Mmebusɛm 14
1 Ɔbea nyansafo si ne dan, nanso ɔbea kwasea de nʼankasa ne nsa dwiriw ne de gu fam.
Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
2 Nea ne nantew teɛ no suro Awurade, na nea nʼakwan kyea no bu no animtiaa.
He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonoured.
3 Ɔkwasea kasa ma wɔbɔ nʼakyi abaa, nanso anyansafo ano bɔ wɔn ho ban.
Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Faako a anantwi nni no, adididaka no mu da mpan, na nantwi ahoɔden mu na nnɔbae pii fi ba.
Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
5 Ɔdanseni nokwafo rennaadaa, ɔdansekurumni hwie atoro gu hɔ.
A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
6 Ɔfɛwdifo hwehwɛ nyansa nanso onya, nanso wɔn a wɔwɔ nhumu nya nimdeɛ ntɛm.
You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
7 Twe wo ho fi ɔkwasea ho, efisɛ, worennya nimdeɛ mfi nʼano.
All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
8 Anitewfo nyansa ne sɛ wɔbɛdwene wɔn akwan ho, na nkwaseafo agyimisɛm yɛ nnaadaa.
The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
9 Nkwaseafo de bɔne ho adwensakra di fɛw, na wɔn a wɔteɛ mu na anisɔ wɔ.
The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
10 Koma biara nim ɔyaw wɔ ne mu, na obi foforo rentumi ne no nkyɛ nʼanigye.
[If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
11 Wɔbɛsɛe amumɔyɛfo fi, nanso teefo ntamadan bɛyɛ frɔmfrɔm.
The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
12 Ɔkwan bi wɔ hɔ a ɛteɛ wɔ onipa ani so, nanso awiei no, ɛkɔ owu mu.
There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it reach to the depths of hell. (questioned)
13 Ɔserew mu mpo, koma tumi di yaw, na anigye tumi wie awerɛhow.
Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
14 Akyirisanfo benya akatua sɛnea wɔn akwan te, na onipa pa nso benya ne de.
A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
15 Atetekwaa gye biribiara di, nanso onitefo dwene nʼanammɔntu ho.
The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
16 Onyansafo suro Awurade na oguan bɔne, nanso ɔkwasea yɛ asowui ne basabasa.
A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
17 Onipa a ne bo nkyɛ fuw no yɛ nkwaseade, na wɔtɔn nea ɔpam apam bɔne no.
A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
18 Ntetekwaafo agyapade ne gyimi, na wɔde nimdeɛ bɔ anitewfo abotiri.
Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
19 Nnipa bɔnefo bɛkotow nnipa pa anim, na amumɔyɛfo akotow atreneefo apon ano.
Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
20 Ahiafo de, wɔn yɔnkonom mpo mpɛ wɔn anim ahwɛ, nanso adefo wɔ nnamfonom bebree.
Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 Nea obu ne yɔnko animtiaa yɛ bɔne, na nhyira nka nea ne yam ye ma ohiani.
He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
22 So wɔn a wɔbɔ pɔw bɔne nyera kwan ana? Nanso wɔn a wɔhyehyɛ nea eye no nya adɔe ne nokware.
They that go astray devise evils: but the good devise mercy and truth. The framers of evil do not understand mercy and truth: but compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.
23 Adwumadenyɛ nyinaa de mfaso ba, na kasahunu de, ɛkɔ ohia mu.
With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
24 Anyansafo ahonya ne wɔn abotiri, na nkwaseafo agyimisɛm sow gyimi aba.
A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
25 Ɔdanseni nokwafo gye nkwa, nanso ɔdansekurumni yɛ ɔdaadaafo.
A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
26 Nea osuro Awurade no wɔ bammɔ a mu yɛ den, na ɛbɛyɛ guankɔbea ama ne mma.
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
27 Awurade suro yɛ nkwa asuti, eyi onipa fi owu afiri mu.
The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
28 Ɔman mu nnipa dodow yɛ ɔhene anuonyam, nanso sɛ asomfo nni hɔ a mmapɔmma no sɛe.
In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
29 Onipa a ɔwɔ abodwokyɛre wɔ ntease a mu dɔ, na nea ne bo fu ntɛm no da agyimisɛm adi.
A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
30 Koma mu asomdwoe ma nipadua nkwa, na anibere ma nnompe porɔw.
A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
31 Nea ɔhyɛ ahiafo so no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa, nanso nea ohu ohiani mmɔbɔ no hyɛ Onyankopɔn anuonyam.
He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor.
32 Sɛ amanehunu ba a amumɔyɛfo hwe ase, nanso owu mu mpo atreneefo wɔ guankɔbea.
The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
33 Nyansa te ntease koma mu, na nkwaseafo mu mpo, oyi ne ho adi.
There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
34 Trenee pagyaw ɔman, na bɔne yɛ animguase ma nnipa nyinaa.
Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
35 Ɔhene ani sɔ ɔsomfo nyansani, na ɔsomfo nimguasefo hyɛ no abufuw.
An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace.
