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