Mmebusɛm 20
1 Nsa yɛ ɔfɛwdifo na nsaden yɛ ɔtɔkwapɛfo; na obiara a nsa bɛma wafom kwan no nyɛ onyansafo.
WINE is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 Ɔhene abufuwhyew te sɛ gyata mmubomu; na nea ɔhyɛ no abufuw no de nkwa twa so.
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger 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 cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 Onihawfo mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne bere mu; enti edu twabere a onya hwee.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Onipa koma botae yɛ asubun, nanso nea ɔwɔ nhumu no twetwe ma epue.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Nnipa dodow no ara ka se wɔwɔ ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da, na hena na obetumi ahu ɔnokwafo?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 Ɔtreneeni bu ɔbra kronkron; nhyira nka ne mma a wɔba wɔ nʼakyi.
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed 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 judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Hena na obetumi aka se, “Mapra me koma mu; meyɛ kronkron na minni bɔne?”
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Nkaribo ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.
11 Mpo wɔnam abofra nketewa nneyɛe so hu wɔn, saa ara na ne suban yɛ kronkron ne papa no.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be 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 even both of them.
13 Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia; nna, na wubenya aduan ama abu so.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; 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, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then 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 gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Fa obi a odi ɔhɔho akagyinamu atade; sɛ ɔregyina ɔbea huhufo akyi a, fa si awowa.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Aduan a wonya no ɔkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anom dɛ, nanso akyiri no, ɛdan mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
Bread of deceit 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.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi; enti twe wo ho fi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth 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.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 Agyapade a wɔpere ho nya no, renyɛ nhyira akyiri no.
An inheritance may be gotten hastily 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 will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
23 Awurade kyi nkaribo a ɛnyɛ papa, na asisi nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.
24 Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntu. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a, osum ne ho afiri.
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 Ɔhene nyansafo hu amumɔyɛfo; na ɔde awiyam afiri hankare fa wɔn so.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu, ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Ɔdɔ ne nokwaredi bɔ ɔhene ho ban; nʼadɔe ma nʼahengua tim.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 Mmerante anuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden, tidwen nso ne mmasiriwa anuonyam.
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 Ɔhwe ne apirakuru hohoro amumɔyɛ, mmaatwa tew koma mu.
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
