Mmɛbusɛm 22
1 Edin pa yɛ sene ahonya bebrebe; sɛ wɔbɛdi wo ni yɛ sene dwetɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ.
A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
2 Ɔdefoɔ ne ohiani wɔ adeɛ baako, Awurade ne wɔn nyinaa Yɛfoɔ.
The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.
3 Onitefoɔ hunu amanehunu a ɛreba na ɔhinta ne ho, nanso atetekwaa kɔ nʼanim kɔnya amane.
A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 Ahobrɛaseɛ ne Awurade suro ma ahonya ne animuonyam ne nkwa.
The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.
5 Nkasɛɛ ne mfidie wɔ amumuyɛfoɔ akwan so, nanso deɛ ɔbɔ ne kra ho ban no mmɛn ho.
Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever guards his soul stays far from them.
6 Kyerɛ abɔfra ɛkwan a ɔmfa so, na sɛ ɔnyini a ɔremfiri so.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Adefoɔ di ahiafoɔ so, na boseagyeni yɛ deɛ ɔde fɛm ɔsomfoɔ.
The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Deɛ ɔdua amumuyɛsɛm no twa ɔhaw na wɔbɛsɛe nʼabufuhyeɛ abaa.
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 Ɔyamyɛfoɔ bɛnya nhyira ɛfiri sɛ ɔne ahiafoɔ kyɛ nʼaduane.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
10 Pam ɔfɛdifoɔ na basabasayɛ nso bɛkɔ; ntɔkwa ne atɛnnidie to atwa.
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 Obi a ɔdɔ akoma a emu teɛ na ne kasa ho yɛ nyam bɛnya ɔhene afa no adamfo.
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
12 Awurade ani wɛn nimdeɛ, na ɔsɛe ɔtorofoɔ nsɛm.
Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata bi wɔ mfikyire hɔ!” anaasɛ, “Wɔbɛkum me wɔ mmɔntene so.”
The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
14 Ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ anomu yɛ amena donkudonku; deɛ ɔhyɛ Awurade abufuo ase no bɛtɔ mu.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.
15 Agyimisɛm kyekyere abɔfra akoma ho, nanso ntenesoɔ abaa bɛpamo akɔ akyiri.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Obi bɛsisi ohiani de apɛ ahonya anaa ɔbɛkyɛ ɔdefoɔ adeɛ, ne nyinaa de no kɔ ohia mu.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Yɛ aso na tie anyansasɛm yi; fa wʼakoma di me nkyerɛkyerɛ akyi,
Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
18 ɛfiri sɛ ɛyɛ sɛ wokora saa nsɛm yi wɔ wʼakoma mu, na ne nyinaa ada wʼano.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 Sɛdeɛ wode wo ho bɛto Awurade so, merekyerɛkyerɛ wo ɛnnɛ, aane wo.
I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in Yahweh.
20 Mentwerɛɛ mmɛ aduasa mmaa wo, deɛ ɛyɛ afotusɛm ne nimdeɛ,
Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
21 a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ wo nokorɛ ne deɛ akyinnyeɛ nni ho, sɛdeɛ wobɛnya mmuaeɛ pa ama deɛ ɔsomaa woɔ no anaa?
To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
22 Mmɔ ahiafoɔ korɔno, sɛ wɔyɛ ahiafoɔ enti, na nnsisi wɔn a wɔnni bie wɔ asɛnniiɛ,
Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
23 ɛfiri sɛ Awurade bɛdi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn na wafom afa wɔn a wɔfom ahiafoɔ fa.
for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 Mfa obi a ne bo ha no adamfo, na mmfa wo ho mmɔ deɛ ne bo nkyɛre fu,
Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,
25 anyɛ saa a, wobɛsua nʼakwan na woakɔtɔ afidie mu.
lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
26 Ɛnyɛ deɛ ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di agyinamu, anaasɛ deɛ ɔdi akagyinamu;
Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
27 na sɛ wonni deɛ wɔde tua a wɔbɛhwan wo mpa mpo afiri wʼase.
If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Ntutu tete aboɔ a wɔde ato hyeɛ; deɛ wo nananom de sisii hɔ no.
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.
29 Wohunu odwumayɛfoɔ a ne nsa akokwa nʼadwuma ho anaa? Ahemfo anim na ɔbɛsom, na ɔrensom wɔ mpapahwekwaa anim.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
