Mmebusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nantew ho nni asɛm no ye sen ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa kwan mu.
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nye, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera kwan nso nye.
Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good. And he who hastens with his feet sins.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso ne koma huru tia Awurade.
The foolishness of a man subverts his way, and his heart rages against Jehovah.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gyaw no hɔ.
Wealth adds many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend.
5 Adansekurumni benya nʼakatua, na nea otwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he who utters lies shall not escape.
6 Nnipa pii pɛ adom fi sodifo nkyɛn, na nea ɔkyɛ ade yɛ obiara adamfo.
Many will entreat the favor of a generous man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
7 Ohiani abusuafo nyinaa po no, na saa ara na ne nnamfonom po no! Mpo ɔhwehwɛ wɔn, pɛ sɛ ɔpa wɔn kyɛw, nanso onhu wɔn baabiara.
All the brothers of a poor man regard him inferior, how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues with words, but they are gone.
8 Nea onya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; nea ɔpɛ nhumu no nya nkɔso.
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
9 Adansekurumni benya asotwe, na nea otwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he who utters lies shall perish.
10 Ɛmfata sɛ ɔkwasea bedi taamu, anaasɛ akoa bedi mmapɔmma so!
Luxurious living is not fitting for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over rulers.
11 Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboase; ɛyɛ anuonyam ma obi sɛ obebu nʼani gu mfomso bi so.
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12 Ɔhene abufuw te sɛ gyata mmubomu, na nʼadom te sɛ sare so bosu.
The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion, but his favor is as dew upon the grass.
13 Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛe, ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo te sɛ ɔdan a ne nwini to ntwa da.
A foolish son is the calamity of his father, and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14 Afi ne ahonyade yɛ agyapade a efi awofo, na ɔyere nimdefo fi Awurade.
House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɔkɔm de ɔkwadwofo.
Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 Nea odi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na nea ogyaagyaa ne ho no bewu.
He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul. He who is careless of his ways shall die.
17 Nea ɔyɛ adɔe ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na obetua no nea ɔyɛ no so ka.
He who has pity upon a poor man lends to Jehovah, and he will repay him his good deed.
18 Teɛ wo ba, na ɛno mu na anidaso wɔ, na nyɛ wɔn a wɔde no kɔ owu mu no mu baako.
Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
19 Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a ne koma haw no no nya so asotwe; sɛ woka ma no a, wobɛyɛ bio.
A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty, for if thou deliver him, thou must do it yet again.
20 Tie afotu na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awiei no, wubehu nyansa.
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou may be wise in thy latter end.
21 Nhyehyɛe bebree wɔ onipa koma mu, nanso nea Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
There are many devices in a man's heart, but the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.
22 Nea onipa pɛ ne nokware dɔ; eye sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sen sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofo.
That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
The fear of Jehovah is life to a man, and he shall abide satisfied. He shall not be visited with evil.
24 Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Twa ɔfɛwdifo mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka nea ɔwɔ nhumu anim, na obenya nimdeɛ.
Smite a scoffer, and a simple man will learn prudence. And reprove him who has understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
26 Nea ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔn na ɔpam ne na no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwu ne animguase ba.
He who does violence to his father, and chases away his mother, is a son that causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Me ba, sɛ wugyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛman afi nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
To err from the words of knowledge, cease, my son, to hear instruction.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntrenee ho fɛw; na omumɔyɛfo ano mene bɔne.
A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛwdifo, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafo akyi.
Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and stripes for the back of fools.
