< Proverbs 16 >
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from YHWH.
Akoma mu nhyehyɛeɛ yɛ onipa dea, na tɛkrɛma mmuaeɛ firi Awurade.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but YHWH weighs the motives.
Ɛyɛ onipa sɛ nʼakwan nyinaa yɛ kronn nanso Awurade na ɔpɛɛpɛɛ adwene mu.
3 Entrust your works to YHWH, and your plans will be established.
Fa deɛ woyɛ nyinaa hyɛ Awurade nsam, na wo nhyehyɛeɛ bɛsi yie.
4 YHWH has made everything for its own end—yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Awurade yɛ biribiara ma nʼankasa botaeɛ, mpo, ɔhwɛ omumuyɛfoɔ kɔsi amanehunu da.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to YHWH: they shall certainly not be unpunished.
Awurade kyiri akoma mu ahantanfoɔ nyinaa. Nya saa nteaseɛ yi sɛ, wɔremfa wɔn ho nni.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of YHWH men depart from evil.
Wɔnam ɔdɔ ne nokorɛ so pata bɔne; onipa nam Awurade suro so yi bɔne akwa.
7 When a man's ways please YHWH, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Sɛ onipa akwan sɔ Awurade ani a, ɔma nʼatamfoɔ mpo ne no tena asomdwoeɛ mu.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
Kakraa bi a wɔnam tenenee kwan so nya no yɛ sene mfasoɔ pii a wɔnam ntɛnkyea so nya.
9 A man's heart plans his course, but YHWH directs his steps.
Onipa yɛ ne nhyehyɛeɛ wɔ nʼakoma mu, nanso Awurade na ɔhwɛ nʼanammɔntuo.
10 Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
Ɔhene anomu kasa te sɛ nkɔmhyɛ, enti ɛnsɛ sɛ nʼano ka deɛ ɛnyɛ atɛntenenee.
11 Honest balances and scales are YHWH's; all the weights in the bag are his work.
Nsania ne abrammoɔ a nsisie nni mu firi Awurade; nkariboɔ a ɛwɔ kotokuo mu no, ɔno na ɔyɛeɛ.
12 It is an abomination to kings to do wickedness, for the throne is established by righteousness.
Ahemfo kyiri bɔneyɛ, ɛfiri sɛ ahennwa si tenenee so.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
Ahemfo ani sɔ ano a ɛka nokorɛ; na wɔbu onipa a ɔka nokorɛ.
14 The king's wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
Ɔhene abufuhyeɛ yɛ owuo somafoɔ, nanso onyansafoɔ bɛdwodwo ano.
15 In the light of the king's face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
Sɛ ɔhene anim te a, ɛyɛ nkwa, nʼadom te sɛ osutɔberɛ mu osumuna.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold. Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛnya nyansa sene sɛ wobɛnya sikakɔkɔɔ, sɛ wobɛnya nhunumu sene sɛ wobɛnya dwetɛ!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
Ɔteneneeni kwantempɔn kwati bɔne; deɛ ɔhwɛ nʼakwan yie no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Ahantan di ɔsɛeɛ anim, na ahomasoɔ honhom nso di ahweaseɛ anim.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛyɛ honhom mu hiani wɔ wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so mu sene sɛ wo ne ahantanfoɔ bɛkyɛ afodeɛ.
20 He who heeds the word finds prosperity, and blessed is he who trusts in YHWH.
Deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsetie ma nkyerɛkyerɛ no nya nkɔsoɔ; nhyira nka deɛ ɔde ne ho to Awurade so.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
Wɔfrɛ akoma mu anyansafoɔ sɛ nhunumufoɔ, na kasa pa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
Nteaseɛ yɛ nkwa nsutire ma wɔn a wɔwɔ bi, nanso agyimisɛm de asotweɛ brɛ nkwaseafoɔ.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
Onyansafoɔ akoma kyerɛ nʼano kwan, na nʼanofafa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Abodwosɛm te sɛ ɛwokyɛm ɛyɛ ɔkra dɛ, na ɛsa nnompe yadeɛ.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Ɛkwan bi wɔ hɔ a ɛyɛ wɔ onipa ani so, nanso ɛkɔwie owuo mu.
26 The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; for his mouth urges him on.
Odwumayɛfoɔ akɔnnɔ ma no yɛ adwuma den; ɛfiri sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔkum ne kɔm.
27 A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
Ohuhuni bɔ pɔ bɔne, ne kasa te sɛ egyadɛreɛ a ɛhye adeɛ.
28 A perverse man stirs up strife, and a gossip separates close friends.
Onipa kɔntɔnkye de mpaapaemu ba, na osekuni tete nnamfonom ntam.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
Basabasayɛni daadaa ne yɔnko na ɔde no fa ɛkwammɔne so.
30 One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
Deɛ ɔbu nʼani no redwene bɔneyɛ ho; na deɛ ɔmua nʼano no ani wɔ bɔne so.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is found in the path of righteousness.
Ɛdwono yɛ animuonyam abotire; tenenee mu asetena na ɛde ba.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
Deɛ ɔwɔ abodwokyerɛ no yɛ sene ɔkofoɔ, na deɛ ɔmfa abufuo yɛ sene deɛ ɔko fa kuropɔn.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from YHWH.
Wɔtwe ntonto de hwehwɛ deɛ Awurade pɛ, nanso ne gyinasie biara firi Awurade.