Mmebusɛm 27
1 Mfa ɔkyena nhoahoa wo ho, na wunnim nea ɛda bi de bɛba.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 Ma ɔfoforo nkamfo wo; na ɛnyɛ wo ankasa; ma emfi ɔfoforo anom na ɛnyɛ wo.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 Ɔbo mu yɛ duru, na nwea yɛ adesoa, nanso ɔkwasea abufuwhyew yɛ duru sen emu biara.
A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
4 Abufuw tirim yɛ den, na abufuwhyew sɛe ade, na hena na obetumi agyina ninkutwe ano?
Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Animka a ɛda gua ye sen ɔdɔ a asuma.
Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 Apirakuru a efi adamfo nkyɛn no ye sen ɔtamfo mfewano bebrebe.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 Ɛwo nyɛ nea wamee akɔnnɔ, nanso nea ɛyɛ nwen mpo yɛ nea ɔkɔm de no no nʼanom dɛ.
The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Onipa a wayera ne fi kwan, te sɛ anomaa a wafi ne berebuw mu rekyinkyin.
Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Ngo ne aduhuam ma koma ani gye, adamfo ho anigye fi nʼafotu pa a ɔma.
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
10 Nnyaa wʼadamfo ne wʼagya adamfo mu, nkɔ wo nuabarima fi bere a ɔhaw ato wo, na ɔyɔnko a ɔbɛn wo no ye sen onuabarima a ɔwɔ akyirikyiri.
Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
11 Me ba, hu nyansa na ma me koma ani nnye; ɛno na ɛbɛma manya mmuae ama obiara a obu me animtiaa.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
12 Mmadwemma hu asiane na wohintaw, nanso ntetekwaafo kɔ wɔn anim kɔtɔ mu.
The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 Fa atade a ɛhyɛ obi a odi ɔhɔho akagyinamu; sɛ ɔregyina ɔbea huhufo akyi a, fa si awowa.
Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
14 Sɛ obi teɛ mu hyira ne yɔnko anɔpahema a, wɔbɛfa no sɛ ɛyɛ nnome.
If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
15 Ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo te sɛ ahumtuda nsusosɔ wɔ ɔdan a enwin so;
A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
16 sɛ wopata no a, ɛte sɛ nea wopata mframa anaa wode wo nsa beso ngo mu.
restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
17 Dade sew dade, saa ara na onipa sew ɔfoforo.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 Nea ɔhwɛ borɔdɔma dua so no bedi so aba, na nea ɔsom ne wura no, wɔbɛhyɛ no anuonyam.
Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 Sɛnea nsu yi animdua kyerɛ no, saa ara na onipa koma da onipa no adi.
As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Kyɛmfɛre wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ, nanso wɔnam nkamfo a onipa nya so na ɛsɔ no hwɛ.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 Sɛ wowɔw ɔkwasea wɔ ɔwaduru mu, sɛ wode ɔwɔma wɔw no te sɛnea wusiw aburow a, worentumi nyi agyimisɛm mfi ne ho.
Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
23 Ma ɛnyɛ wo asɛnhia sɛ wubehu wo nguankuw tebea, na ma wʼani nkɔ wo anantwikuw so;
Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24 efisɛ, ahonya ntena hɔ daa, na ahenkyɛw ntena hɔ mma awo ntoantoaso nyinaa.
for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25 Sɛ wotwa sare no na foforo fifi, na wɔboaboa nkoko so sare no ano a,
When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered,
26 ɛno de, nguantenmma no bɛma wo ntama, na mmirekyi ama sika a ɛtɔ mfuw.
the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 Wubenya mmirekyi nufusu bebree ama wo ne wʼabusuafo adi ne aduan ama wo mmaawa.
You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
