Mmebusɛm 21
1 Ɔhene koma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɔkwan te sɛ asuten ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it anywhere 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 the LORD ponders the hearts.
3 Sɛ woyɛ ade pa ne ade a ɛteɛ a, ɛsɔ Awurade ani sen afɔrebɔ.
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomaso koma, ne amumɔyɛfo asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing 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 lack.
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 vanity tossed back and forth of them that seek death.
7 Amumɔyɛfo basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, efisɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ nea ɛteɛ.
The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
8 Onipa a odi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na nea ne ho nni asɛm no nneyɛe teɛ.
The way of man is perverse and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
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 brawling woman in a wide house.
10 Omumɔyɛfo kɔn dɔ bɔne; onni ahummɔbɔ mma ne yɔnko.
The soul of the wicked desires evil: his neighbour finds 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 is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 Ɔtreneeni no hu nea ɛrekɔ so wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi, na ɔde omumɔyɛfo no kɔ ɔsɛe mu.
The righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked: but God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness.
13 Sɛ onipa sisiw nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a, ɔno nso besu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
Whoso stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14 Kokoa mu adekyɛ dwudwo koma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuwhyew.
A gift in secret pacifies anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15 Sɛ wubu atɛntrenee a, atreneefo ani gye, nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefo.
It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16 Onipa a ɔman fi nhumu kwan so no bɛhome wɔ awufo fekuw mu.
The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain 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 loves pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loves 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 shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for 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 the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20 Nnuan pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafo fi ma, nanso ɔkwasea di nea ɔwɔ nyinaa.
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spends it up.
21 Nea otiw trenee ne ɔdɔ no nya nkwa, yiyedi ne anuonyam.
He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds 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 scales the city of the mighty, and casts down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Nea ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no twe ne ho fi amanenya ho.
Whoso keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛwdifo” ɔde ahantan ntraso yɛ ade.
Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud wrath.
25 Nea ɔkwadwofo kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owu ama no, efisɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26 Da mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ obenya bebree, nanso ɔtreneeni de, ɔma a ɔnnodow ho.
He covers greedily all the day long: but the righteous gives and spares 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 he brings it with a wicked mind?
28 Ɔdansekurumni bɛyera, na wɔbɛsɛe obiara a otie no no nso.
A false witness shall perish: but the man that hears speaks constantly.
29 Amumɔyɛfo di akakabensɛm, na ɔtreneeni de, osusuw nʼakwan ho.
A wicked man hardens his face: but as for the upright, he directs 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 the LORD.
31 Wosiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdi yɛ Awurade dea.
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
