Mmɛbusɛm 11
1 Awurade kyiri asisie nsania, na nʼani gye nokorɛ nkariboɔ ho.
A FALSE balance is an abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
2 Ahantan ba a, animguaseɛ na ɛdi soɔ nanso ahobrɛaseɛ de nyansa ba.
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 Teefoɔ nokorɛdie kyerɛ wɔn ɛkwan; nanso nkontompofoɔ ano ntanta sɛe wɔn.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Ahonya nnka hwee abufuhyeɛ da no, nanso tenenee gye nkwa firi owuo mu.
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
5 Wɔn a wɔnnyɛ bɔne teneneeyɛ bɔ ɛkwan tee ma wɔn, nanso amumuyɛfoɔ amumuyɛsɛm brɛ wɔn ase.
The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 Pɛyɛfoɔ teneneeyɛ gye wɔn, nanso akɔnnɔ bɔne afidie yi nkontompofoɔ.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but they that deal treacherously shall be taken in their own mischief.
7 Sɛ omumuyɛfoɔ wu a, nʼanidasoɔ yera; deɛ ɔsusuu sɛ ɔbɛnya afiri ne tumi mu nyinaa no yɛ kwa.
When a wicked man dieth [his] expectation shall perish: and the hope of iniquity perisheth.
8 Wɔgye ɔteneneeni firi amaneɛ mu, na ɛba omumuyɛfoɔ so mmom.
The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 Deɛ ɔnsuro Onyame de nʼano sɛe ne yɔnko, nanso ɔteneneeni nam nimdeɛ so firi mu.
With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.
10 Sɛ teneneefoɔ di yie a, kuropɔn no di ahurisie; nanso amumuyɛfoɔ wu a, wɔbɔ ose.
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 Pɛyɛfoɔ nhyira ma kuropɔn no kɔ so, nanso amumuyɛfoɔ ano bɔ no.
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 Onipa a ɔnni adwene no bu ne yɔnko animtiaa, nanso deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu no to ne tɛkrɛma nnareka.
He that despiseth his neighbour is void of wisdom: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 Osekuni da kɔkoamsɛm adi, nanso deɛ yɛnya ne mu ahotosoɔ no kora kasasie so.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14 Ɔman a ɛnni akwankyerɛ no bɔ, nanso afotufoɔ dodoɔ ma nkonimdie ba.
Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 Deɛ ɔdi agyinamu ma ɔfoforɔ no bɛhunu amane, na deɛ ɔmmfa ne nsa nhyɛ awowasie ase no aso mu dwo no.
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: but he that hateth suretiship is sure.
16 Ɔbaa a ne yam yɛ no wɔde obuo ma no, nanso mmarima basabasayɛfoɔ nya ahodeɛ nko ara.
A gracious woman retaineth honour: and violent men retain riches.
17 Ɔyamyɛfoɔ yɛ ma ne ho, na otirimuɔdenfoɔ de ɔhaw ba nʼankasa so.
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 Omumuyɛfoɔ nya akatua a ɛnnyina, nanso deɛ ɔgu tenenee aba no twa akatua a ɛdi mu.
The wicked earneth deceitful wages: but he that soweth righteousness [hath] a sure reward.
19 Deɛ ɔyɛ nokorɛ teneneeni no nya nkwa, nanso deɛ ɔkɔ so yɛ bɔne no kɔ owuo mu.
He that is stedfast in righteousness [shall attain] unto life: and he that pursueth evil [doeth it] to his own death.
20 Awurade kyiri nnipa a wɔn akoma akyinsa, na nʼani gye wɔn a wɔn akwan ho nni asɛm ho.
They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD: but such as are perfect in [their] way are his delight.
21 Gye to mu sɛ, amumuyɛfoɔ bɛnya wɔn akatua, na teneneefoɔ bɛnya wɔn tiri adi mu.
[Though] hand [join] in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 Ɔbaa hoɔfɛfoɔ a ɔntumi nsi gyinaeɛ no te sɛ sika kawa a ɛhyɛ prako hwene mu.
[As a] jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, [so is] a fair woman which is without discretion.
23 Teneneefoɔ apɛdeɛ wie yie, nanso amumuyɛfoɔ anidasoɔ wie abufuhyeɛ.
The desire of the righteous is only good: [but] the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 Obi yɛ adɔeɛ, na ɔnya ne ho bebree; obi nso yɛ adɔna, nanso ɛhia no.
There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] only to want.
25 Ɔyamyɛfoɔ bɛkɔ so anya ne ho; na deɛ ɔma ebinom mee no nso bɛmee.
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 Nnipa dome deɛ ɔde atokoɔ sie, na nhyira ba deɛ ɔtɔn ne deɛ so.
He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 Deɛ ɔhwehwɛ papa akyiri ɛkwan no nya anisɔ, na deɛ ɔhwehwɛ bɔne no, bɔne ba ne so.
He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favour: but he that searcheth after mischief, it shall come unto him.
28 Deɛ ɔde ne ho to nʼahonyadeɛ soɔ no bɛhwe ase, na ɔteneneeni bɛyɛ frɔmm sɛ ahahan mono.
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 Deɛ ɔde ɔhaw bɛto nʼabusua so no bɛdi mframa adeɛ, na ɔkwasea bɛyɛ onyansafoɔ ɔsomfoɔ.
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 Ɔteneneeni aba yɛ nkwa dua, na deɛ ɔgye akra no yɛ onyansafoɔ.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that is wise winneth souls.
31 Sɛ teneneefoɔ nya wɔn akatua wɔ asase so a ɛnneɛ na wɔn a wɔnnim Onyame ne abɔnefoɔ nso ɛ!
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner!
