Mmebusɛm 16
1 Koma mu nhyehyɛe yɛ onipa de, na tɛkrɛma mmuae fi Awurade.
It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of 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 weigher of spirits.
3 Fa nea woyɛ nyinaa hyɛ Awurade nsam, na wo nhyehyɛe besi yiye.
Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 Awurade yɛ biribiara ma nʼankasa botae, mpo, ɔhwɛ omumɔyɛfo so kosi amanehunu da.
The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.
5 Awurade kyi koma mu ahantanfo nyinaa. Nya saa ntease yi sɛ, wɔremfa wɔn ho nni.
Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should 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 offer 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 men depart from evil.
7 Sɛ onipa akwan sɔ Awurade ani a, ɔma nʼatamfo mpo ne no tena asomdwoe mu.
When the ways of man shall 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 great revenues with iniquity.
9 Onipa yɛ ne nhyehyɛe wɔ ne koma mu, nanso Awurade na ɔhwɛ nʼanammɔntu.
The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
10 Ɔhene anom kasa te sɛ nkɔmhyɛ, enti ɛnsɛ sɛ nʼano ka nea ɛnyɛ atɛntrenee.
Divination 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.
Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
12 Ahemfo kyi bɔneyɛ, efisɛ ahengua si trenee so.
They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
13 Ahemfo ani sɔ ano a ɛka nokware; na wobu onipa a ɔka nokware.
Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.
14 Ɔhene abufuwhyew yɛ owu somafo, nanso onyansafo bedwudwo ano.
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.
15 Sɛ ɔhene anim tew a, ɛyɛ nkwa, nʼadom te sɛ asusowbere mu omununkum.
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.
16 Eye sɛ wubenya nyansa sen sɛ wubenya sikakɔkɔɔ, sɛ wubenya nhumu sen sɛ wubenya dwetɛ!
Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase 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 departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
18 Ahantan di ɔsɛe anim, na ahomaso honhom nso di asehwe anim.
Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up 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 proud.
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 he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
21 Wɔfrɛ koma mu anyansafo se nhumufo, na kasa pa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.
22 Ntease yɛ nkwa asuti ma wɔn a wɔwɔ bi, nanso agyimisɛm de asotwe brɛ nkwaseafo.
Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
23 Onyansafo koma kyerɛ nʼano kwan, na nʼanofafa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.
24 Abodwosɛm te sɛ ɛwokyɛm; ɛyɛ ɔkra dɛ, na ɛsa nnompe yare.
Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 Ɔkwan bi wɔ hɔ a ɛteɛ wɔ onipa ani so, nanso awiei no, ɛkɔ owu mu.
There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.
26 Apaafo akɔnnɔ ma wɔyɛ adwumaden; efisɛ wɔpɛ sɛ wokum wɔn kɔm.
The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
27 Ohuhuni bɔ pɔw bɔne, ne kasa te sɛ ogya a ɛhyew ade.
The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 Onipa kɔntɔnkye de mpaapaemu ba, na ɔsututufo tetew nnamfonom ntam.
A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
29 Kitikitiyɛni daadaa ne yɔnko, na ɔde no fa ɔkwammɔne so.
An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
30 Nea obu nʼani no redwene bɔneyɛ ho; na nea omua nʼano no ani wɔ bɔne so.
He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass.
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.
The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.
33 Wɔbɔ ntonto de hwehwɛ nea Awurade pɛ, nanso ne gyinaesi biara fi Awurade.
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.
