Ɔhene Lemuel Nsɛm
1Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkuranhyɛ a ne na kyerɛɛ no:
2Tie, me babarima! Tie, me yafunu ba,
Tie, me bɔhyɛ ba, me mpaebɔ ho mmuae!
3Nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmea31.3 Saa mmea yi yɛ mmea nguamanfo a wɔwɔ ahemfi a wobetumi atwe ɔhene adwene afi nʼadwuma so. ho,
wɔn a wogu ahemfo asu no.
4Enye mma ahemfo, Lemuel,
asanom nye mma ahemfo,
ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifo pere bobesa ho;
5sɛ wɔnom nsa a wɔn werɛ befi nea mmara no ka,
na wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so no rennya nea ɛyɛ wɔn kyɛfa.
6Fa bobesa ma wɔn a wɔresɛe,
na fa nsa ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
7Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfi wɔn hia,
na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhow bio.
8Kasa ma wɔn a wontumi nkasa mma wɔn ho,
kasa ma mmɔborɔfo yiyedi.
9Kasa na bu atɛntrenee;
kasa ma ahiafo ne onnibi yiyedi.
Awiei: Ɔyere A Ɔsom Bo
10Ɔyere pa, hena na obenya?
Ɔsom bo pa ara sen nhene pa.
11Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotoso pa ara,
na biribiara a ɛwɔ bo nhia no.
12Ɔde nea eye brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw,
ne nkwanna nyinaa mu.
13Ɔhwehwɛ oguannwi ne asaawa
na ɔde ne nsa nwen wɔ fɛw so.
14Ɔte sɛ aguadifo ahyɛn,
ɔde ne nnuan fi akyirikyiri ba.
15Ade nnya nkyee no na wasɔre;
osiesie aduan ma nʼabusuafo
na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
16Osusuw afuw ho na ɔtɔ;
ofi nea onya mu yɛ bobeturo.
17Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma;
nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
18Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼaguadi so wɔ mfaso,
na ne kanea anum anadwo.
19Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu
a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
20Ogow ne nsam ma ahiafo
na ne nsa so ohiani so.
21Sɛ sukyerɛmma tɔ a ne yam nhyehye no wɔ ne fifo ho;
efisɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ adurade a wɔde ko awɔw.
22Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam;
na ofura nwera ne sirikyi ntama.
23Ne kunu wɔ anuonyam wɔ kuropɔn pon ano,
faako a ɔne asase no so mpanyimfo tena.
24Ɔpempam nwera ntade tontɔn,
na otu nkyekyeremu ma aguadifo.
25Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne anuonyam;
na onsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26Ɔkasa nyansa mu,
na nokware nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
27Ɔhwɛ ne fi mu nnwuma so
na onnyigye anihaw so.
28Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira;
ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no se,
29“Mmea pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ din
na wo de, wosen wɔn nyinaa.”
30Ɔbea kɔnnɔfo yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twa mu ntɛm so;
nanso ɔbea a osuro Awurade no fata nkamfo.
31Fa abasobɔde a wanya no ma no,
na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn pon ano.
1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? 3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 5Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.31.5 pervert: Heb. alter31.5 of any…: Heb. of all the sons of affliction 6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.31.6 of…: Heb. bitter of soul 7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. 8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.31.8 such…: Heb. the sons of destruction 9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.31.16 buyeth: Heb. taketh 17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.31.18 She…: Heb. She tasteth 19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.31.20 She…: Heb. She spreadeth 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.31.21 scarlet: or, double garments 22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.31.29 have…: or, have gotten riches 30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
