Mmɛbusɛm 31
1 Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkɔmhyɛ a ne maame kyerɛɛ no:
The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
2 Ao me babarima, me yafunu ba, Ao mebɔhyɛ ba,
"Oh, my son. Oh, son of my womb. Oh, son of my vows.
3 nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmaa ho, wɔn a wɔgu ahemfo asu no.
Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 Lemuel, nsã nyɛ mma ahemfo; asanom nyɛ mma ahemfo, ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifoɔ pere nsaden ho;
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for princes to take strong drink,
5 sɛ wɔnom nsã a, wɔn werɛ bɛfiri deɛ mmara no ka, na wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no rennya deɛ wɔwɔ ho ɛkwan.
lest they drink, and forget the decree, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6 Fa nsaden ma wɔn a wɔresɛe, na fa nsã ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish; and wine to the bitter in soul:
7 Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfiri wɔn hia na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhoɔ bio.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Kasa ma wɔn a wɔntumi nkasa mma wɔn ho, kasa ma mmɔborɔfoɔ yiedie.
Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9 Kasa na bu atɛntenenee; kasa ma ahiafoɔ ne onnibie yiedie.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy."
10 Ɔyere pa, hwan na ɔbɛnya? Ɔsom bo pa ara sene nhwene pa.
Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.
11 Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotosoɔ pa ara na biribiara a ɛwɔ boɔ nhia no.
The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
12 Ɔde deɛ ɛyɛ brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw, ne nkwa nna nyinaa mu.
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 Ɔhwehwɛ odwannwi ne asaawa na ɔde ne nsa nwono wɔ fɛ so.
She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
14 Ɔte sɛ adwadifoɔ ahyɛn, ɔde ne nnuane firi akyirikyiri ba.
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
15 Adeɛ nnya nkyeeɛ no na wasɔre; ɔsiesie aduane ma nʼabusuafoɔ na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
16 Ɔdwene afuo ho, na ɔtɔ; ɔfiri deɛ ɔnya mu yɛ bobefuo.
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
She girds her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼadwadie ho wɔ mfasoɔ, na ne kanea ɛnnum anadwo.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn't go out by night.
19 Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Ɔgo ne nsam ma ahiafoɔ na ne nsa so onibie so.
She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21 Sɛ sukyerɛmma tɔ a ne yam nhyehye no wɔ ne fiefoɔ ho; ɛfiri sɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ aduradeɛ a wɔde ko awɔ.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam; na ɔfira nwera ne serekye ntoma.
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Ne kunu wɔ animuonyam wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano, baabi a ɔne asase no so mpanimfoɔ tena.
Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 Ɔpempam nwera ntadeɛ tontɔn, na ɔtu abɔwomu ma adwadifoɔ.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne animuonyam; na ɔnsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26 Ɔkasa nyansa mu, na nokorɛ nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 Ɔhwɛ ne fidua mu nnwuma so na ɔnnyegye aniha so.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn't eat the bread of idleness.
28 Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira; ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no sɛ,
Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29 “Mmaa pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ edin, na wo deɛ, wosene wɔn nyinaa.”
"Many women do noble things, but you excel them all."
30 Ɔbaa kɔnɔfoɔ yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twam ntɛm so; nanso ɔbaa a ɔsuro Awurade no fata nkamfoɔ.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Fa abasobɔdeɛ a wanya no ma no, na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano.
Give her of the fruit of her hands. Let her works praise her in the gates.
