Mmebusɛm 21
1 Ɔhene koma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɔkwan te sɛ asuten ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
The heart of a king [is] streams of waters in the hand of YHWH, He inclines it wherever He pleases.
2 Onipa akwan nyinaa teɛ wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari koma.
Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering hearts.
3 Sɛ woyɛ ade pa ne ade a ɛteɛ a, ɛsɔ Awurade ani sen afɔrebɔ.
To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of YHWH rather than sacrifice.
4 Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomaso koma, ne amumɔyɛfo asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.
5 Nsiyɛfo nhyehyɛe de mfaso ba, sɛnea ntɛmpɛ kowie ohia no.
The purposes of the diligent [are] only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.
6 Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no, ɛyɛ omununkum a etwa mu kɔ, na ɛsan yɛ owu afiri.
The making of treasures by a lying tongue, [Is] a vanity driven away of those seeking death.
7 Amumɔyɛfo basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, efisɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ nea ɛteɛ.
The spoil of the wicked catches them, Because they have refused to do judgment.
8 Onipa a odi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na nea ne ho nni asɛm no nneyɛe teɛ.
The way of a man who is vile [is] contrary, And the pure—his work [is] upright.
9 Suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi tena ye sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions and a house of company.
10 Omumɔyɛfo kɔn dɔ bɔne; onni ahummɔbɔ mma ne yɔnko.
The soul of the wicked has desired evil, his neighbor is not gracious 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 becomes wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receives knowledge.
12 Ɔtreneeni no hu nea ɛrekɔ so wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi, na ɔde omumɔyɛfo no kɔ ɔsɛe mu.
The Righteous One is acting wisely Toward the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.
13 Sɛ onipa sisiw nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a, ɔno nso besu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
Whoever is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also cries, and is not answered.
14 Kokoa mu adekyɛ dwudwo koma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuwhyew.
A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe in the bosom—strong fury.
15 Sɛ wubu atɛntrenee a, atreneefo ani gye, nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefo.
To do justice [is] joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.
16 Onipa a ɔman fi nhumu kwan so no bɛhome wɔ awufo fekuw mu.
A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, Rests in an assembly of Rephaim.
17 Nea odi ahosɛpɛw akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; nea ɔpɛ nsa ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
Whoever [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoever is loving wine and oil makes no wealth.
18 Amumɔyɛfo de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma atreneefo, na atorofo yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And the treacherous dealer for the upright.
19 Eye sɛ wobɛtena sare so, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo a ne koma haw no no bɛtena.
Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than [with] a woman of contentions and anger.
20 Nnuan pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafo fi ma, nanso ɔkwasea di nea ɔwɔ nyinaa.
A treasure to be desired, and oil, [Is] in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swallows it up.
21 Nea otiw trenee ne ɔdɔ no nya nkwa, yiyedi ne anuonyam.
Whoever is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Onyansafo tow hyɛ ahoɔdenfo kuropɔn so, na odwiriw abandennen a wɔn werɛ hyɛ mu no gu fam.
The wise has gone up a city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Nea ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no twe ne ho fi amanenya ho.
Whoever is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping his soul from adversities.
24 Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛwdifo” ɔde ahantan ntraso yɛ ade.
Proud, haughty, scorner—his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.
25 Nea ɔkwadwofo kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owu ama no, efisɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
The desire of the slothful slays him, For his hands have refused to work.
26 Da mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ obenya bebree, nanso ɔtreneeni de, ɔma a ɔnnodow ho.
All the day desiring he has desired, And the righteous gives and does not withhold.
27 Omumɔyɛfo afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwade, ne titiriw ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination, Much more when he brings it in wickedness.
28 Ɔdansekurumni bɛyera, na wɔbɛsɛe obiara a otie no no nso.
A false witness perishes, And an attentive man speaks forever.
29 Amumɔyɛfo di akakabensɛm, na ɔtreneeni de, osusuw nʼakwan ho.
A wicked man has hardened by his face, And the upright—he prepares 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 YHWH.
31 Wosiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdi yɛ Awurade dea.
A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance [is] of YHWH!
