Saying 7
1When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what23:1 Or who is before you,
2and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
3Do not crave his delicacies,
for that food is deceptive.
Saying 8
4Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
5Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
Saying 9
6Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
do not crave his delicacies;
7for he is the kind of person
who is always thinking about the cost.23:7 Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he is
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
8You will vomit up the little you have eaten
and will have wasted your compliments.
Saying 10
9Do not speak to fools,
for they will scorn your prudent words.
Saying 11
10Do not move an ancient boundary stone
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11for their Defender is strong;
he will take up their case against you.
Saying 12
12Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.
Saying 13
13Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14Punish them with the rod
and save them from death.
Saying 14
15My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad indeed;
16my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
Saying 15
17Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
Saying 16
19Listen, my son, and be wise,
and set your heart on the right path:
20Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
21for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Saying 17
22Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23Buy the truth and do not sell it—
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful!
Saying 18
26My son, give me your heart
and let your eyes delight in my ways,
27for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28Like a bandit she lies in wait
and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
Saying 19
29Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30Those who linger over wine,
who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly!
32In the end it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper.
33Your eyes will see strange sights,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
lying on top of the rigging.
35“They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
so I can find another drink?”
1Sɛ wo ne ɔhene bi to nsa didi a,
hwɛ deɛ ɛsi wʼanim no yie,
2Sɛ woyɛ adidibrada a,
hyɛ wo ho so.
3Nni nʼaduane akɔnnɔ akɔnnɔ no akyi,
ɛfiri sɛ saa aduane no daadaa nnipa.
4Mmiri wo mogya ani mpɛ sika;
hunu nyansa na to wo bo ase.
5Wʼani bɔɔ sika so ara pɛ, na atu ayera,
ampa ara ɛbɛfu ntaban
na atu akɔ ewiem sɛ ɔkɔdeɛ.
6Nni obi a ɔyɛ pɛpɛɛ aduane
nni nʼakɔnnɔ aduane akyi;
7ɛfiri sɛ ɔyɛ obi a
ɛberɛ biara ɔdwene sika ho.
Ɔka sɛ, “Didi na nom,”
nanso ɛnyɛ nʼakoma mu.
8Kakra a woadi no wobɛfe
na ɛno enti wo nkamfo ho remma mfasoɔ.
9Nkasa nkyerɛ ɔkwasea,
ɛfiri sɛ ɔremfa nyansa a ɛwɔ wo kasa mu no.
10Ntutu tete aboɔ a wɔde ato hyeɛ ngu,
na ntra hyeɛ nkɔ nwisiaa mfuo mu,
11ɛfiri sɛ, wɔn Gyefoɔ yɛ den,
na ɔbɛdi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn.
12Ma wʼakoma mmra nkyerɛkyerɛ so
na wɛn wʼaso tie nimdeɛ.
13Ntwentwɛne abɔfra ntenesoɔ so;
sɛ wode abaa tene no a, ɔrenwu.
14Fa abaa twe nʼaso
na gye ne kra firi owuo mu.
15Me ba, sɛ wʼakoma hunu nyansa a,
ɛnneɛ mʼakoma ani bɛgye;
16sɛ wʼano ka deɛ ɛtene a
me mu adeɛ nyinaa ani bɛgye.
17Mma wʼani mmerɛ abɔnefoɔ,
mmom bɔ Awurade suro ho mmɔden ɛberɛ biara.
18Ampa ara anidasoɔ wɔ hɔ ma wo daakye,
na wʼanidasoɔ renyɛ ɔkwa.
19Me ba, tie, na hunu nyansa,
ma wʼakoma mfa ɛkwan tenenee so.
20Mfa wo ho mmɔ akɔwensafoɔ
anaasɛ wɔn a wɔpɛ ɛnam mmorosoɔ,
21ɛfiri sɛ, akɔwensafoɔ ne adidibradafoɔ bɛyɛ ahiafoɔ,
na anikum fira wɔn ntomago.
22Tie wʼagya a ɔwoo woɔ no,
na sɛ wo maame bɔ aberewa a, mmu no animtia.
23Tɔ nokorɛ na ntɔn da;
nya nyansa, ahohyɛsoɔ ne nhunumu.
24Ɔteneneeni agya wɔ anigyeɛ bebree;
deɛ ɔwɔ ɔba nyansafoɔ no anigye ne ho.
25Ma wʼagya ne wo maame ani nnye;
ma ɔbaa a ɔwoo woɔ no nnya ahosɛpɛ.
26Me ba, fa wʼakoma ma me
na ma wʼani nkɔ mʼakwan ho,
27na odwamanfoɔ yɛ amena donkudonku
ɔyere sansani yɛ ɔdaadaafoɔ.
28Ɔtɛ, twɛn, te sɛ ɔkwanmukafoɔ
na ɔma mmarima mu atorofoɔ dɔɔso.
29Hwan na wɔadome no? Hwan na ɔdi awerɛhoɔ?
Hwan na ɔdi apereapereɛ? Hwan na ɔnwiinwii?
Hwan na wapirapira hunaa? Hwan na mogya ada nʼani so?
30Wɔn a wɔkyɛre nsã ho,
na wɔka nsã a wɔafrafra hwɛ.
31Nhwɛ nsã ani kɔkɔɔ no haa,
ɛberɛ a ɛretwa yerɛ yerɛ wɔ kuruwa mu,
na ɛkɔ yɔɔ no.
32Awieeɛ no ɛka te sɛ ɔwɔ
na ɛwɔ borɔ te sɛ ahurutoa.
33Wʼani bɛhunu nneɛma a wonhunuu da,
na woadwene nneɛma basabasa ho.
34Wobɛtɔ ntintan te sɛ hyɛn mu dwumayɛni a,
ɔkura ɛhyɛn dua a, ɛrehinhim mu den, na ɛdenkye denkye wɔ ɛpo so.
35Na wobɛka sɛ, “Wɔbɔ me, nanso mempira.
Wɔboro me, nanso mente ɔyea biara.
Ɛberɛ bɛn na menyane
akɔpɛ nsã anom bio?”
