Mmebusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nantew ho nni asɛm no ye sen ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa kwan mu.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nye, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera kwan nso nye.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso ne koma huru tia Awurade.
The folly of a man spoils his ways: and he blames God in his heart.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gyaw no hɔ.
Wealth acquires many friends; but the poor is deserted even of the friend he has.
5 Adansekurumni benya nʼakatua, na nea otwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that accuses unjustly shall not escape.
6 Nnipa pii pɛ adom fi sodifo nkyɛn, na nea ɔkyɛ ade yɛ obiara adamfo.
Many court the favor of kings; but every bad man becomes a reproach to [another] man.
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.
Every one who hates [his] poor brother shall also be far from friendship. Good understanding will draw near to them that know it, and a sensible man will find it. He that does much harm perfects mischief; and he that used provoking words shall not escape.
8 Nea onya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; nea ɔpɛ nhumu no nya nkɔso.
He that procures wisdom loves himself; and he that keeps wisdom shall find good.
9 Adansekurumni benya asotwe, na nea otwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witness shall not be unpunished; and whoever shall kindle mischief shall perish by it.
10 Ɛmfata sɛ ɔkwasea bedi taamu, anaasɛ akoa bedi mmapɔmma so!
Delight does not suit a fool, nor [is it seemly] if a servant should begin to rule with haughtiness.
11 Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboase; ɛyɛ anuonyam ma obi sɛ obebu nʼani gu mfomso bi so.
A merciful man is longsuffering; and his triumph overtakes transgressors.
12 Ɔhene abufuw te sɛ gyata mmubomu, na nʼadom te sɛ sare so bosu.
The threatening of a king is like the roaring of a lion; but as dew on the grass, so is his favor.
13 Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛe, ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo te sɛ ɔdan a ne nwini to ntwa da.
A foolish son is a disgrace to his father: vows [paid out] of the hire of a harlot are not pure.
14 Afi ne ahonyade yɛ agyapade a efi awofo, na ɔyere nimdefo fi Awurade.
Fathers divide house and substance to [their] children: but a wife is suited to a man by the Lord.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɔkɔm de ɔkwadwofo.
Cowardice possesses the effeminate [man]; and the soul of the sluggard shall hunger.
16 Nea odi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na nea ogyaagyaa ne ho no bewu.
He that keeps the commandment keeps his own soul; but he that despises his ways shall perish.
17 Nea ɔyɛ adɔe ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na obetua no nea ɔyɛ no so ka.
He that has pity on the poor lends to the Lord; and he will recompense to him according to his gift.
18 Teɛ wo ba, na ɛno mu na anidaso wɔ, na nyɛ wɔn a wɔde no kɔ owu mu no mu baako.
Chasten your son, for so he shall be hopeful; and be not exalted in your soul to haughtiness.
19 Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a ne koma haw no no nya so asotwe; sɛ woka ma no a, wobɛyɛ bio.
A malicious man shall be severely punished, and if he commit injury, he shall also lose his life.
20 Tie afotu na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awiei no, wubehu nyansa.
Hear, son, the instruction of your father, that you may be wise at your latter end.
21 Nhyehyɛe bebree wɔ onipa koma mu, nanso nea Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
[There are] many thoughts in a man's heart; but the counsel of the Lord abides for ever.
22 Nea onipa pɛ ne nokware dɔ; eye sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sen sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofo.
Mercy is a fruit to a man: and a poor man is better than a rich liar.
23 Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
The fear of the Lord is life to a man: and he shall lodge without fear in places where knowledge is not seen.
24 Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
He that unjustly hides his hands in his bosom, will not even [bring] them up to his mouth.
25 Twa ɔfɛwdifo mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka nea ɔwɔ nhumu anim, na obenya nimdeɛ.
When a pestilent character is scourged, a simple man is made wiser: and if you reprove a wise man, he will understand discretion.
26 Nea ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔn na ɔpam ne na no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwu ne animguase ba.
He that dishonors his father, and drives away his mother, shall be disgraced and shall be exposed to reproach.
27 Me ba, sɛ wugyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛman afi nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
A son who ceases to attend to the instruction of a father will cherish evil designs.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntrenee ho fɛw; na omumɔyɛfo ano mene bɔne.
He that becomes surety for a foolish child will despise the ordinance: and the mouth of ungodly men shall drink down judgment.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛwdifo, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafo akyi.
Scourges are preparing for the intemperate, and punishments likewise for fools.
