Mmebusɛm 21
1 Ɔhene koma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɔkwan te sɛ asuten ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
2 Onipa akwan nyinaa teɛ wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari koma.
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 Sɛ woyɛ ade pa ne ade a ɛteɛ a, ɛsɔ Awurade ani sen afɔrebɔ.
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomaso koma, ne amumɔyɛfo asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
5 Nsiyɛfo nhyehyɛe de mfaso ba, sɛnea ntɛmpɛ kowie ohia no.
The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6 Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no, ɛyɛ omununkum a etwa mu kɔ, na ɛsan yɛ owu afiri.
Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
7 Amumɔyɛfo basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, efisɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ nea ɛteɛ.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
8 Onipa a odi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na nea ne ho nni asɛm no nneyɛe teɛ.
The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi tena ye sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Omumɔyɛfo kɔn dɔ bɔne; onni ahummɔbɔ mma ne yɔnko.
The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 Sɛ wɔtwe ɔfɛwdifo aso a, ntetekwaafo hu nyansa, sɛ wɔkyerɛkyerɛ onyansafo a, onya nimdeɛ.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
12 Ɔtreneeni no hu nea ɛrekɔ so wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi, na ɔde omumɔyɛfo no kɔ ɔsɛe mu.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Sɛ onipa sisiw nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a, ɔno nso besu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
14 Kokoa mu adekyɛ dwudwo koma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuwhyew.
A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
15 Sɛ wubu atɛntrenee a, atreneefo ani gye, nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefo.
Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 Onipa a ɔman fi nhumu kwan so no bɛhome wɔ awufo fekuw mu.
The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Nea odi ahosɛpɛw akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; nea ɔpɛ nsa ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18 Amumɔyɛfo de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma atreneefo, na atorofo yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
19 Eye sɛ wobɛtena sare so, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo a ne koma haw no no bɛtena.
Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
20 Nnuan pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafo fi ma, nanso ɔkwasea di nea ɔwɔ nyinaa.
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
21 Nea otiw trenee ne ɔdɔ no nya nkwa, yiyedi ne anuonyam.
He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Onyansafo tow hyɛ ahoɔdenfo kuropɔn so, na odwiriw abandennen a wɔn werɛ hyɛ mu no gu fam.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 Nea ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no twe ne ho fi amanenya ho.
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
24 Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛwdifo” ɔde ahantan ntraso yɛ ade.
Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
25 Nea ɔkwadwofo kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owu ama no, efisɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
26 Da mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ obenya bebree, nanso ɔtreneeni de, ɔma a ɔnnodow ho.
All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
27 Omumɔyɛfo afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwade, ne titiriw ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
28 Ɔdansekurumni bɛyera, na wɔbɛsɛe obiara a otie no no nso.
A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
29 Amumɔyɛfo di akakabensɛm, na ɔtreneeni de, osusuw nʼakwan ho.
A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
30 Nyansa, nhumu ne nhyehyɛe biara nni hɔ a ebetumi ayɛ yiye atia Awurade.
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
31 Wosiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdi yɛ Awurade dea.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
