Mmebusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nantew ho nni asɛm no ye sen ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa kwan mu.
Better is a poor [man] that walketh in his integrity, than he that 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 a person be without knowledge is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet maketh false steps.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso ne koma huru tia Awurade.
The folly of man distorteth his way, and his heart is irritated against Jehovah.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gyaw no hɔ.
Wealth addeth many friends; but the poor is separated from his friend.
5 Adansekurumni benya nʼakatua, na nea otwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witness shall not be held innocent, and he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
6 Nnipa pii pɛ adom fi sodifo nkyɛn, na nea ɔkyɛ ade yɛ obiara adamfo.
Many court the favour of a noble; and every one is friend to a man that giveth.
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 brethren of a poor [man] hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him: he pursueth [them] with words, — they are not [to be found].
8 Nea onya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; nea ɔpɛ nhumu no nya nkɔso.
He that getteth sense loveth his own soul; he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9 Adansekurumni benya asotwe, na nea otwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witness shall not be held innocent, and he that uttereth lies shall perish.
10 Ɛmfata sɛ ɔkwasea bedi taamu, anaasɛ akoa bedi mmapɔmma so!
Good living beseemeth not a fool; how much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboase; ɛyɛ anuonyam ma obi sɛ obebu nʼani gu mfomso bi so.
The discretion of a man maketh 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 displeasure is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour 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 wealth are an inheritance from fathers; but a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɔkɔm de ɔkwadwofo.
Slothfulness casteth 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 that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; he that 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 that is gracious to the poor lendeth unto Jehovah; and what he hath bestowed will he repay unto him.
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, seeing there is hope; but set not thy soul upon killing him.
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 suffer punishment; for if thou deliver [him], yet thou must do it again.
20 Tie afotu na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awiei no, wubehu nyansa.
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21 Nhyehyɛe bebree wɔ onipa koma mu, nanso nea Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
Many are the thoughts in a man's heart, but the counsel of Jehovah, that doth stand.
22 Nea onipa pɛ ne nokware dɔ; eye sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sen sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofo.
The charm of a man 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 [tendeth] to life, and he [that hath it] shall rest satisfied without being visited with evil.
24 Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
A sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it to his mouth again.
25 Twa ɔfɛwdifo mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka nea ɔwɔ nhumu anim, na obenya nimdeɛ.
Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware; reprove the intelligent, and he will understand knowledge.
26 Nea ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔn na ɔpam ne na no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwu ne animguase ba.
He that ruineth [his] father and chaseth away [his] mother is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
27 Me ba, sɛ wugyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛman afi nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
Cease, my son, to hear the instruction which causeth to stray from the words of knowledge.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntrenee ho fɛw; na omumɔyɛfo ano mene bɔne.
A witness of Belial scorneth judgment, and the mouth of the wicked swalloweth down iniquity.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛwdifo, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafo akyi.
Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of the foolish.
