Mmebusɛm 11
1 Awurade kyi asisi nsania, na nʼani gye nokware nkaribo ho.
The Lord hates dishonest scales, but accurate weights please him.
2 Ahantan ba a, animguase na edi so, nanso ahobrɛase de nyansa ba.
With pride comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 Teefo nokwaredi kyerɛ wɔn kwan; nanso nkontompofo ano ntanta sɛe wɔn.
Honesty guides the good, but deceit destroys liars.
4 Ahonya nka hwee wɔ abufuwhyew da no, nanso trenee gye nkwa fi owu mu.
Wealth won't help you on judgment day, but goodness saves you from death.
5 Wɔn a wonni bɔne no trenee bɔ kwan tee ma wɔn, nanso amumɔyɛfo amumɔyɛsɛm brɛ wɔn ase.
The goodness of the innocent keeps them on track, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 Pɛyɛfo treneeyɛ gye wɔn, nanso akɔnnɔ bɔne afiri yi nkontompofo.
The goodness of those who live right will save them, but the dishonest 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 a wicked person dies, their hopes die with them; what the godless look forward to is gone.
8 Wogye ɔtreneeni fi amane mu, na ɛba omumɔyɛfo so mmom.
The good are saved from trouble, while the wicked get into trouble.
9 Nea onsuro Onyame de nʼano sɛe ne yɔnko, nanso ɔtreneeni nam nimdeɛ so fi mu.
Godless people mouth off and destroy their neighbors, but the good are saved by wisdom.
10 Sɛ atreneefo di yiye a, kuropɔn no di ahurusi; nanso amumɔyɛfo wu a, wɔbɔ ose.
The whole town celebrates when good people are successful; they also shout for joy when the wicked die.
11 Pɛyɛfo nhyira ma kuropɔn no kɔ so, nanso amumɔyɛfo ano ma ɛbɔ.
Ethical people are a blessing to a town, but what the wicked say destroys it.
12 Onipa a onni adwene no bu ne yɔnko animtiaa, nanso nea ɔwɔ nhumu no to ne tɛkrɛma nnareka.
People who run down their neighbors have no sense; someone who's sensible keeps quiet.
13 Nsekudi sɛe ahotoso, nanso nea wɔwɔ ne mu ahotoso no kora ahintasɛm.
A gossip goes around telling secrets, but trustworthy people keep confidences.
14 Ɔman a enni akwankyerɛ no bɔ, nanso afotufo dodow ma nkonimdi ba.
A nation falls without good guidance, but they are saved through much wise counsel.
15 Nea odi akagyinamu ma ɔfoforo no behu amane, na nea ɔmmfa ne nsa nhyɛ awowasi ase no aso mu dwo no.
You'll get into trouble if you guarantee a stranger's loans—you're far safer if you refuse to make such pledges.
16 Ɔbea a ne yam ye no, wɔde obu ma no, nanso mmarima atirimɔdenfo nya ahode nkutoo.
A gracious woman holds on to her honor just as ruthless men hold on to their wealth.
17 Ɔyamyefo ye ma ne ho, na otirimɔdenfo de ɔhaw ba nʼankasa so.
If you're kind, you'll be rewarded; but if you're cruel, you'll hurt yourself.
18 Omumɔyɛfo nya akatua a ennyina, nanso nea ogu trenee aba no twa aba a edi mu.
The wicked earn wages that cheat them, but those who sow goodness reap a genuine reward.
19 Nea ɔyɛ nokware treneeni no nya nkwa, nanso nea ɔkɔ so yɛ bɔne no kɔ owu mu.
Do what's right, and you will live; chase after evil and you will die.
20 Awurade kyi nnipa a wɔn koma akyea, na nʼani gye wɔn a wɔn akwan ho nni asɛm no ho.
The Lord hates perverted minds, but is happy with those who live moral lives.
21 Gye to mu sɛ, amumɔyɛfo benya wɔn akatua, na atreneefo benya wɔn ti adidi mu.
You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished, but the good will be saved.
22 Ɔbea hoɔfɛfo a ontumi nsi gyinae no te sɛ sika kaa a ɛhyɛ prako hwene mu.
A beautiful woman who lacks good judgment is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.
23 Atreneefo apɛde wie yiye, nanso amumɔyɛfo anidaso wie abufuwhyew.
Good people want what's best, but what the wicked hope for ends in death.
24 Obi yɛ adɔe, na onya ne ho bebree; obi nso yɛ pɛpɛe, nanso ehia no.
If you give generously you receive more, but if you keep back what you should give, you end up poor.
25 Ɔyamyefo bɛkɔ so anya ne ho; na nea ɔma ebinom mee no nso bɛmee.
If you're generous, you'll become rich; give someone a drink of water, and you'll be given one in return.
26 Nnipa dome nea ɔde atoko sie, na nhyira ba nea ɔtɔn ne de so.
People curse those who hoard grain; but they bless those who sell.
27 Nea ɔhwehwɛ papa akyi kwan no nya anisɔ, na nea ɔhwehwɛ bɔne no, bɔne ba ne so.
If you look to do good, you'll be appreciated; but if you look for evil, you'll find it!
28 Nea ɔde ne ho to nʼahonyade so no bɛhwe ase, na ɔtreneeni bɛyɛ frɔmfrɔm sɛ ahabammono.
If you trust in your riches, you'll fall; but if you do good, you'll flourish like green leaves.
29 Nea ɔde ɔhaw bɛto nʼabusua so no bedi mframa ade, na ɔkwasea bɛyɛ onyansafo somfo.
If you cause trouble in your family, you'll inherit nothing but air. Stupid people end up as servants to those who think wisely.
30 Ɔtreneeni aba yɛ nkwadua, na nea ogye akra no yɛ onyansafo.
The fruit of the good is a tree of life, and the wise person saves people.
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 good are repaid here on earth, how much more will the wicked who sin be repaid!
