< Mmebusɛm 11 >
1 Awurade kyi asisi nsania, na nʼani gye nokware nkaribo ho.
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
2 Ahantan ba a, animguase na edi so, nanso ahobrɛase de nyansa ba.
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 Teefo nokwaredi kyerɛ wɔn kwan; nanso nkontompofo ano ntanta sɛe wɔn.
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.
4 Ahonya nka hwee wɔ abufuwhyew da no, nanso trenee gye nkwa fi owu mu.
Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
5 Wɔn a wonni bɔne no trenee bɔ kwan tee ma wɔn, nanso amumɔyɛfo amumɔyɛsɛm brɛ wɔn ase.
The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 Pɛyɛfo treneeyɛ gye wɔn, nanso akɔnnɔ bɔne afiri yi nkontompofo.
The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.
7 Sɛ omumɔyɛfo wu a, nʼanidaso yera; nea osusuw sɛ obenya afi ne tumi mu nyinaa no yɛ ɔkwa.
When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
8 Wogye ɔtreneeni fi amane mu, na ɛba omumɔyɛfo so mmom.
The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.
9 Nea onsuro Onyame de nʼano sɛe ne yɔnko, nanso ɔtreneeni nam nimdeɛ so fi mu.
With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
10 Sɛ atreneefo di yiye a, kuropɔn no di ahurusi; nanso amumɔyɛfo wu a, wɔbɔ ose.
When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 Pɛyɛfo nhyira ma kuropɔn no kɔ so, nanso amumɔyɛfo ano ma ɛbɔ.
By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 Onipa a onni adwene no bu ne yɔnko animtiaa, nanso nea ɔwɔ nhumu no to ne tɛkrɛma nnareka.
Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 Nsekudi sɛe ahotoso, nanso nea wɔwɔ ne mu ahotoso no kora ahintasɛm.
A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 Ɔman a enni akwankyerɛ no bɔ, nanso afotufo dodow ma nkonimdi ba.
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
15 Nea odi akagyinamu ma ɔfoforo no behu amane, na nea ɔmmfa ne nsa nhyɛ awowasi ase no aso mu dwo no.
He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.
16 Ɔbea a ne yam ye no, wɔde obu ma no, nanso mmarima atirimɔdenfo nya ahode nkutoo.
A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 Ɔyamyefo ye ma ne ho, na otirimɔdenfo de ɔhaw ba nʼankasa so.
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
18 Omumɔyɛfo nya akatua a ennyina, nanso nea ogu trenee aba no twa aba a edi mu.
The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
19 Nea ɔyɛ nokware treneeni no nya nkwa, nanso nea ɔkɔ so yɛ bɔne no kɔ owu mu.
Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
20 Awurade kyi nnipa a wɔn koma akyea, na nʼani gye wɔn a wɔn akwan ho nni asɛm no ho.
The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
21 Gye to mu sɛ, amumɔyɛfo benya wɔn akatua, na atreneefo benya wɔn ti adidi mu.
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
22 Ɔbea hoɔfɛfo a ontumi nsi gyinae no te sɛ sika kaa a ɛhyɛ prako hwene mu.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 Atreneefo apɛde wie yiye, nanso amumɔyɛfo anidaso wie abufuwhyew.
The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.
24 Obi yɛ adɔe, na onya ne ho bebree; obi nso yɛ pɛpɛe, nanso ehia no.
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
25 Ɔyamyefo bɛkɔ so anya ne ho; na nea ɔma ebinom mee no nso bɛmee.
A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
26 Nnipa dome nea ɔde atoko sie, na nhyira ba nea ɔtɔn ne de so.
The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it.
27 Nea ɔhwehwɛ papa akyi kwan no nya anisɔ, na nea ɔhwehwɛ bɔne no, bɔne ba ne so.
He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.
28 Nea ɔde ne ho to nʼahonyade so no bɛhwe ase, na ɔtreneeni bɛyɛ frɔmfrɔm sɛ ahabammono.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
29 Nea ɔde ɔhaw bɛto nʼabusua so no bedi mframa ade, na ɔkwasea bɛyɛ onyansafo somfo.
He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 Ɔtreneeni aba yɛ nkwadua, na nea ogye akra no yɛ onyansafo.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
31 Kyerɛwsɛm no ka se, “Ɛyɛ den sɛ wobegye onipa pa nkwa; na wɔn a wonnye asɛm no nni ne nnebɔneyɛfo no de, dɛn na ɛbɛba wɔn so?”
If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!