< Proverbs 20 >

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Nsa yɛ ɔfɛdifoɔ na nsaden yɛ ntɔkwapɛfoɔ; na obiara a nsã bɛma wafom ɛkwan no nnyɛ onyansafoɔ.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
Ɔhene abufuhyeɛ te sɛ gyata mmobom; na deɛ ɔhyɛ no abufuo no de nkwa twa so.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Ɛyɛ onipa animuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa, nanso ogyimifoɔ biara pɛ ntɔkwa.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Onihafoɔ mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne berɛ mu; enti ɛduru twaberɛ a ɔnnya hwee.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Onipa akoma apɛdeɛ yɛ subunu mu, nanso onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu no twetwe.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Nnipa dodoɔ no ara ka sɛ wɔwɔ ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da, na hwan na ɔbɛtumi ahunu ɔnokwafoɔ?
7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
Ɔteneneeni bu ɔbra kronkron; nhyira ne ne mma a wɔba nʼakyi.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahennwa so bu atɛn a, ɔde nʼani huhu bɔne nyinaa so gu.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Hwan na ɔbɛtumi aka sɛ, “Mapra mʼakoma mu; meyɛ kronn na menni bɔne”?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to YHWH.
Nkariboɔ ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no Awurade kyiri ne mmienu.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Mpo wɔnam abɔfra nneyɛɛ so hunu no, sɛ ne suban yɛ kronn ne papa.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, YHWH hath made even both of them.
Aso a wɔde te asɛm ne ani a wɔde hunu adeɛ, Awurade na wayɛ ne mmienu.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia; ɛnna, na wobɛnya aduane ama abu so.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
Ɔtɔfoɔ ka sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ, ɛnyɛ!” nanso sɛ ɔkɔ a, ɔde deɛ watɔ no hoahoa ne ho.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Sika kɔkɔɔ wɔ hɔ, na nhwenepa nso abu so, na ano a ɛka nimdeɛ nsɛm yɛ ɔbohemaa a ɛho yɛ nna.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Fa obi a ɔdi ɔhɔhoɔ akagyinamu atadeɛ; sɛ ɔregyina ɔbaa huhufoɔ akyi a, fa si awowa.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Aduane a wɔnya no ɛkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anomu dɛ, nanso akyire no ɛdane mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Pɛ afotuo yɛ wo nhyehyɛeɛ; sɛ wotu ɔsa a, nya ho akwankyerɛ.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi; enti twe wo ho firi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne maame a, wɔbɛdum ne kanea wɔ esum kabii mu.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Agyapadeɛ a wɔpere ho nya no ahyɛaseɛ no renyɛ nhyira akyire no.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on YHWH, and he shall save thee.
Nka sɛ, “Mɛtua wo saa bɔne yi so ka!” Twɛn Awurade, na ɔbɛgye wo.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto YHWH; and a false balance is not good.
Awurade kyiri nkariboɔ a ɛnyɛ papa, na nsisie nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
24 Man's goings are of YHWH; how can a man then understand his own way?
Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntuo. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a, ɔsum ne ho afidie.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
Ɔhene nyansafoɔ hunu amumuyɛfoɔ; na ɔde ayuyamfidie hankra fa wɔn so.
27 The spirit of man is the candle of YHWH, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu, ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
Ɔdɔ ne nokorɛdie bɔ ɔhene ho ban; nʼadɔeɛ ma nʼahennwa tim.
29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
Mmeranteɛ animuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden, tidwono nso ne mmasiriwa animuonyam.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Ɔhweɛ ne apirakuro hohoro amumuyɛ mmaaka te akoma mu.

< Proverbs 20 >