Mmebusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nantew ho nni asɛm no ye sen ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa kwan mu.
Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse [in] his 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, without knowledge the soul [is] not good, And the hasty in feet is sinning.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso ne koma huru tia Awurade.
The folly of man perverts his way, And his heart is angry against YHWH.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gyaw no hɔ.
Wealth adds many friends, And the poor is separated from his neighbor.
5 Adansekurumni benya nʼakatua, na nea otwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witness is not acquitted, Whoever breathes out lies is not delivered.
6 Nnipa pii pɛ adom fi sodifo nkyɛn, na nea ɔkyɛ ade yɛ obiara adamfo.
Many beg the face of the noble, And all have made friendship to a man of 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 have hated him, Surely his friends have also been far from him, He is pursuing words—they are not!
8 Nea onya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; nea ɔpɛ nhumu no nya nkɔso.
Whoever is getting heart is loving his soul, He is keeping understanding to find good.
9 Adansekurumni benya asotwe, na nea otwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witness is not acquitted, And whoever breathes out lies perishes.
10 Ɛmfata sɛ ɔkwasea bedi taamu, anaasɛ akoa bedi mmapɔmma so!
Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule among princes.
11 Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboase; ɛyɛ anuonyam ma obi sɛ obebu nʼani gu mfomso bi so.
The wisdom of a man has deferred his anger, And his glory [is] to pass over transgression.
12 Ɔhene abufuw te sɛ gyata mmubomu, na nʼadom te sɛ sare so bosu.
The wrath of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, And his goodwill as dew on the herb.
13 Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛe, ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo te sɛ ɔdan a ne nwini to ntwa da.
A foolish son [is] a calamity to 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] the inheritance of fathers, And an understanding wife [is] from YHWH.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɔkɔm de ɔkwadwofo.
Sloth causes deep sleep to fall, And an indolent soul hungers.
16 Nea odi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na nea ogyaagyaa ne ho no bewu.
Whoever is keeping the command is keeping his soul, Whoever is despising His ways dies.
17 Nea ɔyɛ adɔe ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na obetua no nea ɔyɛ no so ka.
Whoever is lending [to] YHWH is favoring the poor, And He repays his deed to him.
18 Teɛ wo ba, na ɛno mu na anidaso wɔ, na nyɛ wɔn a wɔde no kɔ owu mu no mu baako.
Discipline your son, for there is hope, And do not lift up your soul to put him to death.
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 is bearing punishment, For if you deliver, yet again you add.
20 Tie afotu na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awiei no, wubehu nyansa.
Hear counsel and receive instruction, So that you are wise in your latter end.
21 Nhyehyɛe bebree wɔ onipa koma mu, nanso nea Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
The purposes in a man’s heart [are] many, And the counsel of YHWH—it stands.
22 Nea onipa pɛ ne nokware dɔ; eye sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sen sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofo.
The desirableness of a man [is] his kindness, And the poor [is] better than a liar.
23 Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
The fear of YHWH [is] to life, And he remains satisfied—he is not charged with evil.
24 Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
The slothful has hidden his hand in a dish, Even to his mouth he does not bring it back.
25 Twa ɔfɛwdifo mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka nea ɔwɔ nhumu anim, na obenya nimdeɛ.
Strike a scorner, and the simple acts prudently, And give reproof to the intelligent, He understands knowledge.
26 Nea ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔn na ɔpam ne na no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwu ne animguase ba.
Whoever is spoiling a father causes a mother to flee, A son causing shame, and bringing confusion.
27 Me ba, sɛ wugyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛman afi nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
Cease, my son, to hear instruction—To err from sayings of knowledge.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntrenee ho fɛw; na omumɔyɛfo ano mene bɔne.
A worthless witness scorns judgment, And the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛwdifo, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafo akyi.
Judgments have been prepared for scorners, And stripes for the back of fools!
