Mmebusɛm 31
1 Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ a ne na kyerɛɛ no:
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 Tie, me babarima! Tie, me yafunu ba, Tie, me bɔhyɛ ba, me mpaebɔ ho mmuae!
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3 Nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmea ho, wɔn a wogu ahemfo asu no.
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 Enye mma ahemfo, Lemuel, asanom nye mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifo pere bobesa ho;
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 sɛ wɔnom nsa a wɔn werɛ befi nea mmara no ka, na wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so no rennya nea ɛyɛ wɔn kyɛfa.
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 Fa bobesa ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsa ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfi wɔn hia, na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhow bio.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Kasa ma wɔn a wontumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfo yiyedi.
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 Kasa na bu atɛntrenee; kasa ma ahiafo ne onnibi yiyedi.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Ɔyere pa, hena na obenya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sen nhene pa.
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotoso pa ara, na biribiara a ɛwɔ bo nhia no.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 Ɔde nea eye brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwanna nyinaa mu.
She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 Ɔhwehwɛ oguannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwen wɔ fɛw so.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 Ɔte sɛ aguadifo ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuan fi akyirikyiri ba.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 Ade nnya nkyee no na wasɔre; osiesie aduan ma nʼabusuafo na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 Osusuw afuw ho na ɔtɔ; ofi nea onya mu yɛ bobeturo.
She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼaguadi so wɔ mfaso, na ne kanea anum anadwo.
She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 Ogow ne nsam ma ahiafo na ne nsa so ohiani so.
She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 Sɛ sukyerɛmma tɔ a ne yam nhyehye no wɔ ne fifo ho; efisɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ adurade a wɔde ko awɔw.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ofura nwera ne sirikyi ntama.
She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Ne kunu wɔ anuonyam wɔ kuropɔn pon ano, faako a ɔne asase no so mpanyimfo tena.
Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 Ɔpempam nwera ntade tontɔn, na otu nkyekyeremu ma aguadifo.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne anuonyam; na onsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokware nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 Ɔhwɛ ne fi mu nnwuma so na onnyigye anihaw so.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira; ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no se,
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 “Mmea pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ din na wo de, wosen wɔn nyinaa.”
“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Ɔbea kɔnnɔfo yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twa mu ntɛm so; nanso ɔbea a osuro Awurade no fata nkamfo.
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Fa abasobɔde a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn pon ano.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
