1Nsa yɛ ɔfɛwdifo na nsaden yɛ ɔtɔkwapɛfo;
na obiara a nsa bɛma wafom kwan no nyɛ onyansafo.
2Ɔhene abufuwhyew te sɛ gyata mmubomu;
na nea ɔhyɛ no abufuw no de nkwa twa so.
3Ɛyɛ onipa anuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa,
nanso ogyimifo biara pɛ ntɔkwaw.
4Onihawfo mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne bere mu;
enti edu twabere a onya hwee.
5Onipa koma botae yɛ asubun,
nanso nea ɔwɔ nhumu no twetwe ma epue.
6Nnipa dodow no ara ka se wɔwɔ ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da,
na hena na obetumi ahu ɔnokwafo?
7Ɔtreneeni bu ɔbra kronkron;
nhyira nka ne mma a wɔba wɔ nʼakyi.
8Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahengua so bu atɛn a,
ɔde nʼani huhuw bɔne nyinaa so gu.
9Hena na obetumi aka se, “Mapra me koma mu;
meyɛ kronkron na minni bɔne?”
10Nkaribo ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no,
Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
11Mpo wɔnam abofra nketewa nneyɛe so hu wɔn,
saa ara na ne suban yɛ kronkron ne papa no.
12Aso a wɔde te asɛm ne ani a wɔde hu ade,
Awurade na wayɛ nʼabien no nyinaa.
13Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia;
nna, na wubenya aduan ama abu so.
14Adetɔni ka se, “Enye, enye!”
nanso sɛ ɔkɔ a ɔde nea watɔ no hoahoa ne ho.
15Sika kɔkɔɔ wɔ hɔ, na nhene pa nso abu so,
na ano a ɛka nimdeɛ nsɛm yɛ ɔbohemaa a ɛho yɛ na.
16Fa obi a odi ɔhɔho akagyinamu atade;
sɛ ɔregyina ɔbea huhufo akyi a, fa si awowa.
17Aduan a wonya no ɔkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anom dɛ,
nanso akyiri no, ɛdan mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
18Pɛ afotu yɛ wo nhyehyɛe;
sɛ wutu ɔsa a, nya ho akwankyerɛ.
19Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi;
enti twe wo ho fi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
20Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne na a,
wobedum ne kanea wɔ sum kabii mu.
21Agyapade a wɔpere ho nya no,
renyɛ nhyira akyiri no.
22Nka se, “Metua wo saa bɔne yi so ka!”
Twɛn Awurade, na obegye wo.
23Awurade kyi nkaribo a ɛnyɛ papa,
na asisi nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
24Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntu.
Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
25Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a,
osum ne ho afiri.
26Ɔhene nyansafo hu amumɔyɛfo;
na ɔde awiyam afiri hankare fa wɔn so.
27Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu,
ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
28Ɔdɔ ne nokwaredi bɔ ɔhene ho ban;
nʼadɔe ma nʼahengua tim.
29Mmerante anuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden,
tidwen nso ne mmasiriwa anuonyam.
30Ɔhwe ne apirakuru hohoro amumɔyɛ,
mmaatwa tew koma mu.
1Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;
those who anger him forfeit their lives.
3It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.
4Sluggards do not plow in season;
so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
5The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out.
6Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?
7The righteous lead blameless lives;
blessed are their children after them.
8When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean and without sin”?
10Differing weights and differing measures—
the Lord detests them both.
11Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure and upright?
12Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the Lord has made them both.
13Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
stay awake and you will have food to spare.
14“It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
15Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
16Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
17Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
18Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
19A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much.
20If someone curses their father or mother,
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
21An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.
22Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.
23The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.
24A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand their own way?
25It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.
26A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.
27The human spirit is20:27 Or A person’s words are the lamp of the Lord
that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
28Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love his throne is made secure.
29The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.
30Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
and beatings purge the inmost being.
