Ɔsɛnkafoɔ 11
1 To wo burodo gu nsuo ani, na daakye bi wo nsa bɛka bio.
Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shall find it after many days.
2 Kyekyɛ mu ma nnipa baason, mpo nnipa baawɔtwe, ɛfiri sɛ, wonnim amanehunu a ɛbɛba asase no so.
Give a portion to seven, yea, even to eight, for thou know not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3 Sɛ omununkum mu wɔ nsuo a, ɛtɔ gu asase so. Sɛ dua bi bu hwe anafoɔ fam anaa atifi fam a, deɛ ɛhweeɛ no, ɛhɔ ara na ɛbɛda.
If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth, and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.
4 Obiara a ɔtwɛn ewiem nsakraeɛ no rennua, na deɛ ɔhwɛ omununkum no nso rentwa.
He who observes the wind shall not sow, and he who regards the clouds shall not reap.
5 Sɛdeɛ wonhunu ɛkwan a mframa nam soɔ, anaa sɛdeɛ wɔnwono onipadua wɔ yafunu mu no, saa ara na worentumi nte Onyankopɔn nnwuma ase. Adeɛ nyinaa Yɛfoɔ no.
As thou know not what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, even so thou know not the work of God who does all.
6 Dua wʼaba anɔpa, na anwummerɛ nso ma wo nsa nna ho, na wonnim deɛ ɛbɛyɛ yie, sɛ yei anaa yei anaasɛ ebia mmienu no nyinaa bɛyɛ yie.
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand, for thou know not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
7 Hann yɛ fɛ; na ɛyɛ aniwa dɛ sɛ ɔhunu owia.
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
8 Mfeɛ dodoɔ a onipa bɛtena nkwa yi mu nyinaa ɛsɛ sɛ ɔnya ahotɔ. Nanso ɛsɛ sɛ ɔkae nnabɔne na ɛbɛdɔɔso. Biribiara a ɛbɛba no yɛ ahuhudeɛ.
Yea, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
9 Ma wʼani nnye, aberanteɛ, ɛberɛ a woyɛ ɔbabunu, ma wʼakoma mma wo anigyeɛ wɔ wo mmeranteberɛ mu. Di deɛ wʼakoma pɛ ne deɛ wʼaniwa hunu akyi, nanso hunu sɛ yeinom nyinaa ho Onyankopɔn de wo bɛba atemmuo mu.
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes. But know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
10 Enti yi adwendwene biara firi wʼakoma mu na to ɔhaw biara a ɛwɔ wo mu no gu, ɛfiri sɛ mmeranteyɛ ne ahoɔden yɛ ahuhudeɛ.
Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
