Proverbs 19
1 Better to be poor but honest than stupid and tell lies.
Ohiani a ne nantew ho nni asɛm no ye sen ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa kwan mu.
2 It's not good to be someone who doesn't think. If you rush, things go wrong.
Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nye, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera kwan nso nye.
3 People mess up their lives by their own stupidity, and then get angry with the Lord.
Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso ne koma huru tia Awurade.
4 If you're rich, you get a lot of friends, but if you're poor, you lose any friends you had.
Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gyaw no hɔ.
5 A false witness will be punished; liars won't get away with their lies.
Adansekurumni benya nʼakatua, na nea otwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
6 Many ask favors from important people, and everyone's a friend of the generous.
Nnipa pii pɛ adom fi sodifo nkyɛn, na nea ɔkyɛ ade yɛ obiara adamfo.
7 If a poor man's relatives can't stand him, how much more will his friends avoid him! He tries to talk with them but they don't listen.
Ohiani abusuafo nyinaa po no, na saa ara na ne nnamfonom po no! Mpo ɔhwehwɛ wɔn, pɛ sɛ ɔpa wɔn kyɛw, nanso onhu wɔn baabiara.
8 If you become wise, you have good self-esteem; if you learn good sense you'll be successful.
Nea onya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; nea ɔpɛ nhumu no nya nkɔso.
9 A false witness will be punished; people who tell lies will perish.
Adansekurumni benya asotwe, na nea otwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
10 It's not right for stupid people to live in luxury, and it's even worse for a slave to rule over leaders.
Ɛmfata sɛ ɔkwasea bedi taamu, anaasɛ akoa bedi mmapɔmma so!
11 If you have good sense you'll be slow to get angry; you gain respect by forgiving wrongs.
Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboase; ɛyɛ anuonyam ma obi sɛ obebu nʼani gu mfomso bi so.
12 When a king gets angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; but his kindness is as soft as dew on the grass.
Ɔhene abufuw te sɛ gyata mmubomu, na nʼadom te sɛ sare so bosu.
13 A stupid son makes his father miserable, and an argumentative wife is like dripping that never stops.
Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛe, ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo te sɛ ɔdan a ne nwini to ntwa da.
14 You inherit a house and wealth from your father, but a sensible wife is a gift from the Lord.
Afi ne ahonyade yɛ agyapade a efi awofo, na ɔyere nimdefo fi Awurade.
15 Lazy people are often fast asleep, but idleness means they're hungry.
Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɔkɔm de ɔkwadwofo.
16 Keep the commandments, and you'll live; despise them and you'll die.
Nea odi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na nea ogyaagyaa ne ho no bewu.
17 If you're kind to the poor, you're lending to the Lord, and he will repay you well for what you've done.
Nea ɔyɛ adɔe ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na obetua no nea ɔyɛ no so ka.
18 Discipline your son while there's still hope, but don't kill him.
Teɛ wo ba, na ɛno mu na anidaso wɔ, na nyɛ wɔn a wɔde no kɔ owu mu no mu baako.
19 People who often get angry have to pay the penalty; if you help them, you'll have to do it again.
Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a ne koma haw no no nya so asotwe; sɛ woka ma no a, wobɛyɛ bio.
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction so that you'll eventually become wise.
Tie afotu na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awiei no, wubehu nyansa.
21 Human beings make many plans in their minds, but the final decision is the Lord's.
Nhyehyɛe bebree wɔ onipa koma mu, nanso nea Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
22 The most desirable thing in anyone is trustworthy love; it is better to be poor than a liar.
Nea onipa pɛ ne nokware dɔ; eye sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sen sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofo.
23 Honoring the Lord is life, and you will rest contentedly, safe from harm.
Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
24 Lazy people put their hands in a dish, and won't even lift the food to their mouths.
Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
25 If you punish someone who mocks, you may help an immature person to learn. Correct the wise, and they become wiser.
Twa ɔfɛwdifo mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka nea ɔwɔ nhumu anim, na obenya nimdeɛ.
26 A son who abuses his father and chases away his mother brings shame and disgrace.
Nea ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔn na ɔpam ne na no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwu ne animguase ba.
27 My son, stop listening to my instruction and you'll soon give up following wisdom.
Me ba, sɛ wugyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛman afi nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
28 A crooked witness makes a mockery of justice; and the wicked wolf down evil.
Adansekurumni di atɛntrenee ho fɛw; na omumɔyɛfo ano mene bɔne.
29 Punishment is ready for those who mock; flogging is ready for the backs of the stupid.
Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛwdifo, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafo akyi.
