Mmebusɛm 21
1 Ɔhene koma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɔkwan te sɛ asuten ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
The king's heart in the hand of Jehovah is [as] brooks of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Onipa akwan nyinaa teɛ wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari koma.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
3 Sɛ woyɛ ade pa ne ade a ɛteɛ a, ɛsɔ Awurade ani sen afɔrebɔ.
To exercise justice and judgment is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
4 Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomaso koma, ne amumɔyɛfo asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
Lofty eyes, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 Nsiyɛfo nhyehyɛe de mfaso ba, sɛnea ntɛmpɛ kowie ohia no.
The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty, only to want.
6 Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no, ɛyɛ omununkum a etwa mu kɔ, na ɛsan yɛ owu afiri.
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting breath of them that seek death.
7 Amumɔyɛfo basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, efisɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ nea ɛteɛ.
The devastation of the wicked sweepeth them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
8 Onipa a odi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na nea ne ho nni asɛm no nneyɛe teɛ.
Very crooked is the way of a guilty man; but as for the pure, his work is upright.
9 Suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi tena ye sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
10 Omumɔyɛfo kɔn dɔ bɔne; onni ahummɔbɔ mma ne yɔnko.
The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 Sɛ wɔtwe ɔfɛwdifo aso a, ntetekwaafo hu nyansa, sɛ wɔkyerɛkyerɛ onyansafo a, onya nimdeɛ.
When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 Ɔtreneeni no hu nea ɛrekɔ so wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi, na ɔde omumɔyɛfo no kɔ ɔsɛe mu.
One that is righteous wisely considereth the house of the wicked: he overthroweth the wicked to [their] ruin.
13 Sɛ onipa sisiw nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a, ɔno nso besu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also himself shall cry, and shall not be heard.
14 Kokoa mu adekyɛ dwudwo koma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuwhyew.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger; and a present in the bosom, vehement fury.
15 Sɛ wubu atɛntrenee a, atreneefo ani gye, nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefo.
It is joy to a righteous [man] to do what is right; but it is ruin for the workers of iniquity.
16 Onipa a ɔman fi nhumu kwan so no bɛhome wɔ awufo fekuw mu.
The man that wandereth out of the way of wisdom shall abide in the congregation of the dead.
17 Nea odi ahosɛpɛw akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; nea ɔpɛ nsa ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
He that loveth mirth shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 Amumɔyɛfo de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma atreneefo, na atorofo yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and a treacherous [man] in the stead of the upright.
19 Eye sɛ wobɛtena sare so, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo a ne koma haw no no bɛtena.
It is better to dwell in a desert land. than with a contentious and irritable woman.
20 Nnuan pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafo fi ma, nanso ɔkwasea di nea ɔwɔ nyinaa.
There is costly store and oil in the dwelling of a wise [man]; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
21 Nea otiw trenee ne ɔdɔ no nya nkwa, yiyedi ne anuonyam.
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22 Onyansafo tow hyɛ ahoɔdenfo kuropɔn so, na odwiriw abandennen a wɔn werɛ hyɛ mu no gu fam.
A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Nea ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no twe ne ho fi amanenya ho.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛwdifo” ɔde ahantan ntraso yɛ ade.
Proud, arrogant, scorner is his name who dealeth in proud wrath.
25 Nea ɔkwadwofo kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owu ama no, efisɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
The desire of the sluggard killeth him; for his hands refuse to work:
26 Da mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ obenya bebree, nanso ɔtreneeni de, ɔma a ɔnnodow ho.
He coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27 Omumɔyɛfo afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwade, ne titiriw ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more when they bring it with a wicked purpose!
28 Ɔdansekurumni bɛyera, na wɔbɛsɛe obiara a otie no no nso.
A lying witness shall perish; and a man that heareth shall speak constantly.
29 Amumɔyɛfo di akakabensɛm, na ɔtreneeni de, osusuw nʼakwan ho.
A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he establisheth his way.
30 Nyansa, nhumu ne nhyehyɛe biara nni hɔ a ebetumi ayɛ yiye atia Awurade.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against Jehovah.
31 Wosiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdi yɛ Awurade dea.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but safety is of Jehovah.
