Mmebusɛm 20
1 Nsa yɛ ɔfɛwdifo na nsaden yɛ ɔtɔkwapɛfo; na obiara a nsa bɛma wafom kwan no nyɛ onyansafo.
Wine is a mocker and strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby, is not wise.
2 Ɔhene abufuwhyew te sɛ gyata mmubomu; na nea ɔhyɛ no abufuw no de nkwa twa so.
The feare of the King is like the roaring of a lyon: hee that prouoketh him vnto anger, sinneth against his owne soule.
3 Ɛyɛ onipa anuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa, nanso ogyimifo biara pɛ ntɔkwaw.
It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
4 Onihawfo mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne bere mu; enti edu twabere a onya hwee.
The slouthfull will not plowe, because of winter: therefore shall he beg in sommer, but haue nothing.
5 Onipa koma botae yɛ asubun, nanso nea ɔwɔ nhumu no twetwe ma epue.
The counsell in the heart of man is like deepe waters: but a man that hath vnderstanding, will drawe it out.
6 Nnipa dodow no ara ka se wɔwɔ ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da, na hena na obetumi ahu ɔnokwafo?
Many men wil boast, euery one of his owne goodnes: but who can finde a faithfull man?
7 Ɔtreneeni bu ɔbra kronkron; nhyira nka ne mma a wɔba wɔ nʼakyi.
He that walketh in his integritie, is iust: and blessed shall his children be after him.
8 Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahengua so bu atɛn a, ɔde nʼani huhuw bɔne nyinaa so gu.
A King that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euill with his eyes.
9 Hena na obetumi aka se, “Mapra me koma mu; meyɛ kronkron na minni bɔne?”
Who can say, I haue made mine heart cleane, I am cleane from my sinne?
10 Nkaribo ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
Diuers weightes, and diuers measures, both these are euen abomination vnto the Lord.
11 Mpo wɔnam abofra nketewa nneyɛe so hu wɔn, saa ara na ne suban yɛ kronkron ne papa no.
A childe also is knowen by his doings, whether his worke be pure and right.
12 Aso a wɔde te asɛm ne ani a wɔde hu ade, Awurade na wayɛ nʼabien no nyinaa.
The Lord hath made both these, euen the eare to heare, and the eye to see.
13 Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia; nna, na wubenya aduan ama abu so.
Loue not sleepe least thou come vnto pouertie: open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 Adetɔni ka se, “Enye, enye!” nanso sɛ ɔkɔ a ɔde nea watɔ no hoahoa ne ho.
It is naught, it is naught, sayth the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth.
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 golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewel.
16 Fa obi a odi ɔhɔho akagyinamu atade; sɛ ɔregyina ɔbea huhufo akyi a, fa si awowa.
Take his garment, that is suretie for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
17 Aduan a wonya no ɔkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anom dɛ, nanso akyiri no, ɛdan mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
The bread of deceit is sweete to a man: but afterward his mouth shalbe filled with grauel.
18 Pɛ afotu yɛ wo nhyehyɛe; sɛ wutu ɔsa a, nya ho akwankyerɛ.
Establish the thoughtes by counsell: and by counsell make warre.
19 Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi; enti twe wo ho fi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne na a, wobedum ne kanea wɔ sum kabii mu.
He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shalbe put out in obscure darkenes.
21 Agyapade a wɔpere ho nya no, renyɛ nhyira akyiri no.
An heritage is hastely gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Nka se, “Metua wo saa bɔne yi so ka!” Twɛn Awurade, na obegye wo.
Say not thou, I wil recompense euill: but waite vpon the Lord, and he shall saue thee.
23 Awurade kyi nkaribo a ɛnyɛ papa, na asisi nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
Diuers weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.
24 Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntu. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
The steps of man are ruled by the Lord: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way?
25 Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a, osum ne ho afiri.
It is a destruction for a man to deuoure that which is sanctified, and after the vowes to inquire.
26 Ɔhene nyansafo hu amumɔyɛfo; na ɔde awiyam afiri hankare fa wɔn so.
A wise King scattereth the wicked, and causeth the wheele to turne ouer them.
27 Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu, ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
The light of the Lord is the breath of man, and searcheth all the bowels of the belly.
28 Ɔdɔ ne nokwaredi bɔ ɔhene ho ban; nʼadɔe ma nʼahengua tim.
Mercie and trueth preserue the King: for his throne shall be established with mercie.
29 Mmerante anuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden, tidwen nso ne mmasiriwa anuonyam.
The beautie of yong men is their strength, and the glory of the aged is the gray head.
30 Ɔhwe ne apirakuru hohoro amumɔyɛ, mmaatwa tew koma mu.
The blewnes of the wound serueth to purge the euill, and the stripes within the bowels of the belly.
