Mmɛbusɛm 22
1 Edin pa yɛ sene ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wɔbɛdi wo ni yɛ sene dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 Ɔdefoɔ ne ohiani wɔ adeɛ baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfoɔ.
The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.
3 Onitefoɔ hunu amanehunu a ɛreba na ɔhinta ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim kɔnya amane.
The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
4 Ahobrɛaseɛ ne Awurade suro ma ahonya ne animuonyam ne nkwa.
The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Nkasɛɛ ne mfidie wɔ amumuyɛfoɔ akwan so, nanso deɛ ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.
6 Kyerɛ abɔfra ɛkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ ɔnyini a ɔremfiri so.
It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Adefoɔ di ahiafoɔ so, na boseagyeni yɛ deɛ ɔde fɛm ɔsomfoɔ.
The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
8 Deɛ ɔdua amumuyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuhyeɛ abaa.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
9 Ɔyamyɛfoɔ bɛnya nhyira ɛfiri sɛ ɔne ahiafoɔ kyɛ nʼaduane.
He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
10 Pam ɔfɛdifoɔ na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwa ne atɛnnidie to atwa.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
11 Obi a ɔdɔ akoma a emu teɛ na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam bɛnya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofoɔ nsɛm.
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
13 Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyire hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wɔbɛkum me wɔ mmɔntene so.”
The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.
14 Ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ anomu yɛ amena donkudonku; deɛ ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuo ase no bɛtɔ mu.
The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
15 Agyimisɛm kyekyere abɔfra akoma ho, nanso ntenesoɔ abaa bɛpamo akɔ akyiri.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
16 Obi bɛsisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefoɔ adeɛ, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wʼakoma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
18 ɛfiri sɛ ɛyɛ sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wʼakoma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
19 Sɛdeɛ wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo ɛnnɛ, aane wo.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
20 Mentwerɛɛ mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, deɛ ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
21 a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokorɛ ne deɛ akyinnyeɛ nni ho, sɛdeɛ wobɛnya mmuaeɛ pa ama deɛ ɔsomaa woɔ no anaa?
That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
22 Mmɔ ahiafoɔ korɔno, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafoɔ enti, na nnsisi wɔn a wɔnni bie wɔ asɛnniiɛ,
Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
23 ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛdi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafoɔ fa.
Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
24 Mfa obi a ne bo ha no adamfo, na mmfa wo ho mmɔ deɛ ne bo nkyɛre fu,
Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
25 anyɛ saa a, wobɛsua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afidie mu.
Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
26 Ɛnyɛ deɛ ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di agyinamu, anaasɛ deɛ ɔdi akagyinamu;
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
27 na sɛ wonni deɛ wɔde tua a wɔbɛhwan wo mpa mpo afiri wʼase.
For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
28 Ntutu tete aboɔ a wɔde ato hyeɛ; deɛ wo nananom de sisii hɔ no.
Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
29 Wohunu odwumayɛfoɔ a ne nsa akokwa nʼadwuma ho anaa? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwaa anim.
Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
