Mmebusɛm 30
1 Yake babarima Agur nsɛm a ɔkae a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ: Saa ɔbarima yi ka kyerɛɛ Itiel ne Ukal se:
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 “Me na minnim hwee koraa wɔ nnipa mu, minni onipa ntease.
“Surely I am the most ignorant man, and do not have a man’s understanding.
3 Minsuaa nyansa, na minni Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ nso.
I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Hena na waforo akɔ ɔsoro na wasian aba fam? Hena na wabɔ mframa boa wɔ ne nsam? Hena na ɔde nʼatade abɔ nsu boa? Hena na ɔbɔɔ asase tamaa yi? Ne din de dɛn, na ne babarima nso din de dɛn? Sɛ wunim a ka kyerɛ me!
Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know?
5 “Onyankopɔn asɛm biara yɛ nokware; ɔyɛ nkatabo ma wɔn a woguan toa no.
“Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Mfa biribi nka nʼasɛm ho, anyɛ saa a ɔbɛka wʼanim ama woayɛ ɔtorofo.
Do not you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7 “Awurade, nneɛma abien na mehwehwɛ afi wo nkyɛn; mfa nkame me ansa na mawu:
“Two things I have asked of you. Do not deny me before I die.
8 ma me ne atoro ne nnaadaasɛm ntam nware koraa; mma mennyɛ ohiani anaa ɔdefo; nanso ma me me daa aduan nkutoo.
Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 Anyɛ saa a, ebia minya me ho pii a ɛbɛma mapa wo na maka se, ‘Hena ne Awurade?’ Anaa mɛyɛ ohiani na mabɔ korɔn, na ama magu me Nyankopɔn din ho fi.
lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
10 “Nsɛe ɔsomfo din nkyerɛ ne wura; sɛ woyɛ saa a, ɔbɛdome wo na wubetua so ka.
“Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11 “Nnipa bi dome wɔn agyanom, na wonhyira wɔn nanom nso;
There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.
12 Wɔn a wɔteɛ wɔ wɔn ankasa ani so nanso wɔnhohoroo wɔn ho fi no;
There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13 wɔn a wɔn ani tra ntɔn, na wobu animtiaa;
There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.
14 wɔn a wɔn se yɛ afoa na asekan hyehyɛ wɔn abogye mu wɔn na wɔbɛtɔre ahiafo ase afi asase so, na wɔayi ahiafo afi adesamma mu.
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 “Amemem wɔ mmabea baanu a wɔteɛ mu se, ‘Fa ma! Fa ma!’ “Nneɛma abiɛsa na ɛmmee da anan na ɛnka da se, ‘Eye!’
“The leech has two daughters: ‘Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that do not say, ‘Enough!’:
Sheol (Sheol h7585), the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that does not say, 'Enough!'
17 “Ani a eyi agya ahi, na ebu ɛna animtiaa no, obon mu kwaakwaadabi betutu, na apete abedi.
“The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
18 “Nneɛma abiɛsa na ɛyɛ me nwonwa, anan na mente ase:
“There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I do not understand:
19 Ɔkwan a ɔkɔre nam so wɔ wim, sɛnea ɔwɔ nantew ɔbotan so, ɔkwan a hyɛn nam so wɔ po tamaa so, ne sɛnea ɔbarima dɔ ababaa.
The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.
20 “Ɔbea ɔwaresɛefo kwan ni: Odidi, ɔpepa nʼano na ɔka se, ‘Menyɛɛ mfomso biara.’
“So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
21 “Nneɛma abiɛsa na ɛma asase wosow, anan na asase ntumi nnyina ano:
“For three things the earth trembles, and under four, it cannot bear up:
22 akoa a wabɛyɛ ɔhene, ɔkwasea a wadidi amee,
For a servant when he is king, a fool when he is filled with food,
23 ɔbea a wɔmpɛ no na waware, afenaa a otu nʼawuraa tena nʼanan mu.
for an unloved woman when she is married, and a servant who is heir to her mistress.
24 “Nneɛma nketenkete anan na ɛwɔ asase so, nanso wɔyɛ anyansafo ankasa:
“There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:
25 Ntɛtea yɛ abɔde nketewa a wonni ahoɔden, nanso wɔboaboa wɔn aduan ano ahuhuru bere mu;
The ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.
26 Nkukuban yɛ abɔde a wonni ahoɔden, nanso wɔyɛ wɔn afi wɔ abotan mu,
The hyraxes are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.
27 mmoadabi nni ɔhene, nanso wɔsa so akuwakuw, kɔ wɔn anim;
The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.
28 wotumi de nsa kyere ɔketew, nanso wohu no abirɛmpɔn ahemfi.
You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.
29 “Nneɛma abiɛsa na wɔwɔ abirɛmpɔnnantew, anan na wɔkeka wɔn ho te sɛ abirɛmpɔn:
“There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:
30 gyata, mmoadoma hene a, biribiara mmɔ no hu;
The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and does not turn away for any;
31 akokɔnini a ɔretutu taataa, ɔpapo, ne ɔhene a nʼasraafo atwa no ho ahyia.
the greyhound; the male goat; and the king against whom there is no rising up.
32 “Sɛ woayɛ ɔkwasea ama wo ho so, anaa woadwene bɔne a, ma wʼani nwu na mua wʼano!
“If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.
33 Sɛnea wɔka nufusu nu mu a srade fi mu ba, na wokyinkyim hwene a etu mogya no, saa ara na abufuw de akasakasa ba.”
For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”
