Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
Ɔhene akoma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɛkwan te sɛ asutene ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
Onipa akwan nyinaa tene wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari akoma.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Sɛ woyɛ adepa ne adeɛ a ɛtene a ɛsɔ Awurade ani sene afɔrebɔ.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomasoɔ akoma, ne amumuyɛfoɔ asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
5 The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Nsiyɛfoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ de mfasoɔ ba sɛdeɛ ntɛmpɛ kɔwie ohia no.
6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no yɛ huhuro ne owuo afidie.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
Amumuyɛfoɔ basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, ɛfiri sɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ deɛ ɛtene.
8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Onipa a ɔdi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na deɛ ne ho nni asɛm no adeyɛ tene.
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Suhyɛ twɛtwɛwa ase baabi tena yɛ sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ bɛtena efie.
10 The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
Omumuyɛfoɔ kɔn dɔ bɔne; ɔnni ahummɔborɔ mma ne yɔnko.
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
Sɛ wɔtwe fɛdifoɔ aso a, ntetekwaafoɔ hunu nyansa, sɛ wɔkyerɛkyerɛ onyansafoɔ a, ɔnya nimdeɛ.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
Ɔteneneeni no nim deɛ ɛrekɔso wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ fie na ɔde omumuyɛfoɔ no kɔ ɔsɛeɛ mu.
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
Sɛ onipa sisi nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a ɔno nso bɛsu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
14 A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
Kokoam adekyɛ dwodwo akoma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuhyeɛ.
15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
Sɛ wobu atɛntenenee a, teneneefoɔ anigye nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefoɔ.
16 The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Onipa a ɔmane firi nhunumu kwan soɔ no bɛhome wɔ awufoɔ fekuo mu.
17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
Deɛ ɔdi ahosɛpɛ akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; deɛ ɔpɛ nsã ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
Amumuyɛfoɔ de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma teneneefoɔ, na atorofoɔ yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
19 Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛtena ɛserɛ so, sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ a nʼakoma ha no bɛtena.
20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
Nnuane pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafoɔ fie ma, nanso ɔkwasea di deɛ ɔwɔ nyinaa.
21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Deɛ ɔti tenenee ne ɔdɔ no ɔnya nkwa, yiedie ne animuonyam.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
Onyansafoɔ to hyɛ ahoɔdenfoɔ kuropɔn so na ɔdwiri abandenden a wɔn werɛ hyɛ mu gu fam.
23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
Deɛ ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no ɔtwe ne ho firi amanenya ho.
24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛdifoɔ” ɔde ahantan ntrasoɔ yɛ adeɛ.
25 The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
Deɛ ɔkwadwofoɔ kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owuo ama no, ɛfiri sɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
26 All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
Ɛda mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ ɔbɛnya bebree, nanso ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔma a ɔnnodo ho.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
Omumuyɛfoɔ afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwadeɛ, ne titire ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
28 A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
Adansekurumdini bɛyera, na obiara a ɔtie noɔ no nso wɔbɛsɛe no.
29 A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
Amumuyɛfoɔ di akakabensɛm na ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔdwene nʼakwan ho.
30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
Nyansa, nhunumu ne nhyehyɛeɛ biara nni hɔ a ɛbɛtumi ayɛ yie atia Awurade.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
Wɔsiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdie yɛ Awurade dea.
