Mmebusɛm 12
1 Obiara a ɔpɛ ahohyɛso no pɛ nimdeɛ, na nea okyi nteɛso no yɛ ogyimifo.
Whoever is loving instruction, is loving knowledge, And whoever is hating reproof [is] brutish.
2 Nnipa pa nya Awurade nkyɛn adom, na Awurade bu amumɔyɛfo fɔ.
The good brings forth favor from YHWH, And the man of wicked schemes He condemns.
3 Amumɔyɛsɛm rentumi mma onipa ase ntim, na wɔrentumi ntu ɔtreneeni ase.
A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved.
4 Ɔyere a ɔwɔ suban pa yɛ ne kunu ahenkyɛw, nanso ɔyere nimguasefo te sɛ porɔwee wɔ ne kunu nnompe mu.
A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband, And as rottenness in his bones [is] one causing shame.
5 Atreneefo nhyehyɛe yɛ pɛ, na amumɔyɛfo afotu yɛ nnaadaa.
The thoughts of the righteous [are] justice, The counsels of the wicked—deceit.
6 Amumɔyɛfo nsɛm da hɔ twɛn mogya, na ɔtreneeni kasa yi wɔn fi mu.
The words of the wicked [are]: “Lay [in] wait for blood,” And the mouth of the upright delivers them.
7 Wotu amumɔyɛfo gu na wɔyera, nanso atreneefo fi gyina pintinn.
Overthrow the wicked, and they are not, And the house of the righteous stands.
8 Wɔkamfo onipa sɛnea ne nyansa te na nnipa a wɔn adwene yɛ kɔntɔnkye de, wobu wɔn animtiaa.
A man is praised according to his wisdom, And the perverted of heart becomes despised.
9 Eye sɛ wobɛyɛ wo ho sɛ ɔteta nanso wowɔ ɔsomfo, sen sɛ wobɛyɛ wo ho sɛ obi, nanso wunni aduan.
Better [is] the lightly esteemed who has a servant, Than the self-honored who lacks bread.
10 Ɔtreneeni ma ne nyɛmmoa nea wɔpɛ, na amumɔyɛfo nneyɛe a eye pa ara yɛ atirimɔden.
The righteous knows the life of his beast, And the mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.
11 Nea ɔyɛ nʼasase so adwuma no benya aduan bebree, na nea odi nsɛm huhuw akyi no nni adwene.
Whoever is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoever is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,
12 Amumɔyɛfo pɛ abɔnefo asade, nanso ɔtreneeni ase dɔ.
The wicked has desired the net of evildoers, And the root of the righteous gives.
13 Ɔbɔnefo anosɛm yi no sɛ afiri, nanso ɔtreneeni nya ne ho tetew wɔ ahohia mu.
The snare of the wicked [is] in transgression of the lips, And the righteous goes out from distress.
14 Nneɛma pa fi onipa anom aba mu hyɛ no ma sɛnea ne nsa ano adwuma ma no akatua no.
One [is] satisfied [with] good from the fruit of the mouth, And the deed of man’s hands returns to him.
15 Ɔkwasea akwan teɛ nʼani so, na onyansafo tie afotu.
The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes, And whoever is listening to counsel [is] wise.
16 Nkwaseafo bo nkyɛ fuw, nanso mmadwemma bu wɔn ani gu animka so.
The fool—his anger is known in a day, And the prudent is covering shame.
17 Ɔdanseni nokwafo di adanse turodoo, na nea odi adansekurum no twa nkontompo.
Whoever utters faithfulness declares righteousness, And a false witness—deceit.
18 Nsɛm hunu keka wowɔ te sɛ afoa nanso onyansafo tɛkrɛma ma abodwo.
A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.
19 Ano a ɛka nokware no tim hɔ daa, na atoro tɛkrɛma renkyɛ koraa.
The lip of truth is established forever, And a tongue of falsehood for a moment.
20 Nnaadaa hyɛ wɔn a wodwen bɔne ho no koma mu, na wɔn a wɔpɛ asomdwoe nya ahosɛpɛw.
Deceit [is] in the heart of those devising evil, But for counselors of peace—joy.
21 Ɔhaw biara rento ɔtreneeni, nanso amanehunu mee amumɔyɛfo.
No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil.
22 Awurade kyi ano a etwa atoro, na nʼani gye nnipa a wodi nokware ho.
Lying lips [are] an abomination to YHWH, And steadfast doers [are] his delight.
23 Ɔtreneeni mmɔ ne nimdeɛ ho dawuru nanso ɔkwasea koma da agyimisɛm adi.
A prudent man is concealing knowledge, And the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 Nsa a ɛyɛ adwuma no bedi tumi, nanso akwadworɔ wie nkoasom mu.
The hand of the diligent rules, And slothfulness becomes tributary.
25 Koma a ɛpere ade ho ma onipa botow, nanso nkuranhyɛsɛm bi hyɛ no den.
Sorrow in the heart of a man bows down, And a good word makes him glad.
26 Ɔtreneeni wɔ ntoboase wɔ ayɔnkofa mu, nanso amumɔyɛfo kwan ma wɔfom.
The righteous searches his companion, And the way of the wicked causes them to err.
27 Onihawfo ntoto ne hanam, nanso nsiyɛfo ahonyade som bo ma wɔn.
The slothful does not roast his game, And the wealth of a diligent man is precious.
28 Trenee kwan mu wɔ nkwa; na owu nni saa kwan no so.
In the path of righteousness [is] life, And in the way of [that] path [is] no death!
