Mmebusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nantew ho nni asɛm no ye sen ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa kwan mu.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nye, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera kwan nso nye.
It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso ne koma huru tia Awurade.
The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against the LORD.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gyaw no hɔ.
Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.
5 Adansekurumni benya nʼakatua, na nea otwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
6 Nnipa pii pɛ adom fi sodifo nkyɛn, na nea ɔkyɛ ade yɛ obiara adamfo.
Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives 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 relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.
8 Nea onya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; nea ɔpɛ nhumu no nya nkɔso.
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
9 Adansekurumni benya asotwe, na nea otwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
10 Ɛmfata sɛ ɔkwasea bedi taamu, anaasɛ akoa bedi mmapɔmma so!
Delicate living is not appropriate 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.
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.
12 Ɔhene abufuw te sɛ gyata mmubomu, na nʼadom te sɛ sare so bosu.
The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛe, ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo te sɛ ɔdan a ne nwini to ntwa da.
A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.
14 Afi ne ahonyade yɛ agyapade a efi awofo, na ɔyere nimdefo fi Awurade.
House 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 casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 Nea odi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na nea ogyaagyaa ne ho no bewu.
He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in 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 has pity on the poor lends to the LORD; he will reward 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; don’t be a willing party to his death.
19 Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a ne koma haw no no nya so asotwe; sɛ woka ma no a, wobɛyɛ bio.
A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
20 Tie afotu na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awiei no, wubehu nyansa.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
21 Nhyehyɛe bebree wɔ onipa koma mu, nanso nea Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
There are many plans in a man’s heart, but the LORD’s counsel will prevail.
22 Nea onipa pɛ ne nokware dɔ; eye sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sen sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofo.
That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. 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 leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
24 Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Twa ɔfɛwdifo mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka nea ɔwɔ nhumu anim, na obenya nimdeɛ.
Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 Nea ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔn na ɔpam ne na no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwu ne animguase ba.
He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Me ba, sɛ wugyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛman afi nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntrenee ho fɛw; na omumɔyɛfo ano mene bɔne.
A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛwdifo, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafo akyi.
Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
