Mmebusɛm 21
1 Ɔhene koma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɔkwan te sɛ asuten ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
Like brooks of water is a king's heart in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever it pleaseth him doth he turn it.
2 Onipa akwan nyinaa teɛ wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari koma.
Every way of a man is straight in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the hearts.
3 Sɛ woyɛ ade pa ne ade a ɛteɛ a, ɛsɔ Awurade ani sen afɔrebɔ.
To exercise righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomaso koma, ne amumɔyɛfo asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
Haughtiness of the eyes, and an immoderate heart, are the sinful field of the wicked.
5 Nsiyɛfo nhyehyɛe de mfaso ba, sɛnea ntɛmpɛ kowie ohia no.
The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; but every hasty man is [destined] 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 tongue of falsehood is like the fleeting breath of those that seek death.
7 Amumɔyɛfo basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, efisɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ nea ɛteɛ.
The robbery of the wicked will drag them away; because they refuse to execute justice.
8 Onipa a odi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na nea ne ho nni asɛm no nneyɛe teɛ.
Perverse is the way of the man that is estranged [from goodness]; 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 a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman in a roomy house.
10 Omumɔyɛfo kɔn dɔ bɔne; onni ahummɔbɔ mma ne yɔnko.
The soul of the wicked longeth for evil: his neighbor findeth no grace 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 taught intelligence, he receiveth knowledge.
12 Ɔtreneeni no hu nea ɛrekɔ so wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi, na ɔde omumɔyɛfo no kɔ ɔsɛe mu.
The righteous regardeth attentively the house of the wicked; [but God] overturneth the wicked into unhappiness.
13 Sɛ onipa sisiw nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a, ɔno nso besu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
Whoso stoppeth his ears against the cry of the poor, he also will cry himself, but shall not be answered.
14 Kokoa mu adekyɛ dwudwo koma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuwhyew.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a bribe in the bosom, strong fury.
15 Sɛ wubu atɛntrenee a, atreneefo ani gye, nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefo.
It is joy to the righteous to execute justice; but it is a terror to wrong-doers.
16 Onipa a ɔman fi nhumu kwan so no bɛhome wɔ awufo fekuw mu.
The man that wandereth astray out of the way of intelligence shall rest in the assembly of the departed.
17 Nea odi ahosɛpɛw akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; nea ɔpɛ nsa ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
He that loveth pleasure will be a man of want: he that loveth wine and oil will not become 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 treacherous shall be put 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 quarrelsome and vexatious woman.
20 Nnuan pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafo fi ma, nanso ɔkwasea di nea ɔwɔ nyinaa.
There are a desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man will swallow it up.
21 Nea otiw trenee ne ɔdɔ no nya nkwa, yiyedi ne anuonyam.
He that pursueth righteousness and kindness will find 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 scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength in which they trusted.
23 Nea ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no twe ne ho fi amanenya ho.
Whoso guardeth his mouth and his tongue guardeth his soul against distresses.
24 Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛwdifo” ɔde ahantan ntraso yɛ ade.
The presumptuous and proud, scorner is his name, dealeth in the wrath of presumption.
25 Nea ɔkwadwofo kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owu ama no, efisɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
The longing of the slothful will kill him; for his hands refuse to labor.
26 Da mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ obenya bebree, nanso ɔtreneeni de, ɔma a ɔnnodow ho.
All the day he feeleth a great longing; but the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
27 Omumɔyɛfo afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwade, ne titiriw ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a sinful purpose?
28 Ɔdansekurumni bɛyera, na wɔbɛsɛe obiara a otie no no nso.
A lying witness shall perish; but the man that is obedient [to the law] can speak for ever.
29 Amumɔyɛfo di akakabensɛm, na ɔtreneeni de, osusuw nʼakwan ho.
A wicked man showeth impudence in his face; but as for the upright, he will consider well 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 for the day of battle; but with the Lord is the victory.
