Mmebusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nantew ho nni asɛm no ye sen ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa kwan mu.
Better is the poor man who walketh in his integrity, Than he who is of false lips and a fool.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nye, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera kwan nso nye.
Moreover, that the soul be without knowledge is not good, And he that hasteth with is feet stumbleth.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso ne koma huru tia Awurade.
The folly of man destroyeth his way, And then his heart fretteth against the LORD.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gyaw no hɔ.
Wealth maketh many friends; But the poor is separated from his neighbor.
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 are they who caress the noble, And every one is the friend of him who 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.
All the brethren of the poor man hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He runneth after their words, —they are gone!
8 Nea onya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; nea ɔpɛ nhumu no nya nkɔso.
He that getteth wisdom loveth himself; He that keepeth understanding shall find good.
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!
Luxury is not seemly for a fool; Much less should a servant have rule over princes.
11 Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboase; ɛyɛ anuonyam ma obi sɛ obebu nʼani gu mfomso bi so.
A man of understanding is slow to anger; Yea, it is his glory to pass over an offence.
12 Ɔhene abufuw te sɛ gyata mmubomu, na nʼadom te sɛ sare so bosu.
The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; But his favor, like 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 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.
Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɔkɔm de ɔkwadwofo.
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, And the idle person 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 life; But he that neglecteth his ways shall die.
17 Nea ɔyɛ adɔe ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na obetua no nea ɔyɛ no so ka.
He who hath pity on the poor lendeth to the LORD, And that which he giveth will he repay 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 because there is hope, But let not thy soul desire to slay 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 will suffer punishment; For if thou deliver him, yet must thou do it again.
20 Tie afotu na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awiei no, wubehu nyansa.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That thou mayst be wise in thy latter years.
21 Nhyehyɛe bebree wɔ onipa koma mu, nanso nea Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
Many are the devices in the heart of a man; But the purpose of the LORD, that shall 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 better is a poor man than a liar.
23 Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
The fear of the LORD tendeth to 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.
The slothful man dippeth his hand into the dish: He doth not bring it back even to his mouth.
25 Twa ɔfɛwdifo mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka nea ɔwɔ nhumu anim, na obenya nimdeɛ.
Strike the scoffer, and the simple will become prudent; Reprove a man of understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
26 Nea ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔn na ɔpam ne na no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwu ne animguase ba.
The son that causeth shame and disgrace doeth violence to his father, And chaseth away his mother.
27 Me ba, sɛ wugyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛman afi nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
Cease, my son, to listen to the instruction That causeth thee to wander from the words of knowledge!
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntrenee ho fɛw; na omumɔyɛfo ano mene bɔne.
A worthless witness scoffeth at justice, And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth down iniquity.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛwdifo, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafo akyi.
Punishments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.
