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