Mmebusɛm 20
1 Nsa yɛ ɔfɛwdifo na nsaden yɛ ɔtɔkwapɛfo; na obiara a nsa bɛma wafom kwan no nyɛ onyansafo.
Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
2 Ɔhene abufuwhyew te sɛ gyata mmubomu; na nea ɔhyɛ no abufuw no de nkwa twa so.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
3 Ɛyɛ onipa anuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa, nanso ogyimifo biara pɛ ntɔkwaw.
It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4 Onihawfo mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne bere mu; enti edu twabere a onya hwee.
Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
5 Onipa koma botae yɛ asubun, nanso nea ɔwɔ nhumu no twetwe ma epue.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
6 Nnipa dodow no ara ka se wɔwɔ ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da, na hena na obetumi ahu ɔnokwafo?
Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
7 Ɔtreneeni bu ɔbra kronkron; nhyira nka ne mma a wɔba wɔ nʼakyi.
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahengua so bu atɛn a, ɔde nʼani huhuw bɔne nyinaa so gu.
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Hena na obetumi aka se, “Mapra me koma mu; meyɛ kronkron na minni bɔne?”
Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Nkaribo ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 Mpo wɔnam abofra nketewa nneyɛe so hu wɔn, saa ara na ne suban yɛ kronkron ne papa no.
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
12 Aso a wɔde te asɛm ne ani a wɔde hu ade, Awurade na wayɛ nʼabien no nyinaa.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
13 Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia; nna, na wubenya aduan ama abu so.
Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 Adetɔni ka se, “Enye, enye!” nanso sɛ ɔkɔ a ɔde nea watɔ no hoahoa ne ho.
It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
15 Sika kɔkɔɔ wɔ hɔ, na nhene pa nso abu so, na ano a ɛka nimdeɛ nsɛm yɛ ɔbohemaa a ɛho yɛ na.
There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Fa obi a odi ɔhɔho akagyinamu atade; sɛ ɔregyina ɔbea huhufo akyi a, fa si awowa.
Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 Aduan a wonya no ɔkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anom dɛ, nanso akyiri no, ɛdan mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Pɛ afotu yɛ wo nhyehyɛe; sɛ wutu ɔsa a, nya ho akwankyerɛ.
Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi; enti twe wo ho fi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne na a, wobedum ne kanea wɔ sum kabii mu.
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 Agyapade a wɔpere ho nya no, renyɛ nhyira akyiri no.
The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Nka se, “Metua wo saa bɔne yi so ka!” Twɛn Awurade, na obegye wo.
Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
23 Awurade kyi nkaribo a ɛnyɛ papa, na asisi nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
24 Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntu. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
25 Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a, osum ne ho afiri.
It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26 Ɔhene nyansafo hu amumɔyɛfo; na ɔde awiyam afiri hankare fa wɔn so.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu, ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
28 Ɔdɔ ne nokwaredi bɔ ɔhene ho ban; nʼadɔe ma nʼahengua tim.
Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 Mmerante anuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden, tidwen nso ne mmasiriwa anuonyam.
The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 Ɔhwe ne apirakuru hohoro amumɔyɛ, mmaatwa tew koma mu.
The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
