Mmebusɛm 20
1 Nsa yɛ ɔfɛwdifo na nsaden yɛ ɔtɔkwapɛfo; na obiara a nsa bɛma wafom kwan no nyɛ onyansafo.
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
2 Ɔhene abufuwhyew te sɛ gyata mmubomu; na nea ɔhyɛ no abufuw no de nkwa twa so.
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3 Ɛyɛ onipa anuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa, nanso ogyimifo biara pɛ ntɔkwaw.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 Onihawfo mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne bere mu; enti edu twabere a onya hwee.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5 Onipa koma botae yɛ asubun, nanso nea ɔwɔ nhumu no twetwe ma epue.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 Nnipa dodow no ara ka se wɔwɔ ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da, na hena na obetumi ahu ɔnokwafo?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 Ɔtreneeni bu ɔbra kronkron; nhyira nka ne mma a wɔba wɔ nʼakyi.
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahengua so bu atɛn a, ɔde nʼani huhuw bɔne nyinaa so gu.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Hena na obetumi aka se, “Mapra me koma mu; meyɛ kronkron na minni bɔne?”
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 Nkaribo ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
A large and small weight, and various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
11 Mpo wɔnam abofra nketewa nneyɛe so hu wɔn, saa ara na ne suban yɛ kronkron ne papa no.
A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
12 Aso a wɔde te asɛm ne ani a wɔde hu ade, Awurade na wayɛ nʼabien no nyinaa.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
13 Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia; nna, na wubenya aduan ama abu so.
Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 Adetɔni ka se, “Enye, enye!” nanso sɛ ɔkɔ a ɔde nea watɔ no hoahoa ne ho.
15 Sika kɔkɔɔ wɔ hɔ, na nhene pa nso abu so, na ano a ɛka nimdeɛ nsɛm yɛ ɔbohemaa a ɛho yɛ na.
16 Fa obi a odi ɔhɔho akagyinamu atade; sɛ ɔregyina ɔbea huhufo akyi a, fa si awowa.
17 Aduan a wonya no ɔkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anom dɛ, nanso akyiri no, ɛdan mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
18 Pɛ afotu yɛ wo nhyehyɛe; sɛ wutu ɔsa a, nya ho akwankyerɛ.
19 Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi; enti twe wo ho fi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
20 Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne na a, wobedum ne kanea wɔ sum kabii mu.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 Agyapade a wɔpere ho nya no, renyɛ nhyira akyiri no.
A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Nka se, “Metua wo saa bɔne yi so ka!” Twɛn Awurade, na obegye wo.
Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
23 Awurade kyi nkaribo a ɛnyɛ papa, na asisi nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24 Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntu. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
25 Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a, osum ne ho afiri.
It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26 Ɔhene nyansafo hu amumɔyɛfo; na ɔde awiyam afiri hankare fa wɔn so.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
27 Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu, ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Ɔdɔ ne nokwaredi bɔ ɔhene ho ban; nʼadɔe ma nʼahengua tim.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 Mmerante anuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden, tidwen nso ne mmasiriwa anuonyam.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 Ɔhwe ne apirakuru hohoro amumɔyɛ, mmaatwa tew koma mu.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
