Mmebusɛm 24
1 Mma wʼani mmere amumɔyɛfo, mfa wo ho mmɔ wɔn;
Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 Efisɛ wɔn koma dwene atirimɔdensɛm ho, na wɔn ano ka nea ɛde basabasayɛ ba ho asɛm.
For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Wɔde nyansa na esi fi, na nhumu mu na wɔma etim;
Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established:
4 ɛnam nimdeɛ so na wonya ademude a ɛho yɛ na na ɛyɛ fɛ hyehyɛ nʼadan mu.
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 Onyansafo wɔ tumi a ɛso, na onimdefo nyin ahoɔden mu;
A wise man [is] strong; and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 nea ɔretu sa hia akwankyerɛ, nea ɔrehwehwɛ nkonimdi no hia afotufo pii.
For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counselors [there is] safety.
7 Nyansa wɔ soro dodo ma ɔkwasea; wɔ apon ano aguabɔ mu no, ɛnsɛ sɛ wobue wɔn ano.
Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 Onipa a ɔbɔ pɔw bɔne no, wɔbɛfrɛ no ɔkɔtwebrɛfo.
He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9 Ogyimifo nhyehyɛe yɛ bɔne, nnipa kyi ɔfɛwdifo.
The thought of foolishness [is] sin: and the scorner [is] an abomination to men.
10 Sɛ wʼaba mu gow wɔ ɔhaw mu a, na wʼahoɔden sua!
[If] thou faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.
11 Gye wɔn a wɔde wɔn rekɔ akokum wɔn no nkwa; na sianka wɔn a wɔtɔ ntintan kɔ akumii.
If thou forbearest to deliver [them that are] drawn to death, and [those that are] ready to be slain;
12 Sɛ woka se, “Na yennim eyi ho hwee a,” nea ɔkari koma hwɛ no nhu ana? Nea ɔbɔ wo nkwa ho ban no nnim ana? Ɔrentua nea obiara ayɛ so ka ana?
If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider [it]? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth [not] he know [it]? and will [not] he render to [every] man according to his works?
13 Me ba, di ɛwo, efisɛ eye; ɛwokyɛm mu wo yɛ wʼanom dɛ.
My son, eat thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honey-comb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:
14 Hu nso sɛ nyansa yɛ wo kra dɛ; sɛ wunya a, wowɔ anidaso ma daakye, na wʼanidaso renyɛ ɔkwa.
So [shall] the knowledge of wisdom [be] to thy soul: when thou hast found [it], then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Nkɔtɛw ɔtreneeni fi sɛ ɔkwanmukafo, na nkɔtow nhyɛ nʼatenae so,
Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; destroy not his resting-place:
16 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ɔtreneeni hwe ase mpɛn ason de, nanso ɔsɔre bio, na amumɔyɛfo de amanehunu baako ma wɔhwe ase.
For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Sɛ wo tamfo hwe ase a mma ɛnyɛ wo dɛ; na sɛ ohintiw a mma wo koma nni ahurusi,
Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 efisɛ Awurade behu wʼadwene na ɔrempɛ na obeyi nʼabufuwhyew afi no so.
Lest the LORD see [it], and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Nhaw wo ho wɔ abɔnefo nti, na mma wʼani mmere amumɔyɛfo nso,
Fret not thyself because of evil [men], neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20 efisɛ, ɔbɔnefo nni anidaso biara daakye, na wobedum amumɔyɛfo kanea.
For there shall be no reward to the evil [man]; the candle of the wicked shall be extinguished.
21 Me ba, suro Awurade ne ɔhene, na mfa wo ho mmɔ atuatewfo ho,
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 efisɛ saa baanu yi de, ɔsɛe bɛba wɔn so mpofirim; na hena na onim amanehunu ko a wobetumi de aba?
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 Eyinom nso yɛ anyansafo Nsɛnka: Atemmu a nhwɛanim wɔ mu no nye:
These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 Obiara a ɔbɛka akyerɛ nea odi fɔ se, “Wo ho nni asɛm” no, nnipa bɛdome no na amanaman remmɔ no din pa.
He that saith to the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 Na wɔn a wobu afɔdifo fɔ no, ebesi wɔn yiye, na nhyira bɛba wɔn so.
But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26 Mmuae pa te sɛ mfewano.
[Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer.
27 Wie wo mfikyidwuma na siesie wo mfuw; ɛno akyi, si wo fi.
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.
28 Nni adanse ntia ɔyɔnko a ɔnyɛɛ wo hwee, na mfa wʼano nnaadaa.
Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips.
29 Nka se, “Nea wayɛ me no me nso mɛyɛ no bi; nea ɔyɛe no mitua no so ka.”
Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30 Menantew faa onihawfo afuw ho, twaa mu wɔ nea onni adwene bobeturo nso ho;
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 nsɔe afuw wɔ baabiara, wura afuw akata asase no so, na abo afasu no nso abubu.
And lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Mede me koma kɔɔ nea mihuu no so na misuaa biribi fii mu:
Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it], [and] received instruction.
33 nna kakra, nkotɔ kakra, nsa a woabobɔw de rehome kakra
[Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 bɛma ohia aba wo so sɛ ɔkwanmukafo, na nneɛma ho nna bɛba wo so sɛ obi a okura akode. Na ohia bɛtow akyere wo sɛ ɔkwanmukafo; ahokyere bɛtoa wo sɛ ɔkorɔmfowerɛmfo.
So shall thy poverty come [as] one that traveleth; and thy want as an armed man.
