Mmebusɛm 20
1 Nsa yɛ ɔfɛwdifo na nsaden yɛ ɔtɔkwapɛfo; na obiara a nsa bɛma wafom kwan no nyɛ onyansafo.
Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
2 Ɔhene abufuwhyew te sɛ gyata mmubomu; na nea ɔhyɛ no abufuw no de nkwa twa so.
The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
3 Ɛyɛ onipa anuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa, nanso ogyimifo biara pɛ ntɔkwaw.
Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
4 Onihawfo mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne bere mu; enti edu twabere a onya hwee.
By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
5 Onipa koma botae yɛ asubun, nanso nea ɔwɔ nhumu no twetwe ma epue.
Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, 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?
A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
7 Ɔtreneeni bu ɔbra kronkron; nhyira nka ne mma a wɔba wɔ nʼakyi.
As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
8 Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahengua so bu atɛn a, ɔde nʼani huhuw bɔne nyinaa so gu.
A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
9 Hena na obetumi aka se, “Mapra me koma mu; meyɛ kronkron na minni bɔne?”
Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
10 Nkaribo ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
11 Mpo wɔnam abofra nketewa nneyɛe so hu wɔn, saa ara na ne suban yɛ kronkron ne papa no.
Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
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, Yahweh hath made them, both.
13 Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia; nna, na wubenya aduan ama abu so.
Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
14 Adetɔni ka se, “Enye, enye!” nanso sɛ ɔkɔ a ɔde nea watɔ no hoahoa ne ho.
Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going 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 are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
16 Fa obi a odi ɔhɔho akagyinamu atade; sɛ ɔregyina ɔbea huhufo akyi a, fa si awowa.
Take his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
17 Aduan a wonya no ɔkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anom dɛ, nanso akyiri no, ɛdan mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
18 Pɛ afotu yɛ wo nhyehyɛe; sɛ wutu ɔsa a, nya ho akwankyerɛ.
Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
19 Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi; enti twe wo ho fi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
20 Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne na a, wobedum ne kanea wɔ sum kabii mu.
Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
21 Agyapade a wɔpere ho nya no, renyɛ nhyira akyiri no.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
22 Nka se, “Metua wo saa bɔne yi so ka!” Twɛn Awurade, na obegye wo.
Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
23 Awurade kyi nkaribo a ɛnyɛ papa, na asisi nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
24 Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntu. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern his way?
25 Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a, osum ne ho afiri.
It is a snare to a man, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
26 Ɔhene nyansafo hu amumɔyɛfo; na ɔde awiyam afiri hankare fa wɔn so.
A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
27 Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu, ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
28 Ɔdɔ ne nokwaredi bɔ ɔhene ho ban; nʼadɔe ma nʼahengua tim.
Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
29 Mmerante anuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden, tidwen nso ne mmasiriwa anuonyam.
The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
30 Ɔhwe ne apirakuru hohoro amumɔyɛ, mmaatwa tew koma mu.
Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
