Mmebusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nantew ho nni asɛm no ye sen ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa kwan mu.
Better is a poor man, walking in his integrity, than one of perverse lips, and, he, a dullard.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nye, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera kwan nso nye.
Surely, for the soul to be, without knowledge, is not good, and, he that hasteth with his feet, strayeth.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso ne koma huru tia Awurade.
The folly of a man, subverteth his way, and, against Yahweh, his heart is angry.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gyaw no hɔ.
Wealth, addeth many friends, but, the poor man, from his own friend, is parted.
5 Adansekurumni benya nʼakatua, na nea otwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witness, shall not be held innocent, 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 favour of a noble, and, every one, is a friend to a man abounding in 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 a poor man, hate him, how much more have, his friends, gone far from him, he may hunt up promises—there are none.
8 Nea onya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; nea ɔpɛ nhumu no nya nkɔso.
He that acquireth sense, loveth his own soul, he that guardeth understanding, shall find blessing.
9 Adansekurumni benya asotwe, na nea otwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witness, shall not be held innocent, and, he that uttereth lies, shall perish.
10 Ɛmfata sɛ ɔkwasea bedi taamu, anaasɛ akoa bedi mmapɔmma so!
Unseemly for a dullard, is delicate living, how much more for, a servant, to bear rule over princes.
11 Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboase; ɛyɛ anuonyam ma obi sɛ obebu nʼani gu mfomso bi so.
The discretion of a man, deferreth his anger, and, his adorning, is to pass over transgression.
12 Ɔhene abufuw te sɛ gyata mmubomu, na nʼadom te sɛ sare so bosu.
The growl as of a young lion, is the rage of a king, but, like dew upon the grass, is his good pleasure.
13 Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛe, ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo te sɛ ɔdan a ne nwini to ntwa da.
Engulfing ruin to his father, is a son that is a dullard, —and, a continuous dripping, are the contentions of a wife.
14 Afi ne ahonyade yɛ agyapade a efi awofo, na ɔyere nimdefo fi Awurade.
House and substance, are an inheritance from one’s fathers, but, from Yahweh, cometh a wife who is prudent.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɔkɔm de ɔkwadwofo.
Sloth, falleth into a deep sleep, and, a soul that is indolent, shall famish.
16 Nea odi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na nea ogyaagyaa ne ho no bewu.
One who guardeth the commandment, guardeth his life, he that is reckless in his ways, shall die.
17 Nea ɔyɛ adɔe ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na obetua no nea ɔyɛ no so ka.
A lender to Yahweh, is one who sheweth favour to the poor, and, his good deed, He will pay him back.
18 Teɛ wo ba, na ɛno mu na anidaso wɔ, na nyɛ wɔn a wɔde no kɔ owu mu no mu baako.
Correct thy son, because there is hope, yet, not so as to slay him, let thy passion be excited.
19 Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a ne koma haw no no nya so asotwe; sɛ woka ma no a, wobɛyɛ bio.
A man in a rage, taketh away the penalty, —nevertheless, if thou let him go free, the more [stripes] must thou add.
20 Tie afotu na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awiei no, wubehu nyansa.
Hear counsel, receive correction, that thou mayest be wise in thine after-life.
21 Nhyehyɛe bebree wɔ onipa koma mu, nanso nea Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
Many are the devices in a man’s heart, but, the counsel of Yahweh, 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 lovingkindness, —and better a poor man, than one who deceiveth.
23 Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
The reverence of Yahweh, leadeth to life, satisfied then, let a man remain—let him not be visited by calamity.
24 Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
A sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, even unto his own mouth, will he not bring it back.
25 Twa ɔfɛwdifo mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka nea ɔwɔ nhumu anim, na obenya nimdeɛ.
The scoffer, thou shalt smite, and, the simple, will beware, but correct a man of intelligence—he will understand teaching.
26 Nea ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔn na ɔpam ne na no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwu ne animguase ba.
He that ruineth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son causing shame and reproach.
27 Me ba, sɛ wugyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛman afi nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
Cease, my son, to hear instruction that would cause thee to wander from the sayings of knowledge.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntrenee ho fɛw; na omumɔyɛfo ano mene bɔne.
An abandoned witness, scorneth justice, and, the mouth of lawless men, swalloweth iniquity.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛwdifo, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafo akyi.
Prepared for scoffers, are punishments, and stripes, for the back of dullards.
