Mmebusɛm 30
1 Yake babarima Agur nsɛm a ɔkae a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ: Saa ɔbarima yi ka kyerɛɛ Itiel ne Ukal se:
These are the words of Agur, son of Jakeh. An oracle. This is what the man says, God, I'm really tired, I'm worn out.
2 “Me na minnim hwee koraa wɔ nnipa mu, minni onipa ntease.
I'm so stupid I'm not really a man; I can't even think like a human being.
3 Minsuaa nyansa, na minni Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ nso.
I have not learned wisdom; I have no 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 gone up to heaven, and come down? Who holds the winds in the palm of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has set the earth's boundaries? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Are you sure you don't know?
5 “Onyankopɔn asɛm biara yɛ nokware; ɔyɛ nkatabo ma wɔn a woguan toa no.
Every word God says has been proved true. He defends everyone who comes to him for protection.
6 Mfa biribi nka nʼasɛm ho, anyɛ saa a ɔbɛka wʼanim ama woayɛ ɔtorofo.
Don't add anything to his words, or he will criticize you and you'll be shown to be a liar.
7 “Awurade, nneɛma abien na mehwehwɛ afi wo nkyɛn; mfa nkame me ansa na mawu:
God, I want to request two things from you. Please don't refuse to let me have them before I come to die.
8 ma me ne atoro ne nnaadaasɛm ntam nware koraa; mma mennyɛ ohiani anaa ɔdefo; nanso ma me me daa aduan nkutoo.
Keep me from being false, help me not to tell lies. Don't make me poor or rich; just provide me with the food I need.
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.
Otherwise if I have plenty of money, I may give up on you, saying, “Who is the Lord?” while if I'm poor I may steal and bring the name of my God into disrepute.
10 “Nsɛe ɔsomfo din nkyerɛ ne wura; sɛ woyɛ saa a, ɔbɛdome wo na wubetua so ka.
Don't slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you and you'll suffer for it.
11 “Nnipa bi dome wɔn agyanom, na wonhyira wɔn nanom nso;
There are some who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
12 Wɔn a wɔteɛ wɔ wɔn ankasa ani so nanso wɔnhohoroo wɔn ho fi no;
There are some who see themselves as pure but they're still filthy—they have not been washed.
13 wɔn a wɔn ani tra ntɔn, na wobu animtiaa;
There are some who think themselves so high and mighty, and who look down on others.
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 are some who have teeth like swords, incisors like knives, ready to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from society.
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 who cry out, “Give me! Give me!” There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, “Enough!”:
The grave, the womb that doesn't become pregnant, the earth thirsty for water, and the fire that never says, “Enough!” (Sheol h7585)
17 “Ani a eyi agya ahi, na ebu ɛna animtiaa no, obon mu kwaakwaadabi betutu, na apete abedi.
People who ridicule their fathers and despise obedience to the mother will have their eyes pecked out by wild ravens and eaten by young vultures.
18 “Nneɛma abiɛsa na ɛyɛ me nwonwa, anan na mente ase:
These three things are amazingly hard for me, four things I just can't 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 an eagle soars in the sky, the way a snake slides over a rock, the way a ship sails across the sea, the way a man and a woman fall in love.
20 “Ɔbea ɔwaresɛefo kwan ni: Odidi, ɔpepa nʼano na ɔka se, ‘Menyɛɛ mfomso biara.’
This is the way of a woman who commits adultery: she eats, she wipes her mouth, and then says, “I haven't done anything wrong!”
21 “Nneɛma abiɛsa na ɛma asase wosow, anan na asase ntumi nnyina ano:
Three things make the earth tremble, there are four things it can't support:
22 akoa a wabɛyɛ ɔhene, ɔkwasea a wadidi amee,
a slave becoming a king, a stupid person eating like a pig,
23 ɔbea a wɔmpɛ no na waware, afenaa a otu nʼawuraa tena nʼanan mu.
an unbearable woman getting married, and a maidservant taking her mistress's place.
24 “Nneɛma nketenkete anan na ɛwɔ asase so, nanso wɔyɛ anyansafo ankasa:
There are four things on earth that are small, but very wise:
25 Ntɛtea yɛ abɔde nketewa a wonni ahoɔden, nanso wɔboaboa wɔn aduan ano ahuhuru bere mu;
Ants—they're not strong, but they work hard all summer storing up food.
26 Nkukuban yɛ abɔde a wonni ahoɔden, nanso wɔyɛ wɔn afi wɔ abotan mu,
Hyraxes—they don't have much power, but they make their homes in the rock.
27 mmoadabi nni ɔhene, nanso wɔsa so akuwakuw, kɔ wɔn anim;
Locusts—they don't have a king, but they all march in line abreast.
28 wotumi de nsa kyere ɔketew, nanso wohu no abirɛmpɔn ahemfi.
Lizards—you can catch them in your hands, but they live in the king's palace.
29 “Nneɛma abiɛsa na wɔwɔ abirɛmpɔnnantew, anan na wɔkeka wɔn ho te sɛ abirɛmpɔn:
There are three things that are glorious to watch as they walk, four that look dignified as they move:
30 gyata, mmoadoma hene a, biribiara mmɔ no hu;
The lion, supreme among wild animals, who isn't frightened of anything.
31 akokɔnini a ɔretutu taataa, ɔpapo, ne ɔhene a nʼasraafo atwa no ho ahyia.
The strutting starling, the male goat, and a king with his army.
32 “Sɛ woayɛ ɔkwasea ama wo ho so, anaa woadwene bɔne a, ma wʼani nwu na mua wʼano!
If you have been foolishly boasting about yourself, or if you've been planning to do something wrong, stop and 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.”
Just as churning milk produces butter, and twisting someone's nose makes it bleed, so stirring up anger causes arguments.
