Mmebusɛm 31
1 Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ a ne na kyerɛɛ no:
The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
2 Tie, me babarima! Tie, me yafunu ba, Tie, me bɔhyɛ ba, me mpaebɔ ho mmuae!
“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
3 Nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmea ho, wɔn a wogu ahemfo asu no.
Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 Enye mma ahemfo, Lemuel, asanom nye mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifo pere bobesa ho;
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is 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 justice due to anyone who is 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 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 the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9 Kasa na bu atɛntrenee; kasa ma ahiafo ne onnibi yiyedi.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
10 Ɔyere pa, hena na obenya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sen nhene pa.
Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above 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. He shall have no lack of gain.
12 Ɔde nea eye brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwanna nyinaa mu.
She does 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 seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
14 Ɔte sɛ aguadifo ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuan fi akyirikyiri ba.
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
15 Ade nnya nkyee no na wasɔre; osiesie aduan ma nʼabusuafo na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
16 Osusuw afuw ho na ɔtɔ; ofi nea onya mu yɛ bobeturo.
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼaguadi so wɔ mfaso, na ne kanea anum anadwo.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19 Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Ogow ne nsam ma ahiafo na ne nsa so ohiani so.
She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends 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 is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ofura nwera ne sirikyi ntama.
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. 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 respected in the gates, when he sits amongst the elders of the land.
24 Ɔpempam nwera ntade tontɔn, na otu nkyekyeremu ma aguadifo.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne anuonyam; na onsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26 Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokware nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27 Ɔhwɛ ne fi mu nnwuma so na onnyigye anihaw so.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t 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 also praises her:
29 “Mmea pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ din na wo de, wosen wɔn nyinaa.”
“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
30 Ɔbea kɔnnɔfo yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twa mu ntɛm so; nanso ɔbea a osuro Awurade no fata nkamfo.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, 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 hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
