Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Mma wʼani mmere amumɔyɛfo, mfa wo ho mmɔ wɔn;
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
Efisɛ wɔn koma dwene atirimɔdensɛm ho, na wɔn ano ka nea ɛde basabasayɛ ba ho asɛm.
3 Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established:
Wɔde nyansa na esi fi, na nhumu mu na wɔma etim;
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
ɛnam nimdeɛ so na wonya ademude a ɛho yɛ na na ɛyɛ fɛ hyehyɛ nʼadan mu.
5 A wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Onyansafo wɔ tumi a ɛso, na onimdefo nyin ahoɔden mu;
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
nea ɔretu sa hia akwankyerɛ, nea ɔrehwehwɛ nkonimdi no hia afotufo pii.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Nyansa wɔ soro dodo ma ɔkwasea; wɔ apon ano aguabɔ mu no, ɛnsɛ sɛ wobue wɔn ano.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
Onipa a ɔbɔ pɔw bɔne no, wɔbɛfrɛ no ɔkɔtwebrɛfo.
9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
Ogyimifo nhyehyɛe yɛ bɔne, nnipa kyi ɔfɛwdifo.
10 If thou faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
Sɛ wʼaba mu gow wɔ ɔhaw mu a, na wʼahoɔden sua!
11 If thou refraineth to deliver them that are drawn to death, and those that are ready to be slain;
Gye wɔn a wɔde wɔn rekɔ akokum wɔn no nkwa; na sianka wɔn a wɔtɔ ntintan kɔ akumii.
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that weigheth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Sɛ woka se, “Na yennim eyi ho hwee a,” nea ɔkari koma hwɛ no nhu ana? Nea ɔbɔ wo nkwa ho ban no nnim ana? Ɔrentua nea obiara ayɛ so ka ana?
13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
Me ba, di ɛwo, efisɛ eye; ɛwokyɛm mu wo yɛ wʼanom dɛ.
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
Hu nso sɛ nyansa yɛ wo kra dɛ; sɛ wunya a, wowɔ anidaso ma daakye, na wʼanidaso renyɛ ɔkwa.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; destroy not his resting place:
Nkɔtɛw ɔtreneeni fi sɛ ɔkwanmukafo, na nkɔtow nhyɛ nʼatenae so,
16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ɔtreneeni hwe ase mpɛn ason de, nanso ɔsɔre bio, na amumɔyɛfo de amanehunu baako ma wɔhwe ase.
17 Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Sɛ wo tamfo hwe ase a mma ɛnyɛ wo dɛ; na sɛ ohintiw a mma wo koma nni ahurusi,
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
efisɛ Awurade behu wʼadwene na ɔrempɛ na obeyi nʼabufuwhyew afi no so.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
Nhaw wo ho wɔ abɔnefo nti, na mma wʼani mmere amumɔyɛfo nso,
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
efisɛ, ɔbɔnefo nni anidaso biara daakye, na wobedum amumɔyɛfo kanea.
21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
Me ba, suro Awurade ne ɔhene, na mfa wo ho mmɔ atuatewfo ho,
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
efisɛ saa baanu yi de, ɔsɛe bɛba wɔn so mpofirim; na hena na onim amanehunu ko a wobetumi de aba?
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
Eyinom nso yɛ anyansafo Nsɛnka: Atemmu a nhwɛanim wɔ mu no nye:
24 He that saith to the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
Obiara a ɔbɛka akyerɛ nea odi fɔ se, “Wo ho nni asɛm” no, nnipa bɛdome no na amanaman remmɔ no din pa.
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
Na wɔn a wobu afɔdifo fɔ no, ebesi wɔn yiye, na nhyira bɛba wɔn so.
26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
Mmuae pa te sɛ mfewano.
27 Prepare thy work outside, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.
Wie wo mfikyidwuma na siesie wo mfuw; ɛno akyi, si wo fi.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
Nni adanse ntia ɔyɔnko a ɔnyɛɛ wo hwee, na mfa wʼano nnaadaa.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
Nka se, “Nea wayɛ me no me nso mɛyɛ no bi; nea ɔyɛe no mitua no so ka.”
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
Menantew faa onihawfo afuw ho, twaa mu wɔ nea onni adwene bobeturo nso ho;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down.
nsɔe afuw wɔ baabiara, wura afuw akata asase no so, na abo afasu no nso abubu.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Mede me koma kɔɔ nea mihuu no so na misuaa biribi fii mu:
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
nna kakra, nkotɔ kakra, nsa a woabobɔw de rehome kakra
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
bɛma ohia aba wo so sɛ ɔkwanmukafo, na nneɛma ho nna bɛba wo so sɛ obi a okura akode. Na ohia bɛtow akyere wo sɛ ɔkwanmukafo; ahokyere bɛtoa wo sɛ ɔkorɔmfowerɛmfo.
