Mmebusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nantew ho nni asɛm no ye sen ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa kwan mu.
Better is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a rich man that is perverse in his lips, and unwise.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nye, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera kwan nso nye.
Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good: and he that is hasty with his feet shall stumble.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso ne koma huru tia Awurade.
The folly of a man supplanteth his seeps: and he fretteth in his mind against God.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gyaw no hɔ.
Riches make many friends: but from the poor man, even they whom he had, depart.
5 Adansekurumni benya nʼakatua, na nea otwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
6 Nnipa pii pɛ adom fi sodifo nkyɛn, na nea ɔkyɛ ade yɛ obiara adamfo.
Many honour the person of him that is mighty, and are friends of him that giveth 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.
The brethren of the poor man hate him: moreover also his friends have departed far from him. He that followeth after words only, shall have nothing.
8 Nea onya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; nea ɔpɛ nhumu no nya nkɔso.
But he that possesseth a mind, loveth his own soul, and he that keepeth prudence shall find good things.
9 Adansekurumni benya asotwe, na nea otwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall perish.
10 Ɛmfata sɛ ɔkwasea bedi taamu, anaasɛ akoa bedi mmapɔmma so!
Delicacies are not seemly for a fool: nor 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 learning of a man is known by patience and his glory is to pass over wrongs.
12 Ɔhene abufuw te sɛ gyata mmubomu, na nʼadom te sɛ sare so bosu.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the anger of a king: and his cheerfulness as the 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 grief of his father: and a wrangling wife is like a roof continually dropping through.
14 Afi ne ahonyade yɛ agyapade a efi awofo, na ɔyere nimdefo fi Awurade.
House and riches are given by parents: but a prudent wife is properly from the Lord.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɔkɔm de ɔkwadwofo.
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an 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 own soul: but he that neglecteth his own way, shall die.
17 Nea ɔyɛ adɔe ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na obetua no nea ɔyɛ no so ka.
He that hath mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord: and he will repay him.
18 Teɛ wo ba, na ɛno mu na anidaso wɔ, na nyɛ wɔn a wɔde no kɔ owu mu no mu baako.
Chastise thy son, despair not: but to the killing of him set not thy soul.
19 Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a ne koma haw no no nya so asotwe; sɛ woka ma no a, wobɛyɛ bio.
He that is impatient, shall suffer damage: and when he shall take away he shall add another thing.
20 Tie afotu na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awiei no, wubehu nyansa.
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayst be wise in thy latter end.
21 Nhyehyɛe bebree wɔ onipa koma mu, nanso nea Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
There are many thoughts in the heart of a man: but the will of the Lord shall stand firm.
22 Nea onipa pɛ ne nokware dɔ; eye sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sen sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofo.
A needy man is merciful: and better is the poor than the lying man.
23 Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
The fear of the Lord is unto life: and he shall abide in fulness without being visited with evil.
24 Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth.
25 Twa ɔfɛwdifo mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka nea ɔwɔ nhumu anim, na obenya nimdeɛ.
The wicked man being; scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if thou rebuke a wise man he will understand discipline.
26 Nea ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔn na ɔpam ne na no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwu ne animguase ba.
He that afflicteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is infamous and unhappy.
27 Me ba, sɛ wugyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛman afi nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
Cease not, O my son, to hear instruction, and be not ignorant of the words of knowledge.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntrenee ho fɛw; na omumɔyɛfo ano mene bɔne.
An unjust witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛwdifo, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafo akyi.
Judgments are prepared for scorners: and striking hammers for the bodies of fools.
