Ɔsɛnkafoɔ 11
1 To wo burodo gu nsuo ani, na daakye bi wo nsa bɛka bio.
Cast your bread over running waters. For, after a long time, you shall find it again.
2 Kyekyɛ mu ma nnipa baason, mpo nnipa baawɔtwe, ɛfiri sɛ, wonnim amanehunu a ɛbɛba asase no so.
Give a portion to seven, and indeed even to eight. For you do not know what evil may be upon the earth in the future.
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 have been filled, they will pour forth rain upon the earth. If a tree falls to the south, or to the north, or to whatever direction it may fall, there it shall remain.
4 Obiara a ɔtwɛn ewiem nsakraeɛ no rennua, na deɛ ɔhwɛ omununkum no nso rentwa.
Whoever heeds the wind will not sow. And whoever considers the clouds will never 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.
In the same manner that you do not know the way of the spirit, nor the way that bones are joined together in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the works of God, who is the Maker of 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 your seed, and in the evening, do not let your hand cease. For you do not know which of these may rise up, the one or the other. But if both rise up together, so much the better.
7 Hann yɛ fɛ; na ɛyɛ aniwa dɛ sɛ ɔhunu owia.
Light is pleasant, and it is delightful for 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.
If a man lives for many years, and if he has rejoiced in all of these, he must remember the many days of the dark times, which, when they will have arrived, will accuse the past of 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.
So then, rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart remain in what is good during the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart, and with the perception of your eyes. And know that, concerning 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.
Remove anger from your heart, and set aside evil from your flesh. For youth and pleasure are empty.
