Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is in YHWH's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
Ɔhene koma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɔkwan te sɛ asuten ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but YHWH weighs the hearts.
Onipa akwan nyinaa teɛ wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari koma.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to YHWH than sacrifice.
Sɛ woyɛ ade pa ne ade a ɛteɛ a, ɛsɔ Awurade ani sen afɔrebɔ.
4 A high look, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomaso koma, ne amumɔyɛfo asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
5 The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
Nsiyɛfo nhyehyɛe de mfaso ba, sɛnea ntɛmpɛ kowie ohia no.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no, ɛyɛ omununkum a etwa mu kɔ, na ɛsan yɛ owu afiri.
7 The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
Amumɔyɛfo basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, efisɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ nea ɛteɛ.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Onipa a odi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na nea ne ho nni asɛm no nneyɛe teɛ.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi tena ye sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
Omumɔyɛfo kɔn dɔ bɔne; onni ahummɔbɔ mma ne yɔnko.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Sɛ wɔtwe ɔfɛwdifo aso a, ntetekwaafo hu nyansa, sɛ wɔkyerɛkyerɛ onyansafo a, onya nimdeɛ.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
Ɔtreneeni no hu nea ɛrekɔ so wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi, na ɔde omumɔyɛfo no kɔ ɔsɛe mu.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
Sɛ onipa sisiw nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a, ɔno nso besu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger; and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
Kokoa mu adekyɛ dwudwo koma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuwhyew.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to evildoers.
Sɛ wubu atɛntrenee a, atreneefo ani gye, nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefo.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
Onipa a ɔman fi nhumu kwan so no bɛhome wɔ awufo fekuw mu.
17 He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
Nea odi ahosɛpɛw akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; nea ɔpɛ nsa ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; the treacherous for the upright.
Amumɔyɛfo de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma atreneefo, na atorofo yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
Eye sɛ wobɛtena sare so, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo a ne koma haw no no bɛtena.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.
Nnuan pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafo fi ma, nanso ɔkwasea di nea ɔwɔ nyinaa.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Nea otiw trenee ne ɔdɔ no nya nkwa, yiyedi ne anuonyam.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
Onyansafo tow hyɛ ahoɔdenfo kuropɔn so, na odwiriw abandennen a wɔn werɛ hyɛ mu no gu fam.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Nea ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no twe ne ho fi amanenya ho.
24 The proud and haughty man, "scoffer" is his name; he works in the arrogance of pride.
Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛwdifo” ɔde ahantan ntraso yɛ ade.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
Nea ɔkwadwofo kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owu ama no, efisɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and do not withhold.
Da mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ obenya bebree, nanso ɔtreneeni de, ɔma a ɔnnodow ho.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind.
Omumɔyɛfo afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwade, ne titiriw ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
28 A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.
Ɔdansekurumni bɛyera, na wɔbɛsɛe obiara a otie no no nso.
29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
Amumɔyɛfo di akakabensɛm, na ɔtreneeni de, osusuw nʼakwan ho.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against YHWH.
Nyansa, nhumu ne nhyehyɛe biara nni hɔ a ebetumi ayɛ yiye atia Awurade.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with YHWH.
Wosiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdi yɛ Awurade dea.
