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 beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 Ɔhene abufuwhyew te sɛ gyata mmubomu; na nea ɔhyɛ no abufuw no de nkwa twa so.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 Ɛyɛ onipa anuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa, nanso ogyimifo biara pɛ ntɔkwaw.
It is an honor for a person to keep away from strife, but every fool quarrels.
4 Onihawfo mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne bere mu; enti edu twabere a onya hwee.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall 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?
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 Ɔtreneeni bu ɔbra kronkron; nhyira nka ne mma a wɔba wɔ nʼakyi.
A righteous man walks in integrity; blessed are his children after him.
8 Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahengua so bu atɛn a, ɔde nʼani huhuw bɔne nyinaa so gu.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters 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 pure. I am clean and without sin?"
10 Nkaribo ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to YHWH.
11 Mpo wɔnam abofra nketewa nneyɛe so hu wɔn, saa ara na ne suban yɛ kronkron ne papa no.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is 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, YHWH has made even both of them.
13 Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia; nna, na wubenya aduan ama abu so.
Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Adetɔni ka se, “Enye, enye!” nanso sɛ ɔkɔ a ɔde nea watɔ no hoahoa ne ho.
"It's no good, it's no good," says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
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 abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Fa obi a odi ɔhɔho akagyinamu atade; sɛ ɔregyina ɔbea huhufo akyi a, fa si awowa.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Aduan a wonya no ɔkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anom dɛ, nanso akyiri no, ɛdan mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Pɛ afotu yɛ wo nhyehyɛe; sɛ wutu ɔsa a, nya ho akwankyerɛ.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war.
19 Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi; enti twe wo ho fi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne na a, wobedum ne kanea wɔ sum kabii mu.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 Agyapade a wɔpere ho nya no, renyɛ nhyira akyiri no.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won't be blessed in the end.
22 Nka se, “Metua wo saa bɔne yi so ka!” Twɛn Awurade, na obegye wo.
Do not say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for YHWH, and he will save you.
23 Awurade kyi nkaribo a ɛnyɛ papa, na asisi nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
YHWH detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are no good.
24 Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntu. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
A man's steps are from YHWH; how then can man understand his way?
25 Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a, osum ne ho afiri.
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 Ɔhene nyansafo hu amumɔyɛfo; na ɔde awiyam afiri hankare fa wɔn so.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu, ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
The spirit of man is YHWH's lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Ɔdɔ ne nokwaredi bɔ ɔhene ho ban; nʼadɔe ma nʼahengua tim.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29 Mmerante anuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden, tidwen nso ne mmasiriwa anuonyam.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Ɔhwe ne apirakuru hohoro amumɔyɛ, mmaatwa tew koma mu.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
