Proverbs 30
1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal,
Yake babarima Agur nsɛm a ɔkae a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ: Saa ɔbarima yi ka kyerɛɛ Itiel ne Ukal se:
2 Surely I am more stupid than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
“Me na minnim hwee koraa wɔ nnipa mu, minni onipa ntease.
3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
Minsuaa nyansa, na minni Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ nso.
4 Who hath ascended into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
Hena na waforo akɔ ɔsoro na wasian aba fam? Hena na wabɔ mframa boa wɔ ne nsam? Hena na ɔde nʼatade abɔ nsu boa? Hena na ɔbɔɔ asase tamaa yi? Ne din de dɛn, na ne babarima nso din de dɛn? Sɛ wunim a ka kyerɛ me!
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to them that put their trust in him.
“Onyankopɔn asɛm biara yɛ nokware; ɔyɛ nkatabo ma wɔn a woguan toa no.
6 Add thou not to his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Mfa biribi nka nʼasɛm ho, anyɛ saa a ɔbɛka wʼanim ama woayɛ ɔtorofo.
7 Two things have I required of thee; deny them not to me before I die:
“Awurade, nneɛma abien na mehwehwɛ afi wo nkyɛn; mfa nkame me ansa na mawu:
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
ma me ne atoro ne nnaadaasɛm ntam nware koraa; mma mennyɛ ohiani anaa ɔdefo; nanso ma me me daa aduan nkutoo.
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Anyɛ saa a, ebia minya me ho pii a ɛbɛma mapa wo na maka se, ‘Hena ne Awurade?’ Anaa mɛyɛ ohiani na mabɔ korɔn, na ama magu me Nyankopɔn din ho fi.
10 Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
“Nsɛe ɔsomfo din nkyerɛ ne wura; sɛ woyɛ saa a, ɔbɛdome wo na wubetua so ka.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
“Nnipa bi dome wɔn agyanom, na wonhyira wɔn nanom nso;
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.
Wɔn a wɔteɛ wɔ wɔn ankasa ani so nanso wɔnhohoroo wɔn ho fi no;
13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
wɔn a wɔn ani tra ntɔn, na wobu animtiaa;
14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
wɔn a wɔn se yɛ afoa na asekan hyehyɛ wɔn abogye mu wɔn na wɔbɛtɔre ahiafo ase afi asase so, na wɔayi ahiafo afi adesamma mu.
15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
“Amemem wɔ mmabea baanu a wɔteɛ mu se, ‘Fa ma! Fa ma!’ “Nneɛma abiɛsa na ɛmmee da anan na ɛnka da se, ‘Eye!’
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. (Sheol h7585)
Ɔda, obonin awotwaa, asase a ɛyɛ wosee daa, ne ogya a ɛnka da se, ‘Eye!’ (Sheol h7585)
17 The eye that mocketh at its father, and despiseth to obey its mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
“Ani a eyi agya ahi, na ebu ɛna animtiaa no, obon mu kwaakwaadabi betutu, na apete abedi.
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
“Nneɛma abiɛsa na ɛyɛ me nwonwa, anan na mente ase:
19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
Ɔkwan a ɔkɔre nam so wɔ wim, sɛnea ɔwɔ nantew ɔbotan so, ɔkwan a hyɛn nam so wɔ po tamaa so, ne sɛnea ɔbarima dɔ ababaa.
20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
“Ɔbea ɔwaresɛefo kwan ni: Odidi, ɔpepa nʼano na ɔka se, ‘Menyɛɛ mfomso biara.’
21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
“Nneɛma abiɛsa na ɛma asase wosow, anan na asase ntumi nnyina ano:
22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with food;
akoa a wabɛyɛ ɔhene, ɔkwasea a wadidi amee,
23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
ɔbea a wɔmpɛ no na waware, afenaa a otu nʼawuraa tena nʼanan mu.
24 There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are very wise:
“Nneɛma nketenkete anan na ɛwɔ asase so, nanso wɔyɛ anyansafo ankasa:
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;
Ntɛtea yɛ abɔde nketewa a wonni ahoɔden, nanso wɔboaboa wɔn aduan ano ahuhuru bere mu;
26 The conies are but a feeble people, yet they make their houses in the rocks;
Nkukuban yɛ abɔde a wonni ahoɔden, nanso wɔyɛ wɔn afi wɔ abotan mu,
27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
mmoadabi nni ɔhene, nanso wɔsa so akuwakuw, kɔ wɔn anim;
28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
wotumi de nsa kyere ɔketew, nanso wohu no abirɛmpɔn ahemfi.
29 There are three things which go well, yea, four are stately in going:
“Nneɛma abiɛsa na wɔwɔ abirɛmpɔnnantew, anan na wɔkeka wɔn ho te sɛ abirɛmpɔn:
30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
gyata, mmoadoma hene a, biribiara mmɔ no hu;
31 A greyhound; a male goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
akokɔnini a ɔretutu taataa, ɔpapo, ne ɔhene a nʼasraafo atwa no ho ahyia.
32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.
“Sɛ woayɛ ɔkwasea ama wo ho so, anaa woadwene bɔne a, ma wʼani nwu na mua wʼano!
33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
Sɛnea wɔka nufusu nu mu a srade fi mu ba, na wokyinkyim hwene a etu mogya no, saa ara na abufuw de akasakasa ba.”
