Mmebusɛm 22
1 Din pa ye sen ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wobedi wo ni ye sen dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
A good name is to be chosen over great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.
2 Ɔdefo ne ohiani wɔ ade baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfo.
Rich and poor people have this in common— Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
3 Onitefo hu amanehunu a ɛreba na ohintaw ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim konya amane.
A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.
4 Ahobrɛase ne Awuradesuro ɛma ahonya ne anuonyam ne nkwa.
The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh is riches, honor, and life.
5 Nsɔe ne mfiri wɔ amumɔyɛfo akwan so, nanso nea ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep far from them.
6 Kyerɛ abofra ɔkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ onyin a ɔremfi so.
Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.
7 Adefo di ahiafo so, na boseagyefo yɛ nea ɔde fɛm somfo.
Rich people rule over poor people and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.
8 Nea odua amumɔyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuwhyew abaa.
He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.
9 Ɔyamyefo benya nhyira efisɛ ɔne ahiafo kyɛ nʼaduan.
The one who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Pam ɔfɛwdifo na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwaw ne animka to atwa.
Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.
11 Obi a ɔdɔ koma a mu tew na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam no, benya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, he will have the king for his friend.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofo nsɛm.
The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyiri hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wobekum me wɔ mmɔnten so.”
The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the street! I will be killed in the open places.”
14 Ɔbea waresɛefo anom yɛ amoa donkudonku; nea ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuw ase no bɛtɔ mu.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.
15 Agyimisɛm kyekyere abofra koma ho, nanso nteɛso abaa bɛpam no akɔ akyiri.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.
16 Obi besisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya, anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefo ade, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth, or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wo koma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18 efisɛ eye sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wo koma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
for it will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 Sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo nnɛ, yiw ɛyɛ wo.
So your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach them to you today—even to you.
20 Menkyerɛw mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, nea ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction and knowledge,
21 a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokware ne nea akyinnye nni ho, sɛnea wubenya mmuae pa ama nea ɔsomaa wo no ana?
to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?
22 Mmɔ ahiafo korɔn, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafo nti, na nsisi wɔn a wonni bi wɔ asennii,
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,
23 efisɛ Awurade bedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn, na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafo fa.
for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.
24 Mfa obi a ne koma yɛ den no adamfo, na mfa wo ho mmɔ nea ne bo nkyɛ fuw,
Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger and you must not go with one who rages,
25 anyɛ saa a, wubesua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afiri mu.
or you will learn his ways and you will take bait for your soul.
26 Nyɛ nea ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu anaasɛ odi akagyinamu;
Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.
27 na sɛ wunni nea wɔde tua a wobehuam wo mpa mpo afi wʼase.
If you lack the means to pay, what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?
28 Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye, nea wo nenanom de sisii hɔ no.
Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that your fathers have set.
29 Wuhu obi a ne nsa akokwaw nʼadwuma ho ana? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwa anim.
Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common people.
