Ɔsɛnkafoɔ 11
1 To wo burodo gu nsuo ani, na daakye bi wo nsa bɛka bio.
Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
2 Kyekyɛ mu ma nnipa baason, mpo nnipa baawɔtwe, ɛfiri sɛ, wonnim amanehunu a ɛbɛba asase no so.
Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.
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, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
4 Obiara a ɔtwɛn ewiem nsakraeɛ no rennua, na deɛ ɔhwɛ omununkum no nso rentwa.
He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to 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 you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
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.
Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.
7 Hann yɛ fɛ; na ɛyɛ aniwa dɛ sɛ ɔhunu owia.
Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see 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.
So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.
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, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to 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.
So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.
