< 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 stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.
2 Onipa akwan nyinaa teɛ wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari koma.
Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.
3 Sɛ woyɛ ade pa ne ade a ɛteɛ a, ɛsɔ Awurade ani sen afɔrebɔ.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomaso koma, ne amumɔyɛfo asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin.
5 Nsiyɛfo nhyehyɛe de mfaso ba, sɛnea ntɛmpɛ kowie ohia no.
The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.
6 Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no, ɛyɛ omununkum a etwa mu kɔ, na ɛsan yɛ owu afiri.
Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.
7 Amumɔyɛfo basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, efisɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ nea ɛteɛ.
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for 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 person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right.
9 Suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi tena ye sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Omumɔyɛfo kɔn dɔ bɔne; onni ahummɔbɔ mma ne yɔnko.
The appetite of the wicked 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 the mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.
12 Ɔtreneeni no hu nea ɛrekɔ so wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi, na ɔde omumɔyɛfo no kɔ ɔsɛe mu.
The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.
13 Sɛ onipa sisiw nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a, ɔno nso besu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.
14 Kokoa mu adekyɛ dwudwo koma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuwhyew.
A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.
15 Sɛ wubu atɛntrenee a, atreneefo ani gye, nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefo.
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.
16 Onipa a ɔman fi nhumu kwan so no bɛhome wɔ awufo fekuw mu.
The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he 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.
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 Amumɔyɛfo de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma atreneefo, na atorofo yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.
19 Eye sɛ wobɛtena sare so, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo a ne koma haw no no bɛtena.
It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.
20 Nnuan pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafo fi ma, nanso ɔkwasea di nea ɔwɔ nyinaa.
Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.
21 Nea otiw trenee ne ɔdɔ no nya nkwa, yiyedi ne anuonyam.
The one who does right and is kind— this person 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 ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.
23 Nea ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no twe ne ho fi amanenya ho.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24 Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛwdifo” ɔde ahantan ntraso yɛ ade.
The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.
25 Nea ɔkwadwofo kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owu ama no, efisɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.
26 Da mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ obenya bebree, nanso ɔtreneeni de, ɔma a ɔnnodow ho.
All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.
27 Omumɔyɛfo afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwade, ne titiriw ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.
28 Ɔdansekurumni bɛyera, na wɔbɛsɛe obiara a otie no no nso.
A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.
29 Amumɔyɛfo di akakabensɛm, na ɔtreneeni de, osusuw nʼakwan ho.
A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.
30 Nyansa, nhumu ne nhyehyɛe biara nni hɔ a ebetumi ayɛ yiye atia Awurade.
There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.
31 Wosiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdi yɛ Awurade dea.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.

< Mmebusɛm 21 >