Proverbs 19
1 Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
Ohiani a ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm no yɛ sene ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa ɛkwan mu.
2 Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nyɛ, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera ɛkwan nso nyɛ.
3 A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso nʼakoma huru tia Awurade.
4 Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gya no hɔ.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
Adansekurumni bɛnya nʼakatua, na deɛ ɔtwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
6 Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
Nnipa pii pɛ adom firi sodifoɔ nkyɛn, na deɛ ɔkyɛ adeɛ yɛ obiara adamfo.
7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him— how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them with pleading, but they are nowhere to be found.
Ohiani abusuafoɔ nyinaa po no, na saa ara na ne nnamfonom po no! Mpo ɔhwehwɛ wɔn pɛ sɛ ɔpa wɔn kyɛw, nanso ɔnhunu wɔn baabiara.
8 He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success.
Deɛ ɔnya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; deɛ ɔpɛ nhunumu no nya nkɔsoɔ.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
Adansekurumni bɛnya asotwe, na deɛ ɔtwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
10 Luxury is unseemly for a fool— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
Akɛsesɛm mfata ɔkwasea, anaasɛ akoa bɛdi mmapɔmma so!
11 A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboaseɛ; sɛ ɔbu nʼani gu mfomsoɔ bi so a ɛhyɛ no animuonyam.
12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
Ɔhene abufuo te sɛ gyata mmobom, na nʼadom te sɛ ɛserɛ so bosuo.
13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛeɛ, ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ te sɛ nsusosɔ a ɛntwa da.
14 Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
Afie ne ahonyadeɛ yɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛfiri awofoɔ, na ɔyere nimdefoɔ firi Awurade.
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɛkɔm de ɔkwadwofoɔ.
16 He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.
Deɛ ɔdi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na deɛ ɔgyaagyaa ne ho no bɛwu.
17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
Deɛ ɔyɛ adɔeɛ ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na ɔbɛtua no deɛ ɔyɛ no so ka.
18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.
Tene wo ba, na ɛno mu na anidasoɔ wɔ, na ɛnyɛ wɔn a wɔde no kɔ owuo mu no mu baako.
19 A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.
Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a nʼakoma ha no no tua so ka; sɛ woka ma no a wobɛyɛ bio.
20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
Tie afotuo na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awieeɛ no, wobɛhunu nyansa.
21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
Nhyehyɛeɛ bebree wɔ onipa akoma mu, nanso deɛ Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
22 The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar.
Deɛ onipa pɛ ne nokorɛ dɔ; ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sene sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofoɔ.
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
24 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.
Ɔkwadwofoɔ nsa ka ayowaa mu na ɔremma so mpo nkɔ nʼano!
25 Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
Twa ɔfɛdifoɔ mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu anim, na ɔbɛnya nimdeɛ.
26 He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
Deɛ ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔno na ɔpamo ne maame no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwuo ne animguaseɛ ba.
27 If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Me ba, sɛ wogyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛmane afiri nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.
Adansekurumni di atɛntenenee ho fɛw; na omumuyɛfoɔ ano mene bɔne.
29 Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛdifoɔ, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafoɔ akyi.
