baako ma wɔhwe ase.
for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 Sɛ wo tamfo hwe ase a mma ɛnyɛ wo dɛ; na sɛ ohintiw a mma wo koma nni ahurusi,
Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
18 efisɛ Awurade behu wʼadwene na ɔrempɛ na obeyi nʼabufuwhyew afi no so.
lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Nhaw wo ho wɔ abɔnefo nti, na mma wʼani mmere amumɔyɛfo nso,
Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
20 efisɛ, ɔbɔnefo nni anidaso biara daakye, na wobedum amumɔyɛfo kanea.
for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21 Me ba, suro Awurade ne ɔhene, na mfa wo ho mmɔ atuatewfo ho,
My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
22 efisɛ saa baanu yi de, ɔsɛe bɛba wɔn so mpofirim; na hena na onim amanehunu ko a wobetumi de aba?
for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
23 Eyinom nso yɛ anyansafo Nsɛnka: Atemmu a nhwɛanim wɔ mu no nye:
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment 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.
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 Na wɔn a wobu afɔdifo fɔ no, ebesi wɔn yiye, na nhyira bɛba wɔn so.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 Mmuae pa te sɛ mfewano.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Wie wo mfikyidwuma na siesie wo mfuw; ɛno akyi, si wo fi.
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Nni adanse ntia ɔyɔnko a ɔnyɛɛ wo hwee, na mfa wʼano nnaadaa.
Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Nka se, “Nea wayɛ me no me nso mɛyɛ no bi; nea ɔyɛe no mitua no so ka.”
Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 Menantew faa onihawfo afuw ho, twaa mu wɔ nea onni adwene bobeturo nso ho;
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
31 nsɔe afuw wɔ baabiara, wura afuw akata asase no so, na abo afasu no nso abubu.
Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface 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 well. I saw, 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 sleep,
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.
so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
