Mmebusɛm 16
1 Koma mu nhyehyɛe yɛ onipa de, na tɛkrɛma mmuae fi Awurade.
2 Ɛyɛ onipa sɛ nʼakwan nyinaa yɛ kronkron, nanso Awurade na ɔpɛɛpɛɛ adwene mu.
All the works of the humble [man] are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day.
3 Fa nea woyɛ nyinaa hyɛ Awurade nsam, na wo nhyehyɛe besi yiye.
4 Awurade yɛ biribiara ma nʼankasa botae, mpo, ɔhwɛ omumɔyɛfo so kosi amanehunu da.
5 Awurade kyi koma mu ahantanfo nyinaa. Nya saa ntease yi sɛ, wɔremfa wɔn ho nni.
Every one that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes hands with hand shall not be held guiltless. The beginning of a good way is to do justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices. He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace. All of the works of the Lord [are done] with righteousness; and the ungodly [man] is kept for the evil day.
6 Wɔnam ɔdɔ ne nokware so pata bɔne; onipa nam Awurade suro so yi bɔne akwa.
7 Sɛ onipa akwan sɔ Awurade ani a, ɔma nʼatamfo mpo ne no tena asomdwoe mu.
8 Kakraa bi a wɔnam trenee kwan so nya no ye sen mfaso pii a wɔnam ntɛnkyew so nya.
9 Onipa yɛ ne nhyehyɛe wɔ ne koma mu, nanso Awurade na ɔhwɛ nʼanammɔntu.
10 Ɔhene anom kasa te sɛ nkɔmhyɛ, enti ɛnsɛ sɛ nʼano ka nea ɛnyɛ atɛntrenee.
[There is] an oracle upon the lips of a king; and his mouth shall not err in judgement.
11 Nsania ne abrammo a asisi nni mu fi Awurade; nkaribo a ɛwɔ kotoku mu no, ɔno na ɔyɛe.
The poise of the balance is righteousness with the Lord; and his works are righteous measures.
12 Ahemfo kyi bɔneyɛ, efisɛ ahengua si trenee so.
An evil-doer is an abomination to a king; for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.
13 Ahemfo ani sɔ ano a ɛka nokware; na wobu onipa a ɔka nokware.
Righteous lips are acceptable to a king; and he loves right words.
14 Ɔhene abufuwhyew yɛ owu somafo, nanso onyansafo bedwudwo ano.
The anger of a king is a messenger of death; but a wise man will pacify him.
15 Sɛ ɔhene anim tew a, ɛyɛ nkwa, nʼadom te sɛ asusowbere mu omununkum.
The son of a king is in the light of life; and they that are in favour with him are as a cloud of latter rain.
16 Eye sɛ wubenya nyansa sen sɛ wubenya sikakɔkɔɔ, sɛ wubenya nhumu sen sɛ wubenya dwetɛ!
The brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence more to be chosen than silver.
17 Ɔtreneeni tempɔn kwati bɔne; nea ɔhwɛ nʼakwan yiye no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban.
The paths of life turn aside from evil; and the ways of righteousness are length of life. He that receives instruction shall be in prosperity; and he that regards reproofs shall be made wise. He that keeps his ways, preserves his own soul; and he that loves his life will spare his mouth.
18 Ahantan di ɔsɛe anim, na ahomaso honhom nso di asehwe anim.
Pride goes before destruction, and folly before a fall.
19 Eye sɛ wobɛyɛ honhom mu hiani wɔ wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so mu sen sɛ wo ne ahantanfo bɛkyɛ asade.
Better is a meek-spirited [man] with lowliness, than one who divides spoils with the proud.
20 Nea ɔyɛ osetie ma nkyerɛkyerɛ no nya nkɔso; nhyira nka nea ɔde ne ho to Awurade so.
[He who is] skilful in business finds good: but he that trusts in God is most blessed.
21 Wɔfrɛ koma mu anyansafo se nhumufo, na kasa pa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
[Men] call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.
22 Ntease yɛ nkwa asuti ma wɔn a wɔwɔ bi, nanso agyimisɛm de asotwe brɛ nkwaseafo.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil.
23 Onyansafo koma kyerɛ nʼano kwan, na nʼanofafa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
The heart of the wise will discern the [things which proceed] from his own mouth; and on his lips he will wear knowledge.
24 Abodwosɛm te sɛ ɛwokyɛm; ɛyɛ ɔkra dɛ, na ɛsa nnompe yare.
Good words are honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.
25 Ɔkwan bi wɔ hɔ a ɛteɛ wɔ onipa ani so, nanso awiei no, ɛkɔ owu mu.
There are ways that seem to be right to a man, but the end of them looks to the depth of hell. (questioned)
26 Apaafo akɔnnɔ ma wɔyɛ adwumaden; efisɛ wɔpɛ sɛ wokum wɔn kɔm.
A man who labours, labours for himself, and drives from [him] his own ruin.
27 Ohuhuni bɔ pɔw bɔne, ne kasa te sɛ ogya a ɛhyew ade.
But the perverse bears destruction upon his own mouth: a foolish man digs up evil for himself, and treasures fire on his own lips.
28 Onipa kɔntɔnkye de mpaapaemu ba, na ɔsututufo tetew nnamfonom ntam.
A perverse man spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he separates friends.
29 Kitikitiyɛni daadaa ne yɔnko, na ɔde no fa ɔkwammɔne so.
A transgressor tries [to ensnare] friends, and leads them in ways [that are] not good.
30 Nea obu nʼani no redwene bɔneyɛ ho; na nea omua nʼano no ani wɔ bɔne so.
And the man that fixes his eyes devises perverse things, and marks out with his lips all evil: he is a furnace of wickedness.
31 Dwen yɛ anuonyam abotiri; trenee mu asetena na ɛde ba.
Old age is a crown of honour, but it is found in the ways of righteousness.
32 Nea ɔwɔ abodwokyɛre no ye sen ɔkofo, na nea ɔmfa abufuw ye sen nea ɔko fa kuropɔn.
A man slow to anger is better than a strong [man]; and he that governs [his] temper better than he that takes a city.
33 Wɔbɔ ntonto de hwehwɛ nea Awurade pɛ, nanso ne gyinaesi biara fi Awurade.
All [evils] come upon the ungodly into [their] bosoms; but all righteous things [come] of the Lord.
