Mmebusɛm 31
1 Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ a ne na kyerɛɛ no:
The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
2 Tie, me babarima! Tie, me yafunu ba, Tie, me bɔhyɛ ba, me mpaebɔ ho mmuae!
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
3 Nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmea ho, wɔn a wogu ahemfo asu no.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them 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, nor, for dignitaries, 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 he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
6 Fa bobesa ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsa ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
7 Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfi wɔn hia, na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhow bio.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
8 Kasa ma wɔn a wontumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfo yiyedi.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
9 Kasa na bu atɛntrenee; kasa ma ahiafo ne onnibi yiyedi.
Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
10 Ɔyere pa, hena na obenya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sen nhene pa.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
11 Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotoso pa ara, na biribiara a ɛwɔ bo nhia no.
The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
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 ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
15 Ade nnya nkyee no na wasɔre; osiesie aduan ma nʼabusuafo na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
16 Osusuw afuw ho na ɔtɔ; ofi nea onya mu yɛ bobeturo.
She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
17 Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
18 Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼaguadi so wɔ mfaso, na ne kanea anum anadwo.
She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
19 Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
20 Ogow ne nsam ma ahiafo na ne nsa so ohiani so.
Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth 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 feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
22 Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ofura nwera ne sirikyi ntama.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
23 Ne kunu wɔ anuonyam wɔ kuropɔn pon ano, faako a ɔne asase no so mpanyimfo tena.
Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
24 Ɔpempam nwera ntade tontɔn, na otu nkyekyeremu ma aguadifo.
Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
25 Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne anuonyam; na onsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
26 Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokware nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
27 Ɔhwɛ ne fi mu nnwuma so na onnyigye anihaw so.
She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
28 Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira; ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no se,
Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
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.
Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
31 Fa abasobɔde a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn pon ano.
Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
