Mmebusɛm 28
1 Omumɔyɛfo guan bere a obiara ntaa no, nanso atreneefo koko yɛ duru sɛ gyata.
The wicked run away even when no one is chasing them, but the good have the trusting boldness of lions.
2 Atuatewman nya sodifo pii, nanso onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ne nimdeɛ ma mmara yɛ adwuma.
When a country is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but a ruler who is wise and knowledgeable provides strength and continuity.
3 Sodifo a ɔhyɛ ahiafo so no te sɛ osu mu ahum a ennyaw nnɔbae bi wɔ akyi.
When someone poor oppresses the poor, it's like heavy rain that beats down the crops.
4 Wɔn a wɔpo mmara no kamfo amumɔyɛfo, na wɔn a wodi mmara so no siw wɔn kwan.
People who reject the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law fight against them.
5 Abɔnefo nte atɛntrenee ase, nanso wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ Awurade no, te ase yiye.
Evil people understand nothing about justice, but those who follow the Lord understand it completely.
6 Ohiani a ne nantew ho nni asɛm ye sen ɔdefo a nʼakwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye.
Better to be poor and have integrity than to be devious and rich.
7 Nea odi mmara so yɛ ɔba a ɔwɔ nhumu, nanso nea ɔne adidibradafo bɔ no gu nʼagya anim ase.
If you keep the law, you're a wise son, but if you keep bad company you shame your father.
8 Nea ogye mfɛntom mmoroso de nya ne ho no, ɔboaboa ano ma nea ɔbɛyɛ ahiafo adɔe.
Anyone who gets rich through charging interest and profiteering is only storing it up for someone who is kind to the poor.
9 Sɛ obi nni mmara so a, ne mpaebɔ mpo yɛ akyiwade.
God hates the prayers of people who disregard the law.
10 Nea odi atreneefo anim de wɔn fa ɔkwan bɔne so no bɛhwe ɔno ankasa afiri mu, nanso wɔn a wɔn ho nni asɛm no benya agyapade a eye.
Those who lead good people astray into evil ways will fall into their own traps, but the innocent will receive a good reward.
11 Ɔdefo tumi yɛ onyansafo wɔ nʼankasa ani so, nanso ohiani a ɔwɔ nhumu no hu sɛnea ɔte.
The rich see themselves as wise, but poor people with insight see right through them.
12 Sɛ atreneefo di nkonim a, nnipa di ahurusi pii; nanso sɛ amumɔyɛfo nya tumi a nnipa kohintaw.
When good people win, everyone celebrates, but when the wicked come to power, people hide.
13 Onipa a ɔkata ne bɔne so no nnya nkɔso, na nea ɔka ne bɔne na ogyae yɛ no nya ahummɔbɔ.
People who hide their sins won't succeed, but those who confess and renounce their sins will be shown kindness.
14 Nhyira nka nea osuro Awurade bere nyinaa, nanso nea opirim ne koma no tɔ amane mu.
Blessed are those who always respect the Lord, but those who are stubborn end up in a lot of trouble.
15 Omumɔyɛfo a odi nnipa a wonni mmoa so no te sɛ gyata a ɔbobɔ mu anaa sisi a nʼani abere.
A wicked ruler lording it over poor people is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.
16 Ɔsodifo tirimɔdenfo nni adwene, na nea okyi mfaso a wɔnam ɔkwan bɔne so nya no benya nkwa tenten.
An unwise ruler thoroughly extorts his people, but one who refuses to profit illegally will live long.
17 Nea awudi ma ne tiboa bu no fɔ no bɛyɛ ɔkobɔfo akosi ne wu da; wɔmma obiara nsiw no kwan.
Someone guilty of murder will go on running away from it until they die. Don't try and stop them.
18 Nea ne nantew ho nni asɛm no, wogye no fi ɔhaw mu, nanso nea nʼakwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye no bɛhwe ase mpofirim.
If you have integrity, you'll be kept safe, but if you live deviously, you'll fall.
19 Nea ɔyɛ nʼasase so adwuma no benya aduan pii, nanso wɔn a wodi nnaadaasɛm akyi no benya wɔn so ne wɔn hia.
If you cultivate the land you'll have plenty of food, but if you chase fantasies you'll end up with nothing.
20 Wobehyira onipa nokwafo pii, na nea ɔpere pɛ ahonyade no remfa ne ho nni.
If you're trustworthy, you'll be richly rewarded; but if you try to get rich quick, you won't go unpunished.
21 Nhwɛanim nye, nanso aduan kakraa bi nti nnipa bɛyɛ bɔne.
Showing favoritism isn't good, but some people will do wrong just for a piece of bread.
22 Nea ɔyɛ pɛpɛe pere sɛ ɔbɛyɛ ɔdefo na onnim sɛ ohia retwɛn no.
Envious people are in a rush to get rich; they don't realize they'll end up poor.
23 Nea ɔka obi anim no bɛsɔ nnipa ani akyiri no asen nea ɔwɔ tɛkrɛmadɛ.
Honest criticism is appreciated later far more than flattery.
24 Nea ɔbɔ nʼagya anaa ne na korɔn na ɔka se, “Ɛnyɛ bɔne no,” ɔne ɔsɛefo na ɛbɔ.
A man who robs his father and mother, and says, “It's not a crime,” is one step away from becoming a murderer.
25 Odifudepɛfo de mpaapaemu ba na nea ɔde ne ho to Awurade so no benya nkɔso.
Greedy people stir up trouble, but those who trust in the Lord will be successful.
26 Nea ogye ne ho di no yɛ ɔkwasea, na nea ɔnantew nyansa mu no wobegye no.
People who trust their own minds are foolish, but those who follow wise ways will be kept safe.
27 Nea ɔma ahiafo no, hwee renhia no, nanso nea obu nʼani gu wɔn so no nya nnome pii.
If you give to the poor, you won't be in need; but if you look the other way, you'll have many curses.
28 Sɛ amumɔyɛfo nya tumi a, nnipa kohintaw; na sɛ amumɔyɛfo ase tɔre a, atreneefo ase dɔ.
When the wicked come to power, people hide; but when they fall, the good do well.
