Mmɛbusɛm 24
1 Mma wʼani mmerɛ amumuyɛfoɔ, mfa wo ho mmɔ wɔn;
Do not be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
2 Ɛfiri sɛ, wɔn akoma dwene atirimuɔdensɛm ho, na wɔn ano ka deɛ ɛde basabasayɛ ba ho asɛm.
for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Wɔde nyansa na ɛsi efie, na nhunumu mu na wɔma ɛtim;
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 ɛnam nimdeɛ so na wɔnya ademudeɛ a ɛho yɛ na na ɛyɛ fɛ hyehyɛ nʼadan mu.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 Onyansafoɔ wɔ tumi a ɛso, na onimdefoɔ nyini ahoɔden mu;
A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
6 deɛ ɔretu sa hia akwankyerɛ, deɛ ɔrepɛ nkonimdie no hia afotufoɔ pii.
for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.
7 Nyansa wɔ akyiri dodo ma ɔkwasea; wɔ apono ano dwabɔ mu no ɔnni hwee ka.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn't open his mouth in the gate.
8 Onipa ɔbɔ pɔ bɔne no wɔbɛfrɛ no ɔkɔtwebrɛfoɔ.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 Ogyimifoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ yɛ bɔne, nnipa kyiri ɔfɛdifoɔ.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 Sɛ wʼabamu go wɔ ɔhaw mu a, na wʼahoɔden sua!
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Gye wɔn a wɔde wɔn rekɔ akɔkum wɔn no nkwa; na sianka wɔn a wɔtɔ ntintan kɔ akumiiɛ.
Rescue those who are being led away to death. Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.
12 Sɛ woka sɛ, “Na yɛnnim yei ho hwee a,” deɛ ɔkari akoma hwɛ no nhunu anaa? Deɛ ɔbɔ wo nkwa ho ban no nnim anaa? Ɔrentua deɛ obiara ayɛ so ka anaa?
If you say, "Look, we did not know this;" doesn't he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn't he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13 Me ba, di ɛwoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ ɛyɛ; ɛwokyɛm mu woɔ yɛ wʼanomu dɛ.
My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste.
14 Hunu nso sɛ nyansa yɛ wo kra dɛ; sɛ wonya a, wowɔ anidasoɔ ma daakye, na wʼanidasoɔ renyɛ kwa.
Likewise, know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Nkɔtɛ ɔteneneeni fie sɛ ɔkwanmukafoɔ, na ɛnkɔto nhyɛ nʼatenaeɛ so,
Do not lie in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place.
16 Ɛwom sɛ ɔteneneeni hwe ase mpɛn nson deɛ, nanso ɔsɔre bio, na amumuyɛfoɔ deɛ, amanehunu baako ma wɔhwe ase.
For the righteous may fall seven times, but gets up again, but the wicked will stumble in adversity.
17 Sɛ wo ɔtamfoɔ hwe ase a mma ɛnyɛ wo dɛ; na sɛ ɔsunti a mma wʼakoma nni ahurisie,
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
18 ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛhunu wʼadwene na ɔrempɛ na ɔbɛyi nʼabufuhyeɛ afiri ne so.
lest Jehovah see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Ɛnha wo ho wɔ abɔnefoɔ enti na ɛmma wʼani mmere amumuyɛfoɔ nso,
Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:
20 ɛfiri sɛ, ɔbɔnefoɔ nni anidasoɔ biara daakye, na wɔbɛdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea.
for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
21 Me ba, suro Awurade ne ɔhene, na mfa wo ho mmɔ adɔnyɛfoɔ ho,
My son, fear Jehovah and the king. Do not join those who are rebellious:
22 ɛfiri sɛ saa baanu yi de ɔsɛeɛ bɛba wɔn so mpofirim, na hwan na ɔnim amanehunu ko a wɔbɛtumi de aba?
for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?
23 Yeinom nso yɛ anyansafoɔ Nsɛnka: Atemmuo a animhwɛ wɔ mu no nyɛ:
These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 Obiara a ɔbɛka akyerɛ deɛ ɔdi fɔ sɛ, “Wo ho nni asɛm” no nnipa bɛdome no na amanaman remmɔ no din pa.
He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him?
25 Na wɔn a wɔbu afɔdifoɔ fɔ no ɛbɛsi wɔn yie, na nhyira bɛba wɔn so.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 Mmuaeɛ pa te sɛ mfeano.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Wie wo mfikyidwuma na siesie wo mfuo; ɛno akyi, si wo fie.
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Nni adanseɛ ntia ɔyɔnko a ɔnyɛɛ wo hwee, na mfa wʼano nnaadaa.
Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Do not deceive with your lips.
29 Nka sɛ, “Deɛ wayɛ me no me nso mɛyɛ no bi; deɛ ɔyɛeɛ no metua ne so ka.”
Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."
30 Menante faa onihafoɔ afuo ho twaa mu wɔ deɛ ɔnni adwene bobefuo nso ho;
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 nkasɛɛ afu wɔ baabiara, wira afu akata asase no so, na aboɔ afasuo no nso abubu.
Look, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Mede mʼadwene kɔɔ deɛ mehunuiɛ no so na mesuaa biribi firii mu:
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 nna kakra, nkotɔ kakra, nsa a woabobɔ de rehome kakra,
a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;
34 bɛma ohia aba wo so sɛ ɔkwanmukafoɔ na nneɛma ho nna bɛba wo so sɛ obi a ɔkura akodeɛ. Na ohia bɛto akyere wo sɛ ɔkwanmukafoɔ; ahokyere bɛtoa wo sɛ ɔkorɔmfoɔ.
so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.
