Mmebusɛm 16
1 Koma mu nhyehyɛe yɛ onipa de, na tɛkrɛma mmuae fi Awurade.
Unto man belong the resolves of the heart; but from the Lord cometh the expression of the tongue.
2 Ɛyɛ onipa sɛ nʼakwan nyinaa yɛ kronkron, nanso Awurade na ɔpɛɛpɛɛ adwene mu.
Every one of the ways of a man is pure in his own eyes; but the Lord measureth the spirits.
3 Fa nea woyɛ nyinaa hyɛ Awurade nsam, na wo nhyehyɛe besi yiye.
Commit unto the Lord thy works, and thy plans will be firmly established.
4 Awurade yɛ biribiara ma nʼankasa botae, mpo, ɔhwɛ omumɔyɛfo so kosi amanehunu da.
Every thing hath the Lord wrought for its destined end; yes, even the wicked for the day of unhappiness.
5 Awurade kyi koma mu ahantanfo nyinaa. Nya saa ntease yi sɛ, wɔremfa wɔn ho nni.
An abomination of the Lord is every one that is proud of heart: the hand [of God] being against [his] hand, he shall not go unpunished.
6 Wɔnam ɔdɔ ne nokware so pata bɔne; onipa nam Awurade suro so yi bɔne akwa.
Through kindness and truth is iniquity atoned for; 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 Lord receiveth in favor a man's ways, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Kakraa bi a wɔnam trenee kwan so nya no ye sen mfaso pii a wɔnam ntɛnkyew so nya.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great incomes through injustice.
9 Onipa yɛ ne nhyehyɛe wɔ ne koma mu, nanso Awurade na ɔhwɛ nʼanammɔntu.
A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth firmly his steps.
10 Ɔhene anom kasa te sɛ nkɔmhyɛ, enti ɛnsɛ sɛ nʼano ka nea ɛnyɛ atɛntrenee.
There should be a wise sentence on the lips of the king: his mouth should never commit a trespass in judging.
11 Nsania ne abrammo a asisi nni mu fi Awurade; nkaribo a ɛwɔ kotoku mu no, ɔno na ɔyɛe.
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord: his work are all the weights in the bag.
12 Ahemfo kyi bɔneyɛ, efisɛ ahengua si trenee so.
It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for through righteousness [alone] can a throne be established.
13 Ahemfo ani sɔ ano a ɛka nokware; na wobu onipa a ɔka nokware.
Righteous lips [should obtain] the favor of kings; and him that speaketh uprightly should they love.
14 Ɔhene abufuwhyew yɛ owu somafo, nanso onyansafo bedwudwo ano.
The fury of a king is like the messengers of death; but a wise man will appease it.
15 Sɛ ɔhene anim tew a, ɛyɛ nkwa, nʼadom te sɛ asusowbere mu omununkum.
In the light of the king's countenance there is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 Eye sɛ wubenya nyansa sen sɛ wubenya sikakɔkɔɔ, sɛ wubenya nhumu sen sɛ wubenya dwetɛ!
How much better is it to obtain wisdom than gold! and to obtain understanding is preferable to silver!
17 Ɔtreneeni tempɔn kwati bɔne; nea ɔhwɛ nʼakwan yiye no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he preserveth his soul that watcheth his way.
18 Ahantan di ɔsɛe anim, na ahomaso honhom nso di asehwe anim.
Before downfall [goeth] pride, and before stumbling, haughtiness of spirit.
19 Eye sɛ wobɛyɛ honhom mu hiani wɔ wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so mu sen sɛ wo ne ahantanfo bɛkyɛ asade.
Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide spoil with the proud.
20 Nea ɔyɛ osetie ma nkyerɛkyerɛ no nya nkɔso; nhyira nka nea ɔde ne ho to Awurade so.
He that reflecteth on a matter wisely will find happiness; and whoso trusteth in the Lord—happiness attend him!
21 Wɔfrɛ koma mu anyansafo se nhumufo, na kasa pa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth information.
22 Ntease yɛ nkwa asuti ma wɔn a wɔwɔ bi, nanso agyimisɛm de asotwe brɛ nkwaseafo.
Intelligence is a source of life unto its possessor; but the correction of fools is folly.
23 Onyansafo koma kyerɛ nʼano kwan, na nʼanofafa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips he increaseth information.
24 Abodwosɛm te sɛ ɛwokyɛm; ɛyɛ ɔkra dɛ, na ɛsa nnompe yare.
[Like] the droppings of honey are pleasant sayings, sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.
25 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 the ways unto death.
26 Apaafo akɔnnɔ ma wɔyɛ adwumaden; efisɛ wɔpɛ sɛ wokum wɔn kɔm.
The desire of the laborer laboreth for him; for his mouth imposeth it on him.
27 Ohuhuni bɔ pɔw bɔne, ne kasa te sɛ ogya a ɛhyew ade.
An ungodly man diggeth up mischief, and on his lips there is as it were a scathing fire.
28 Onipa kɔntɔnkye de mpaapaemu ba, na ɔsututufo tetew nnamfonom ntam.
A perverse man scattereth strife; and a whisperer separateth confident friends.
29 Kitikitiyɛni daadaa ne yɔnko, na ɔde no fa ɔkwammɔne so.
The man of violence misleadeth his neighbor, and maketh him go on a way which is not good.
30 Nea obu nʼani no redwene bɔneyɛ ho; na nea omua nʼano no ani wɔ bɔne so.
He shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things: when he compresseth his lips then hath he fully resolved on evil.
31 Dwen yɛ anuonyam abotiri; trenee mu asetena na ɛde ba.
An ornamental crown is the hoary head, on the way of righteousness can it be found.
32 Nea ɔwɔ abodwokyɛre no ye sen ɔkofo, na nea ɔmfa abufuw ye sen nea ɔko fa kuropɔn.
One that is slow to anger is better than a hero; and he that ruleth his spirit, than the conqueror of a city.
33 Wɔbɔ ntonto de hwehwɛ nea Awurade pɛ, nanso ne gyinaesi biara fi Awurade.
In the lap the lot is cast: but from the Lord cometh the whole of its decision.
