Mmebusɛm 31
1 Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ a ne na kyerɛɛ no:
The words given to King Lemuel; the prophecy which his mother taught him.
2 Tie, me babarima! Tie, me yafunu ba, Tie, me bɔhyɛ ba, me mpaebɔ ho mmuae!
What, O my son! and what, O son of my womb! Yea, what, O son of my vows! [[shall I say to thee?]]
3 Nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmea ho, wɔn a wogu ahemfo asu no.
Give not thy strength to women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth 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, Nor for princes to desire 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 the law, And pervert the rights of any of the afflicted.
6 Fa bobesa ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsa ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, And wine to him that hath a heavy heart;
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 thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of every orphan!
9 Kasa na bu atɛntrenee; kasa ma ahiafo ne onnibi yiyedi.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And maintain the cause of the poor and needy!
10 Ɔyere pa, hena na obenya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sen nhene pa.
Who can find a capable woman? Her worth is far above pearls.
11 Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotoso pa ara, na biribiara a ɛwɔ bo nhia no.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he is in no want of gain.
12 Ɔde nea eye brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwanna nyinaa mu.
She doeth him good, and not evil, All the days of her life.
13 Ɔhwehwɛ oguannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwen wɔ fɛw so.
She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.
14 Ɔte sɛ aguadifo ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuan fi akyirikyiri ba.
She is like the merchants' ships; She bringeth her food from afar.
15 Ade nnya nkyee no na wasɔre; osiesie aduan ma nʼabusuafo na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
She riseth while it is yet night, And giveth food to her family, And a task to her maidens.
16 Osusuw afuw ho na ɔtɔ; ofi nea onya mu yɛ bobeturo.
She layeth a plan for a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.
18 Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼaguadi so wɔ mfaso, na ne kanea anum anadwo.
She perceiveth how pleasant is her gain, And her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
She putteth forth her hands to the distaff, And her hands take hold of the spindle.
20 Ogow ne nsam ma ahiafo na ne nsa so ohiani so.
She spreadeth out her hand to the poor, Yea, she reacheth forth 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.
She hath no fear for her household on account of the snow, For all her household are clothed with crimson.
22 Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ofura nwera ne sirikyi ntama.
She maketh for herself coverlets; Her clothing is of 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 in the gates, When he sitteth with the elders of the land.
24 Ɔpempam nwera ntade tontɔn, na otu nkyekyeremu ma aguadifo.
She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles to the merchant.
25 Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne anuonyam; na onsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
Strength and honor are her clothing; And she laugheth at the days to come.
26 Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokware nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, And kind instruction is upon her tongue.
27 Ɔhwɛ ne fi mu nnwuma so na onnyigye anihaw so.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not 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 extol her; Her husband, and praiseth her, [[saving, ]]
29 “Mmea pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ din na wo de, wosen wɔn nyinaa.”
“Many daughters have done, virtuously, But thou excellest them all.”
30 Ɔbea kɔnnɔfo yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twa mu ntɛm so; nanso ɔbea a osuro Awurade no fata nkamfo.
Grace is deceitful, and beauty vain; But the woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Fa abasobɔde a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn pon ano.
Give ye her of the fruit of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.
