Mmebusɛm 16
1 Koma mu nhyehyɛe yɛ onipa de, na tɛkrɛma mmuae fi Awurade.
It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 Ɛyɛ onipa sɛ nʼakwan nyinaa yɛ kronkron, nanso Awurade na ɔpɛɛpɛɛ adwene mu.
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
3 Fa nea woyɛ nyinaa hyɛ Awurade nsam, na wo nhyehyɛe besi yiye.
Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
4 Awurade yɛ biribiara ma nʼankasa botae, mpo, ɔhwɛ omumɔyɛfo so kosi amanehunu da.
The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
5 Awurade kyi koma mu ahantanfo nyinaa. Nya saa ntease yi sɛ, wɔremfa wɔn ho nni.
All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.
6 Wɔnam ɔdɔ ne nokware so pata bɔne; onipa nam Awurade suro so yi bɔne akwa.
By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7 Sɛ onipa akwan sɔ Awurade ani a, ɔma nʼatamfo mpo ne no tena asomdwoe mu.
When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Kakraa bi a wɔnam trenee kwan so nya no ye sen mfaso pii a wɔnam ntɛnkyew so nya.
Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
9 Onipa yɛ ne nhyehyɛe wɔ ne koma mu, nanso Awurade na ɔhwɛ nʼanammɔntu.
The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
10 Ɔhene anom kasa te sɛ nkɔmhyɛ, enti ɛnsɛ sɛ nʼano ka nea ɛnyɛ atɛntrenee.
Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 Nsania ne abrammo a asisi nni mu fi Awurade; nkaribo a ɛwɔ kotoku mu no, ɔno na ɔyɛe.
Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
12 Ahemfo kyi bɔneyɛ, efisɛ ahengua si trenee so.
Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
13 Ahemfo ani sɔ ano a ɛka nokware; na wobu onipa a ɔka nokware.
Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
14 Ɔhene abufuwhyew yɛ owu somafo, nanso onyansafo bedwudwo ano.
The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
15 Sɛ ɔhene anim tew a, ɛyɛ nkwa, nʼadom te sɛ asusowbere mu omununkum.
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
16 Eye sɛ wubenya nyansa sen sɛ wubenya sikakɔkɔɔ, sɛ wubenya nhumu sen sɛ wubenya dwetɛ!
Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 Ɔtreneeni tempɔn kwati bɔne; nea ɔhwɛ nʼakwan yiye no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban.
The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
18 Ahantan di ɔsɛe anim, na ahomaso honhom nso di asehwe anim.
Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
19 Eye sɛ wobɛyɛ honhom mu hiani wɔ wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so mu sen sɛ wo ne ahantanfo bɛkyɛ asade.
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
20 Nea ɔyɛ osetie ma nkyerɛkyerɛ no nya nkɔso; nhyira nka nea ɔde ne ho to Awurade so.
The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
21 Wɔfrɛ koma mu anyansafo se nhumufo, na kasa pa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
22 Ntease yɛ nkwa asuti ma wɔn a wɔwɔ bi, nanso agyimisɛm de asotwe brɛ nkwaseafo.
Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
23 Onyansafo koma kyerɛ nʼano kwan, na nʼanofafa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
24 Abodwosɛm te sɛ ɛwokyɛm; ɛyɛ ɔkra dɛ, na ɛsa nnompe yare.
Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
25 Ɔkwan bi wɔ hɔ a ɛteɛ wɔ onipa ani so, nanso awiei no, ɛkɔ owu mu.
There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
26 Apaafo akɔnnɔ ma wɔyɛ adwumaden; efisɛ wɔpɛ sɛ wokum wɔn kɔm.
The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
27 Ohuhuni bɔ pɔw bɔne, ne kasa te sɛ ogya a ɛhyew ade.
The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 Onipa kɔntɔnkye de mpaapaemu ba, na ɔsututufo tetew nnamfonom ntam.
A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
29 Kitikitiyɛni daadaa ne yɔnko, na ɔde no fa ɔkwammɔne so.
A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
30 Nea obu nʼani no redwene bɔneyɛ ho; na nea omua nʼano no ani wɔ bɔne so.
Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
31 Dwen yɛ anuonyam abotiri; trenee mu asetena na ɛde ba.
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 Nea ɔwɔ abodwokyɛre no ye sen ɔkofo, na nea ɔmfa abufuw ye sen nea ɔko fa kuropɔn.
A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
33 Wɔbɔ ntonto de hwehwɛ nea Awurade pɛ, nanso ne gyinaesi biara fi Awurade.
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
