Mmebusɛm 14
1 Ɔbea nyansafo si ne dan, nanso ɔbea kwasea de nʼankasa ne nsa dwiriw ne de gu fam.
The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.
2 Nea ne nantew teɛ no suro Awurade, na nea nʼakwan kyea no bu no animtiaa.
In his uprightness walketh he that feareth the Lord; but perverse in his ways is he that despiseth him.
3 Ɔkwasea kasa ma wɔbɔ nʼakyi abaa, nanso anyansafo ano bɔ wɔn ho ban.
In the mouth of the foolish is a stick [for his] pride; but the lips of the wise will 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, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through the strength of the ox.
5 Ɔdanseni nokwafo rennaadaa, ɔdansekurumni hwie atoro gu hɔ.
A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness constantly uttereth lies.
6 Ɔfɛwdifo hwehwɛ nyansa nanso onya, nanso wɔn a wɔwɔ nhumu nya nimdeɛ ntɛm.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
7 Twe wo ho fi ɔkwasea ho, efisɛ, worennya nimdeɛ mfi nʼano.
Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know the lips of knowledge.
8 Anitewfo nyansa ne sɛ wɔbɛdwene wɔn akwan ho, na nkwaseafo agyimisɛm yɛ nnaadaa.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Nkwaseafo de bɔne ho adwensakra di fɛw, na wɔn a wɔteɛ mu na anisɔ wɔ.
The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.
10 Koma biara nim ɔyaw wɔ ne mu, na obi foforo rentumi ne no nkyɛ nʼanigye.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.
11 Wɔbɛsɛe amumɔyɛfo fi, nanso teefo ntamadan bɛyɛ frɔmfrɔm.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 Ɔkwan bi wɔ hɔ a ɛteɛ wɔ onipa ani so, nanso awiei no, ɛkɔ owu mu.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.
13 Ɔserew mu mpo, koma tumi di yaw, na anigye tumi wie awerɛhow.
Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.
14 Akyirisanfo benya akatua sɛnea wɔn akwan te, na onipa pa nso benya ne de.
The backslider in heart will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.
15 Atetekwaa gye biribiara di, nanso onitefo dwene nʼanammɔntu ho.
The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man understandeth his steps.
16 Onyansafo suro Awurade na oguan bɔne, nanso ɔkwasea yɛ asowui ne basabasa.
A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, and is confident.
17 Onipa a ne bo nkyɛ fuw no yɛ nkwaseade, na wɔtɔn nea ɔpam apam bɔne no.
He that is soon angry committeth folly; and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 Ntetekwaafo agyapade ne gyimi, na wɔde nimdeɛ bɔ anitewfo abotiri.
The simple inherit folly; but the prudent crown themselves with knowledge.
19 Nnipa bɔnefo bɛkotow nnipa pa anim, na amumɔyɛfo akotow atreneefo apon ano.
The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are at the gates of the righteous.
20 Ahiafo de, wɔn yɔnkonom mpo mpɛ wɔn anim ahwɛ, nanso adefo wɔ nnamfonom bebree.
Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; 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 despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!
22 So wɔn a wɔbɔ pɔw bɔne nyera kwan ana? Nanso wɔn a wɔhyehyɛ nea eye no nya adɔe ne nokware.
Behold, those who contrive evil are in error; but kindness and truth attend on those who contrive what is good.
23 Adwumadenyɛ nyinaa de mfaso ba, na kasahunu de, ɛkɔ ohia mu.
In all painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.
24 Anyansafo ahonya ne wɔn abotiri, na nkwaseafo agyimisɛm sow gyimi aba.
The crown of the wise is their riches; but the folly of fools is [only] folly.
25 Ɔdanseni nokwafo gye nkwa, nanso ɔdansekurumni yɛ ɔdaadaafo.
A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth lies.
26 Nea osuro Awurade no wɔ bammɔ a mu yɛ den, na ɛbɛyɛ guankɔbea ama ne mma.
In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.
27 Awurade suro yɛ nkwa asuti, eyi onipa fi owu afiri mu.
The fear of the Lord is the source of life, [teaching] to avoid the snares of death.
28 Ɔman mu nnipa dodow yɛ ɔhene anuonyam, nanso sɛ asomfo nni hɔ a mmapɔmma no sɛe.
In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of a population is the downfall of the prince.
29 Onipa a ɔwɔ abodwokyɛre wɔ ntease a mu dɔ, na nea ne bo fu ntɛm no da agyimisɛm adi.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.
30 Koma mu asomdwoe ma nipadua nkwa, na anibere ma nnompe porɔw.
A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 Nea ɔhyɛ ahiafo so no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa, nanso nea ohu ohiani mmɔbɔ no hyɛ Onyankopɔn anuonyam.
He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.
32 Sɛ amanehunu ba a amumɔyɛfo hwe ase, nanso owu mu mpo atreneefo wɔ guankɔbea.
Through his own evil is the wicked thrust down; but even in his death doth the righteous have confidence.
33 Nyansa te ntease koma mu, na nkwaseafo mu mpo, oyi ne ho adi.
In the heart of the man of understanding resteth wisdom: but [the little which is] in the bosom of fools is made known.
34 Trenee pagyaw ɔman, na bɔne yɛ animguase ma nnipa nyinaa.
Righteousness exalteth a people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.
35 Ɔhene ani sɔ ɔsomfo nyansani, na ɔsomfo nimguasefo hyɛ no abufuw.
The king's favor is bestowed on an intelligent servant; but his wrath is against him that deserveth shame.
