< Proverbs 20 >
1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Nsa yɛ ɔfɛwdifo na nsaden yɛ ɔtɔkwapɛfo; na obiara a nsa bɛma wafom kwan no nyɛ onyansafo.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
Ɔhene abufuwhyew te sɛ gyata mmubomu; na nea ɔhyɛ no abufuw no de nkwa twa so.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
Ɛyɛ onipa anuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa, nanso ogyimifo biara pɛ ntɔkwaw.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Onihawfo mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne bere mu; enti edu twabere a onya hwee.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Onipa koma botae yɛ asubun, nanso nea ɔwɔ nhumu no twetwe ma epue.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Nnipa dodow no ara ka se wɔwɔ ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da, na hena na obetumi ahu ɔnokwafo?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
Ɔtreneeni bu ɔbra kronkron; nhyira nka ne mma a wɔba wɔ nʼakyi.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgement scatters away all evil with his eyes.
Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahengua so bu atɛn a, ɔde nʼani huhuw bɔne nyinaa so gu.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
Hena na obetumi aka se, “Mapra me koma mu; meyɛ kronkron na minni bɔne?”
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Nkaribo ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Mpo wɔnam abofra nketewa nneyɛe so hu wɔn, saa ara na ne suban yɛ kronkron ne papa no.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
Aso a wɔde te asɛm ne ani a wɔde hu ade, Awurade na wayɛ nʼabien no nyinaa.
13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia; nna, na wubenya aduan ama abu so.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
Adetɔni ka se, “Enye, enye!” nanso sɛ ɔkɔ a ɔde nea watɔ no hoahoa ne ho.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
Sika kɔkɔɔ wɔ hɔ, na nhene pa nso abu so, na ano a ɛka nimdeɛ nsɛm yɛ ɔbohemaa a ɛho yɛ na.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Fa obi a odi ɔhɔho akagyinamu atade; sɛ ɔregyina ɔbea huhufo akyi a, fa si awowa.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Aduan a wonya no ɔkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anom dɛ, nanso akyiri no, ɛdan mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
Pɛ afotu yɛ wo nhyehyɛe; sɛ wutu ɔsa a, nya ho akwankyerɛ.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi; enti twe wo ho fi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne na a, wobedum ne kanea wɔ sum kabii mu.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
Agyapade a wɔpere ho nya no, renyɛ nhyira akyiri no.
22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Nka se, “Metua wo saa bɔne yi so ka!” Twɛn Awurade, na obegye wo.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
Awurade kyi nkaribo a ɛnyɛ papa, na asisi nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntu. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a, osum ne ho afiri.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
Ɔhene nyansafo hu amumɔyɛfo; na ɔde awiyam afiri hankare fa wɔn so.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu, ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Ɔdɔ ne nokwaredi bɔ ɔhene ho ban; nʼadɔe ma nʼahengua tim.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendour of old men is their grey hair.
Mmerante anuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden, tidwen nso ne mmasiriwa anuonyam.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Ɔhwe ne apirakuru hohoro amumɔyɛ, mmaatwa tew koma mu.