Proverbs 22
1 A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
Edin pa yɛ sene ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wɔbɛdi wo ni yɛ sene dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
2 The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.
Ɔdefoɔ ne ohiani wɔ adeɛ baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfoɔ.
3 The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
Onitefoɔ hunu amanehunu a ɛreba na ɔhinta ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim kɔnya amane.
4 The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
Ahobrɛaseɛ ne Awurade suro ma ahonya ne animuonyam ne nkwa.
5 Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.
Nkasɛɛ ne mfidie wɔ amumuyɛfoɔ akwan so, nanso deɛ ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
6 It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Kyerɛ abɔfra ɛkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ ɔnyini a ɔremfiri so.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
Adefoɔ di ahiafoɔ so, na boseagyeni yɛ deɛ ɔde fɛm ɔsomfoɔ.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
Deɛ ɔdua amumuyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuhyeɛ abaa.
9 He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
Ɔyamyɛfoɔ bɛnya nhyira ɛfiri sɛ ɔne ahiafoɔ kyɛ nʼaduane.
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
Pam ɔfɛdifoɔ na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwa ne atɛnnidie to atwa.
11 He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
Obi a ɔdɔ akoma a emu teɛ na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam bɛnya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofoɔ nsɛm.
13 The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.
Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyire hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wɔbɛkum me wɔ mmɔntene so.”
14 The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
Ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ anomu yɛ amena donkudonku; deɛ ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuo ase no bɛtɔ mu.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
Agyimisɛm kyekyere abɔfra akoma ho, nanso ntenesoɔ abaa bɛpamo akɔ akyiri.
16 He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
Obi bɛsisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefoɔ adeɛ, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
17 Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wʼakoma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
18 Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
ɛfiri sɛ ɛyɛ sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wʼakoma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
Sɛdeɛ wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo ɛnnɛ, aane wo.
20 Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
Mentwerɛɛ mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, deɛ ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
21 That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokorɛ ne deɛ akyinnyeɛ nni ho, sɛdeɛ wobɛnya mmuaeɛ pa ama deɛ ɔsomaa woɔ no anaa?
22 Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
Mmɔ ahiafoɔ korɔno, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafoɔ enti, na nnsisi wɔn a wɔnni bie wɔ asɛnniiɛ,
23 Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛdi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafoɔ fa.
24 Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
Mfa obi a ne bo ha no adamfo, na mmfa wo ho mmɔ deɛ ne bo nkyɛre fu,
25 Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
anyɛ saa a, wobɛsua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afidie mu.
26 Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
Ɛnyɛ deɛ ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di agyinamu, anaasɛ deɛ ɔdi akagyinamu;
27 For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
na sɛ wonni deɛ wɔde tua a wɔbɛhwan wo mpa mpo afiri wʼase.
28 Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
Ntutu tete aboɔ a wɔde ato hyeɛ; deɛ wo nananom de sisii hɔ no.
29 Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
Wohunu odwumayɛfoɔ a ne nsa akokwa nʼadwuma ho anaa? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwaa anim.
