Ɔsɛnkafoɔ 11
1 To wo burodo gu nsuo ani, na daakye bi wo nsa bɛka bio.
Cast thy bread upon the waters; for after many days thou shalt find it.
2 Kyekyɛ mu ma nnipa baason, mpo nnipa baawɔtwe, ɛfiri sɛ, wonnim amanehunu a ɛbɛba asase no so.
Give a portion to seven, yea, to eight; for thou knowest 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.
When the clouds are full of rain, they empty upon the earth; and when a tree falleth to the south or the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
4 Obiara a ɔtwɛn ewiem nsakraeɛ no rennua, na deɛ ɔhwɛ omununkum no nso rentwa.
He that watcheth the wind will not sow, and he that gazeth upon the clouds will 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 knowest not the way of the wind, nor how the bones are formed in the womb of her that is with child, so thou canst not know the work of God, who doeth 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.
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand! For thou knowest not whether this shall prosper, or that, or whether both of them 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, though a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him think of the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh 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 body! for childhood and youth are vanity.
