Mmebusɛm 28
1 Omumɔyɛfo guan bere a obiara ntaa no, nanso atreneefo koko yɛ duru sɛ gyata.
The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 Atuatewman nya sodifo pii, nanso onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ne nimdeɛ ma mmara yɛ adwuma.
In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
3 Sodifo a ɔhyɛ ahiafo so no te sɛ osu mu ahum a ennyaw nnɔbae bi wɔ akyi.
A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
4 Wɔn a wɔpo mmara no kamfo amumɔyɛfo, na wɔn a wodi mmara so no siw wɔn kwan.
Those who forsake the Law praise the wicked; but those who keep the Law contend with them.
5 Abɔnefo nte atɛntrenee ase, nanso wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ Awurade no, te ase yiye.
Evil men do not understand justice; but those who seek YHWH understand it fully.
6 Ohiani a ne nantew ho nni asɛm ye sen ɔdefo a nʼakwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
7 Nea odi mmara so yɛ ɔba a ɔwɔ nhumu, nanso nea ɔne adidibradafo bɔ no gu nʼagya anim ase.
Whoever keeps the Law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 Nea ogye mfɛntom mmoroso de nya ne ho no, ɔboaboa ano ma nea ɔbɛyɛ ahiafo adɔe.
He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
9 Sɛ obi nni mmara so a, ne mpaebɔ mpo yɛ akyiwade.
He who turns away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer is an abomination.
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.
Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.
11 Ɔdefo tumi yɛ onyansafo wɔ nʼankasa ani so, nanso ohiani a ɔwɔ nhumu no hu sɛnea ɔte.
The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
12 Sɛ atreneefo di nkonim a, nnipa di ahurusi pii; nanso sɛ amumɔyɛfo nya tumi a nnipa kohintaw.
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
13 Onipa a ɔkata ne bɔne so no nnya nkɔso, na nea ɔka ne bɔne na ogyae yɛ no nya ahummɔbɔ.
He who conceals his sins doesn't prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14 Nhyira nka nea osuro Awurade bere nyinaa, nanso nea opirim ne koma no tɔ amane mu.
Blessed is the man who is always reverent; but the one who hardens his heart will fall into evil.
15 Omumɔyɛfo a odi nnipa a wonni mmoa so no te sɛ gyata a ɔbobɔ mu anaa sisi a nʼani abere.
As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
16 Ɔsodifo tirimɔdenfo nni adwene, na nea okyi mfaso a wɔnam ɔkwan bɔne so nya no benya nkwa tenten.
A prince who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will prolong his days.
17 Nea awudi ma ne tiboa bu no fɔ no bɛyɛ ɔkobɔfo akosi ne wu da; wɔmma obiara nsiw no kwan.
A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; no one will support him.
18 Nea ne nantew ho nni asɛm no, wogye no fi ɔhaw mu, nanso nea nʼakwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye no bɛhwe ase mpofirim.
Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
19 Nea ɔyɛ nʼasase so adwuma no benya aduan pii, nanso wɔn a wodi nnaadaasɛm akyi no benya wɔn so ne wɔn hia.
One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20 Wobehyira onipa nokwafo pii, na nea ɔpere pɛ ahonyade no remfa ne ho nni.
A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 Nhwɛanim nye, nanso aduan kakraa bi nti nnipa bɛyɛ bɔne.
To show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22 Nea ɔyɛ pɛpɛe pere sɛ ɔbɛyɛ ɔdefo na onnim sɛ ohia retwɛn no.
A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn't know that poverty waits for him.
23 Nea ɔka obi anim no bɛsɔ nnipa ani akyiri no asen nea ɔwɔ tɛkrɛmadɛ.
One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue.
24 Nea ɔbɔ nʼagya anaa ne na korɔn na ɔka se, “Ɛnyɛ bɔne no,” ɔne ɔsɛefo na ɛbɔ.
Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, "It's not wrong." He is a partner with a destroyer.
25 Odifudepɛfo de mpaapaemu ba na nea ɔde ne ho to Awurade so no benya nkɔso.
One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in YHWH will prosper.
26 Nea ogye ne ho di no yɛ ɔkwasea, na nea ɔnantew nyansa mu no wobegye no.
One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27 Nea ɔma ahiafo no, hwee renhia no, nanso nea obu nʼani gu wɔn so no nya nnome pii.
One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
28 Sɛ amumɔyɛfo nya tumi a, nnipa kohintaw; na sɛ amumɔyɛfo ase tɔre a, atreneefo ase dɔ.
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous thrive.
