Mmɛbusɛm 22
1 Edin pa yɛ sene ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wɔbɛdi wo ni yɛ sene dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
2 Ɔdefoɔ ne ohiani wɔ adeɛ baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfoɔ.
Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.
3 Onitefoɔ hunu amanehunu a ɛreba na ɔhinta ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim kɔnya amane.
The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4 Ahobrɛaseɛ ne Awurade suro ma ahonya ne animuonyam ne nkwa.
The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
5 Nkasɛɛ ne mfidie wɔ amumuyɛfoɔ akwan so, nanso deɛ ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoever is keeping his soul is far from them.
6 Kyerɛ abɔfra ɛkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ ɔnyini a ɔremfiri so.
Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
7 Adefoɔ di ahiafoɔ so, na boseagyeni yɛ deɛ ɔde fɛm ɔsomfoɔ.
The rich rules over the poor, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Deɛ ɔdua amumuyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuhyeɛ abaa.
Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
9 Ɔyamyɛfoɔ bɛnya nhyira ɛfiri sɛ ɔne ahiafoɔ kyɛ nʼaduane.
The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
10 Pam ɔfɛdifoɔ na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwa ne atɛnnidie to atwa.
Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
11 Obi a ɔdɔ akoma a emu teɛ na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam bɛnya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofoɔ nsɛm.
The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyire hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wɔbɛkum me wɔ mmɔntene so.”
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
14 Ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ anomu yɛ amena donkudonku; deɛ ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuo ase no bɛtɔ mu.
The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
15 Agyimisɛm kyekyere abɔfra akoma ho, nanso ntenesoɔ abaa bɛpamo akɔ akyiri.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of discipline puts it far from him.
16 Obi bɛsisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefoɔ adeɛ, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wʼakoma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
18 ɛfiri sɛ ɛyɛ sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wʼakoma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
19 Sɛdeɛ wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo ɛnnɛ, aane wo.
That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
20 Mentwerɛɛ mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, deɛ ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
21 a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokorɛ ne deɛ akyinnyeɛ nni ho, sɛdeɛ wobɛnya mmuaeɛ pa ama deɛ ɔsomaa woɔ no anaa?
To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
22 Mmɔ ahiafoɔ korɔno, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafoɔ enti, na nnsisi wɔn a wɔnni bie wɔ asɛnniiɛ,
Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
23 ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛdi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafoɔ fa.
For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Mfa obi a ne bo ha no adamfo, na mmfa wo ho mmɔ deɛ ne bo nkyɛre fu,
Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
25 anyɛ saa a, wobɛsua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afidie mu.
Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
26 Ɛnyɛ deɛ ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di agyinamu, anaasɛ deɛ ɔdi akagyinamu;
Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27 na sɛ wonni deɛ wɔde tua a wɔbɛhwan wo mpa mpo afiri wʼase.
If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
28 Ntutu tete aboɔ a wɔde ato hyeɛ; deɛ wo nananom de sisii hɔ no.
Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
29 Wohunu odwumayɛfoɔ a ne nsa akokwa nʼadwuma ho anaa? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwaa anim.
Have you seen a man speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, He does not station himself before obscure men!
