Mmebusɛm 11
1 Awurade kyi asisi nsania, na nʼani gye nokware nkaribo ho.
A FALSE balance is an abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
2 Ahantan ba a, animguase na edi so, nanso ahobrɛase de nyansa ba.
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 Teefo nokwaredi kyerɛ wɔn kwan; nanso nkontompofo ano ntanta sɛe wɔn.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Ahonya nka hwee wɔ abufuwhyew da no, nanso trenee gye nkwa fi owu mu.
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
5 Wɔn a wonni bɔne no trenee bɔ kwan tee ma wɔn, nanso amumɔyɛfo amumɔyɛsɛm brɛ wɔn ase.
The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 Pɛyɛfo treneeyɛ gye wɔn, nanso akɔnnɔ bɔne afiri yi nkontompofo.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but they that deal treacherously shall be taken in their own mischief.
7 Sɛ omumɔyɛfo wu a, nʼanidaso yera; nea osusuw sɛ obenya afi ne tumi mu nyinaa no yɛ ɔkwa.
When a wicked man dieth [his] expectation shall perish: and the hope of iniquity perisheth.
8 Wogye ɔtreneeni fi amane mu, na ɛba omumɔyɛfo so mmom.
The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 Nea onsuro Onyame de nʼano sɛe ne yɔnko, nanso ɔtreneeni nam nimdeɛ so fi mu.
With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.
10 Sɛ atreneefo di yiye a, kuropɔn no di ahurusi; nanso amumɔyɛfo wu a, wɔbɔ ose.
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 Pɛyɛfo nhyira ma kuropɔn no kɔ so, nanso amumɔyɛfo ano ma ɛbɔ.
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 Onipa a onni adwene no bu ne yɔnko animtiaa, nanso nea ɔwɔ nhumu no to ne tɛkrɛma nnareka.
He that despiseth his neighbour is void of wisdom: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 Nsekudi sɛe ahotoso, nanso nea wɔwɔ ne mu ahotoso no kora ahintasɛm.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14 Ɔman a enni akwankyerɛ no bɔ, nanso afotufo dodow ma nkonimdi ba.
Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 Nea odi akagyinamu ma ɔfoforo no behu amane, na nea ɔmmfa ne nsa nhyɛ awowasi ase no aso mu dwo no.
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: but he that hateth suretiship is sure.
16 Ɔbea a ne yam ye no, wɔde obu ma no, nanso mmarima atirimɔdenfo nya ahode nkutoo.
A gracious woman retaineth honour: and violent men retain riches.
17 Ɔyamyefo ye ma ne ho, na otirimɔdenfo de ɔhaw ba nʼankasa so.
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 Omumɔyɛfo nya akatua a ennyina, nanso nea ogu trenee aba no twa aba a edi mu.
The wicked earneth deceitful wages: but he that soweth righteousness [hath] a sure reward.
19 Nea ɔyɛ nokware treneeni no nya nkwa, nanso nea ɔkɔ so yɛ bɔne no kɔ owu mu.
He that is stedfast in righteousness [shall attain] unto life: and he that pursueth evil [doeth it] to his own death.
20 Awurade kyi nnipa a wɔn koma akyea, na nʼani gye wɔn a wɔn akwan ho nni asɛm no ho.
They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD: but such as are perfect in [their] way are his delight.
21 Gye to mu sɛ, amumɔyɛfo benya wɔn akatua, na atreneefo benya wɔn ti adidi mu.
[Though] hand [join] in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 Ɔbea hoɔfɛfo a ontumi nsi gyinae no te sɛ sika kaa a ɛhyɛ prako hwene mu.
[As a] jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, [so is] a fair woman which is without discretion.
23 Atreneefo apɛde wie yiye, nanso amumɔyɛfo anidaso wie abufuwhyew.
The desire of the righteous is only good: [but] the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 Obi yɛ adɔe, na onya ne ho bebree; obi nso yɛ pɛpɛe, nanso ehia no.
There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] only to want.
25 Ɔyamyefo bɛkɔ so anya ne ho; na nea ɔma ebinom mee no nso bɛmee.
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 Nnipa dome nea ɔde atoko sie, na nhyira ba nea ɔtɔn ne de so.
He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 Nea ɔhwehwɛ papa akyi kwan no nya anisɔ, na nea ɔhwehwɛ bɔne no, bɔne ba ne so.
He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favour: but he that searcheth after mischief, it shall come unto him.
28 Nea ɔde ne ho to nʼahonyade so no bɛhwe ase, na ɔtreneeni bɛyɛ frɔmfrɔm sɛ ahabammono.
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 Nea ɔde ɔhaw bɛto nʼabusua so no bedi mframa ade, na ɔkwasea bɛyɛ onyansafo somfo.
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the foolish shall 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 that is wise winneth souls.
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?”
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner!
