Mmɛbusɛm 31
1 Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkɔmhyɛ a ne maame kyerɛɛ no:
These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
2 Ao me babarima, me yafunu ba, Ao mebɔhyɛ ba,
What shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
3 nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmaa ho, wɔn a wɔgu ahemfo asu no.
Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.
4 Lemuel, nsã nyɛ mma ahemfo; asanom nyɛ mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifoɔ pere nsaden ho;
Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
5 sɛ wɔnom nsã a, wɔn werɛ bɛfiri deɛ mmara no ka, na wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no rennya deɛ wɔwɔ ho ɛkwan.
For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
6 Fa nsaden ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsã ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
7 Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfiri wɔn hia na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhoɔ bio.
Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
8 Kasa ma wɔn a wɔntumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfoɔ yiedie.
Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
9 Kasa na bu atɛntenenee; kasa ma ahiafoɔ ne onnibie yiedie.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
10 Ɔyere pa, hwan na ɔbɛnya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sene nhwene pa.
Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
11 Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotosoɔ pa ara na biribiara a ɛwɔ boɔ nhia no.
Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
12 Ɔde deɛ ɛyɛ brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwa nna nyinaa mu.
She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
13 Ɔhwehwɛ odwannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwono wɔ fɛ so.
She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
14 Ɔte sɛ adwadifoɔ ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuane firi akyirikyiri ba.
Like a merchant's ship, she brings food from far away.
15 Adeɛ nnya nkyeeɛ no na wasɔre; ɔsiesie aduane ma nʼabusuafoɔ na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
She gets up while it's still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
16 Ɔdwene afuo ho, na ɔtɔ; ɔfiri deɛ ɔnya mu yɛ bobefuo.
She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
17 Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
18 Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼadwadie ho wɔ mfasoɔ, na ne kanea ɛnnum anadwo.
She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
20 Ɔgo ne nsam ma ahiafoɔ na ne nsa so onibie so.
She's generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
21 Sɛ sukyerɛmma tɔ a ne yam nhyehye no wɔ ne fiefoɔ ho; ɛfiri sɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ aduradeɛ a wɔde ko awɔ.
She doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm clothing.
22 Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ɔfira nwera ne serekye ntoma.
She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
23 Ne kunu wɔ animuonyam wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano, baabi a ɔne asase no so mpanimfoɔ tena.
Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
24 Ɔpempam nwera ntadeɛ tontɔn, na ɔtu abɔwomu ma adwadifoɔ.
She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
25 Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne animuonyam; na ɔnsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
26 Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokorɛ nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
27 Ɔhwɛ ne fidua mu nnwuma so na ɔnnyegye aniha so.
She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
28 Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira; ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no sɛ,
Her children are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
29 “Mmaa pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ edin, na wo deɛ, wosene wɔn nyinaa.”
“Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
30 Ɔbaa kɔnɔfoɔ yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twam ntɛm so; nanso ɔbaa a ɔsuro Awurade no fata nkamfoɔ.
Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.
31 Fa abasobɔdeɛ a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano.
Give her the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
