Proverbs 21
1 The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
Ɔhene koma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɔkwan te sɛ asuten ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
2 People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
Onipa akwan nyinaa teɛ wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari koma.
3 Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
Sɛ woyɛ ade pa ne ade a ɛteɛ a, ɛsɔ Awurade ani sen afɔrebɔ.
4 Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomaso koma, ne amumɔyɛfo asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
5 Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
Nsiyɛfo nhyehyɛe de mfaso ba, sɛnea ntɛmpɛ kowie ohia no.
6 Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no, ɛyɛ omununkum a etwa mu kɔ, na ɛsan yɛ owu afiri.
7 The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
Amumɔyɛfo basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, efisɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ nea ɛteɛ.
8 Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
Onipa a odi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na nea ne ho nni asɛm no nneyɛe teɛ.
9 It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
Suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi tena ye sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
10 Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
Omumɔyɛfo kɔn dɔ bɔne; onni ahummɔbɔ mma ne yɔnko.
11 When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
Sɛ wɔtwe ɔfɛwdifo aso a, ntetekwaafo hu nyansa, sɛ wɔkyerɛkyerɛ onyansafo a, onya nimdeɛ.
12 The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
Ɔtreneeni no hu nea ɛrekɔ so wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi, na ɔde omumɔyɛfo no kɔ ɔsɛe mu.
13 If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
Sɛ onipa sisiw nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a, ɔno nso besu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
14 A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
Kokoa mu adekyɛ dwudwo koma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuwhyew.
15 When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
Sɛ wubu atɛntrenee a, atreneefo ani gye, nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefo.
16 Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
Onipa a ɔman fi nhumu kwan so no bɛhome wɔ awufo fekuw mu.
17 If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
Nea odi ahosɛpɛw akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; nea ɔpɛ nsa ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
18 The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
Amumɔyɛfo de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma atreneefo, na atorofo yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
19 It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
Eye sɛ wobɛtena sare so, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo a ne koma haw no no bɛtena.
20 The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
Nnuan pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafo fi ma, nanso ɔkwasea di nea ɔwɔ nyinaa.
21 If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
Nea otiw trenee ne ɔdɔ no nya nkwa, yiyedi ne anuonyam.
22 The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
Onyansafo tow hyɛ ahoɔdenfo kuropɔn so, na odwiriw abandennen a wɔn werɛ hyɛ mu no gu fam.
23 If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
Nea ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no twe ne ho fi amanenya ho.
24 A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛwdifo” ɔde ahantan ntraso yɛ ade.
25 Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
Nea ɔkwadwofo kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owu ama no, efisɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
26 Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
Da mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ obenya bebree, nanso ɔtreneeni de, ɔma a ɔnnodow ho.
27 The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
Omumɔyɛfo afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwade, ne titiriw ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
28 The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
Ɔdansekurumni bɛyera, na wɔbɛsɛe obiara a otie no no nso.
29 The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
Amumɔyɛfo di akakabensɛm, na ɔtreneeni de, osusuw nʼakwan ho.
30 Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
Nyansa, nhumu ne nhyehyɛe biara nni hɔ a ebetumi ayɛ yiye atia Awurade.
31 You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
Wosiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdi yɛ Awurade dea.
