Mmebusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nantew ho nni asɛm no ye sen ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa kwan mu.
Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than one of perverse lips, who is a fool.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nye, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera kwan nso nye.
Also in the want of knowledge in the soul there is nothing good; and he that hasteneth with his feet misseth the right path.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso ne koma huru tia Awurade.
The folly of a man perverteth his way, and against the Lord will his heart rage.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gyaw no hɔ.
Wealth bringeth many friends; but the poor becometh separated from his [only] friend.
5 Adansekurumni benya nʼakatua, na nea otwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witness shall not remain unpunished, and he that uttereth 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 the liberal man; and every one is the friend to him that bestoweth 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 the poor hate him: how much more do his friends go far away from him! he pursueth [their] promises; but these are [all] that he hath.
8 Nea onya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; nea ɔpɛ nhumu no nya nkɔso.
He that getteth intelligence loveth his own soul: he that guardeth understanding will find happiness.
9 Adansekurumni benya asotwe, na nea otwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witness shall not remain unpunished, and he that uttereth lies shall perish.
10 Ɛmfata sɛ ɔkwasea bedi taamu, anaasɛ akoa bedi mmapɔmma so!
Delicacy is not seemly for a fool: 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.
It is intelligence in man to be slow in his 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.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the wrath of a king: as dew upon the herbs is his favor.
13 Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛe, ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo te sɛ ɔdan a ne nwini to ntwa da.
A calamity unto his father is a foolish son; and a continual dropping are the quarrels of a wife.
14 Afi ne ahonyade yɛ agyapade a efi awofo, na ɔyere nimdefo fi Awurade.
House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers; but from the Lord [cometh] an intelligent wife.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɔkɔm de ɔkwadwofo.
Slothfulness casteth [man] into a deep sleep; and an indolent soul will suffer hunger.
16 Nea odi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na nea ogyaagyaa ne ho no bewu.
He that observeth the commandment guardeth his own soul: but he that disregardeth [directing] his ways [aright] shall die.
17 Nea ɔyɛ adɔe ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na obetua no nea ɔyɛ no so ka.
He lendeth unto the Lord that is liberal to the poor, and his good deed 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.
Chastise thy son, for there is hope; and let not thy soul spare [him] 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 fury must suffer punishment; for if thou deliver him, thou must still do it again.
20 Tie afotu na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awiei no, wubehu nyansa.
Hear counsel, and accept correction, in order that thou mayest 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 a man's heart; but the counsel of the Lord alone will stand firm.
22 Nea onipa pɛ ne nokware dɔ; eye sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sen sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofo.
The longing of a man is [to exercise] 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 the Lord leadeth unto life: and he [that hath it] 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.
When a slothful man hath hidden his hand in the dish, then will he not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 Twa ɔfɛwdifo mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka nea ɔwɔ nhumu anim, na obenya nimdeɛ.
Smite a scorner, and the simple will become prudent; and if one that hath understanding be admonished, he will understand knowledge.
26 Nea ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔn na ɔpam ne na no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwu ne animguase ba.
He that plundereth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that bringeth shame and dishonor.
27 Me ba, sɛ wugyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛman afi nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth [thee] to err from the sayings of knowledge.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntrenee ho fɛw; na omumɔyɛfo ano mene bɔne.
An ungodly witness scorneth at justice, and the mouth of the wicked swalloweth mischief.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛwdifo, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafo akyi.
Punishments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
