Mmɛbusɛm 22
1 Edin pa yɛ sene ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wɔbɛdi wo ni yɛ sene dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; And better is good-will than silver and gold.
2 Ɔdefoɔ ne ohiani wɔ adeɛ baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfoɔ.
The rich and the poor meet together; The LORD is the Maker of them all.
3 Onitefoɔ hunu amanehunu a ɛreba na ɔhinta ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim kɔnya amane.
The prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple rush on, and are punished.
4 Ahobrɛaseɛ ne Awurade suro ma ahonya ne animuonyam ne nkwa.
By humility and the fear of the LORD Are 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 deceitful; He that will preserve his life will be far from them.
6 Kyerɛ abɔfra ɛkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ ɔnyini a ɔremfiri so.
Train up a child in accordance with his way, And 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 the lender.
8 Deɛ ɔdua amumuyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuhyeɛ abaa.
He who soweth iniquity shall reap calamity, And the rod of his punishment is prepared.
9 Ɔyamyɛfoɔ bɛnya nhyira ɛfiri sɛ ɔne ahiafoɔ kyɛ nʼaduane.
He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, Because he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Pam ɔfɛdifoɔ na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwa ne atɛnnidie to atwa.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and reproach will cease.
11 Obi a ɔdɔ akoma a emu teɛ na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam bɛnya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
He who loveth purity of heart, Grace is upon his lips, and the king will be his friend.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofoɔ nsɛm.
The eyes of the LORD watch over knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
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 streets.”
14 Ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ anomu yɛ amena donkudonku; deɛ ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuo ase no bɛtɔ mu.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; He with whom the LORD is angry shall fall therein.
15 Agyimisɛm kyekyere abɔfra akoma ho, nanso ntenesoɔ abaa bɛpamo akɔ akyiri.
Folly is bound to the heart of a child; But the rod of correction will drive it far from him.
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 wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wʼakoma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And give heed to my instruction!
18 ɛfiri sɛ ɛyɛ sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wʼakoma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
For it will be a pleasant thing, if thou keep them in thy bosom, When they are altogether established upon thy lips.
19 Sɛdeɛ wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo ɛnnɛ, aane wo.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have this day given to thee instruction, yea, to thee.
20 Mentwerɛɛ mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, deɛ ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
Behold, I have written to thee excellent things Concerning counsel and knowledge;
21 a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokorɛ ne deɛ akyinnyeɛ nni ho, sɛdeɛ wobɛnya mmuaeɛ pa ama deɛ ɔsomaa woɔ no anaa?
That I may make thee know rectitude, and words of truth; That thou mayst bring back words of truth to them that send thee.
22 Mmɔ ahiafoɔ korɔno, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafoɔ enti, na nnsisi wɔn a wɔnni bie wɔ asɛnniiɛ,
Rob not the poor man, because he is poor, Nor crush thou the destitute at the gate;
23 ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛdi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafoɔ fa.
For the LORD will maintain their cause, And despoil their spoilers of life.
24 Mfa obi a ne bo ha no adamfo, na mmfa wo ho mmɔ deɛ ne bo nkyɛre fu,
Make no friendship with a passionate man, Nor be the companion of a man prone to wrath;
25 anyɛ saa a, wobɛsua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afidie mu.
Lest thou learn his ways, And take to thyself a snare.
26 Ɛnyɛ deɛ ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di agyinamu, anaasɛ deɛ ɔdi akagyinamu;
Be not thou one of those who strike hands, Of those who are sureties for debts.
27 na sɛ wonni deɛ wɔde tua a wɔbɛhwan wo mpa mpo afiri wʼase.
When thou hast nothing to pay, Why should thy bed be taken from under thee?
28 Ntutu tete aboɔ a wɔde ato hyeɛ; deɛ wo nananom de sisii hɔ no.
Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have made.
29 Wohunu odwumayɛfoɔ a ne nsa akokwa nʼadwuma ho anaa? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwaa anim.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall be the minister of kings; He shall not serve obscure men.
