Mmebusɛm 13
1 Ɔba nyansafo tie nʼagya nkyerɛkyerɛ; na ɔfɛwdifo ntie animka.
A WISE son [heareth] his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
2 Nneɛma pa a efi onipa anom no ma no anigye, na wɔn a wonni nokware no kɔn dɔ kitikitiyɛ.
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the treacherous [shall eat] violence.
3 Nea ɔkora nʼano no kora ne nkwa so, nanso nea ɔkasa a onsusuw ho no bɛba ɔsɛe mu.
He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life: [but] he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 Onihawfo pere hwehwɛ nanso onya hwee, na nea ɔyɛ adwuma no nya nea ɔpɛ biara.
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 Atreneefo kyi nea ɛnyɛ nokware, nanso amumɔyɛfo de aniwu ne ahohora ba.
A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 Trenee bɔ ɔnokwafo ho ban, na amumɔyɛsɛm tu ɔbɔnefo gu.
Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 Obi yɛ ne ho sɛ ɔdefo, a nso onni hwee, ɔfoforo yɛ ne ho sɛ ohiani, nso ɔwɔ ahonya bebree.
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.
8 Obi ahonya betumi agye no nkwa, nanso ohiani nte ahunahuna biara.
The ransom of a man’s life is his riches: but the poor heareth no threatening.
9 Atreneefo kanea hyerɛn pa ara, nanso wodum amumɔyɛfo kanea.
The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Ahantan de ntɔkwaw nko ara na ɛba, na wohu nyansa wɔ wɔn a wotie afotu mu.
By pride cometh only contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
11 Ahonya a ɛnam ɔkwammɔne so no hwere ntɛm so, na nea ɔboa sika ano nkakrankakra no ma ɛdɔɔso.
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall have increase.
12 Anidaso a wotu hyɛ da no bɔ koma ɔyare, nanso anigyinade a nsa aka no yɛ nkwadua.
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13 Nea otwiri akwankyerɛ no betua so ka, nanso wɔma nea ɔde obu ma mmara no akatua.
Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 Onyansafo nkyerɛkyerɛ te sɛ nkwa asuti, eyi onipa fi owu afiri mu.
The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
15 Nhumu pa de adom ba, nanso atorofo akwan so yɛ den.
Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of the treacherous is rugged.
16 Ɔbadwemma biara yɛ nʼade wɔ nimdeɛ mu, nanso ɔkwasea da nʼagyimisɛm adi.
Every prudent man worketh with knowledge: but a fool spreadeth out folly.
17 Ɔsomafo mumɔyɛfo tɔ amane mu, nanso ɔnanmusini nokwafo de abodwo ba.
A wicked messenger falleth into evil: but a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Nea ɔpo nteɛso no kɔ ohia ne animguase mu, na wɔhyɛ nea otie nteɛso no anuonyam.
Poverty and shame [shall be to] him that refuseth correction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
19 Akɔnnɔde a nsa aka ma ɔkra ani gye, nanso nkwaseafo kyi sɛ wɔtwe wɔn ho fi bɔne ho.
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 Nea ɔne onyansafo nantew no hu nyansa, na nea ɔne nkwaseafo bɔ no hu amane.
Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise: but the companion of fools shall smart for it.
21 Ɔhaw di ɔbɔnefo akyi, na nkɔso yɛ ɔtreneeni akatua.
Evil pursueth sinners: but the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
22 Onipa pa de agyapade gyaw ne nenanom, na wɔkora ɔbɔnefo ahonyade so ma ɔtreneeni.
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children; and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
23 Ohiani afum nnɔbae tumi ba pii, nanso ntɛnkyew pra kɔ.
Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.
24 Nea ɔkyɛe nʼabaa so no tan ne ba, na nea ɔdɔ no no hwɛ sɛ ɔbɛteɛ no.
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25 Atreneefo didi ma wɔn koma mee, nanso ɔkɔm de amumɔyɛfo.
The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
