Mmɛbusɛm 12
1 Obiara a ɔpɛ ahohyɛsoɔ no pɛ nimdeɛ, na deɛ ɔkyiri ntenesoɔ no yɛ ogyimifoɔ.
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge. But whoever hates correction is unwise.
2 Onipa pa nya Awurade nkyɛn adom, na Awurade bu onifirani fɔ.
Whoever is good shall draw grace from the Lord. But whoever trusts in his own thoughts acts impiously.
3 Amumuyɛsɛm rentumi mma onipa ase ntim, na wɔrentumi nntu ɔteneneeni ase.
Man will not be made strong from impiety. And the root of the just shall not be moved.
4 Ɔyere a ɔwɔ suban pa yɛ ne kunu ahenkyɛ, nanso ɔyere animguasefoɔ te sɛ porɔeɛ wɔ ne kunu nnompe mu.
A diligent woman is a crown to her husband. And she who acts with confusion as to which things are worthy is decay to his bones.
5 Teneneefoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ yɛ pɛ, na amumuyɛfoɔ afotuo yɛ nnaadaa.
The thoughts of the just are judgments. And the counsels of the impious are dishonest.
6 Amumuyɛfoɔ nsɛm da hɔ twɛn mogya, na ɔteneneeni kasa yi wɔn firi mu.
The words of the impious lie in wait for blood. The mouth of the just shall free them.
7 Wɔtu amumuyɛfoɔ gu na wɔyera, nanso teneneefoɔ fie gyina pintinn.
Turn from the impious, and they will not be. But the house of the just shall stand firm.
8 Wɔkamfo onipa sɛdeɛ ne nyansa teɛ na nnipa a wɔn adwene yɛ kɔntɔnkye deɛ, wɔbu wɔn animtiaa.
A man will be known by his doctrine. But whoever is vain and heartless will suffer contempt.
9 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛyɛ wo ho sɛ ɔteta a nso wowɔ ɔsomfoɔ, sene sɛ wobɛyɛ wo ho sɛ obi, nanso wonni aduane.
Better is a pauper who has what he needs, than someone glorious and in need of bread.
10 Ɔteneneeni ma nʼayɛmmoa deɛ wɔpɛ, na amumuyɛfoɔ nneyɛɛ a ɛyɛ pa ara yɛ atirimuɔden.
The just one knows the lives of his beasts. But the inner most parts of the impious are cruel.
11 Deɛ ɔyɛ nʼasase so adwuma no bɛnya aduane bebree, na deɛ ɔdi nsɛm huhuo akyi no nni adwene.
Whoever works his land shall be satisfied with bread. But whoever continually pursues leisure is most foolish. Whoever is soothed by lingering over wine leaves behind contempt in his strongholds.
12 Amumuyɛfoɔ pɛ abɔnefoɔ afodeɛ, nanso ɔteneneeni ase dɔre.
The desire of the impious is the fortification of what is most wicked. But the root of the just shall prosper.
13 Ɔbɔnefoɔ anosɛm yi no sɛ afidie, nanso ɔteneneeni nya ne ho tete wɔ ahohiahia mu.
For the sins of the lips draw ruin to the evil. But the just shall escape from distress.
14 Nneɛma pa firi onipa anomu aba mu hyɛ no ma sɛdeɛ ne nsa ano adwuma ma no akatua no.
By the fruit of his own mouth, each one shall be filled with good things, and according to the works of his own hands, it will be distributed to him.
15 Ɔkwasea akwan tene wɔ nʼani so, na ɔnyansafoɔ tie afotuo.
The way of the foolish is right in his own eyes. But whoever is wise listens to counsels.
16 Ɔkwasea bo nkyɛre fu, nanso ɔbadwemma bu nʼani gu atɛnnidie so.
The senseless immediately reveals his anger. But whoever ignores injuries is clever.
17 Ɔdanseni nokwafoɔ di adanseɛ turodoo, na deɛ ɔdi adansekurumu no twa nkontompo.
He is a sign of justice, who speaks what he knows. But whoever deceives is a dishonest witness.
18 Nsɛm hunu keka wowɔ te sɛ akofena nanso onyansafoɔ tɛkrɛma ma abodwoeɛ.
He who makes promises is also jabbed, as if with a sword, in conscience. But the tongue of the wise is reasonable.
19 Ano a ɛka nokorɛ no tim hɔ daa, na atorɔ tɛkrɛma ɛnkyɛre koraa.
The lips of truth shall be steadfast forever. But a hasty witness readies a lying tongue.
20 Nnaadaa hyɛ wɔn a wɔdwene bɔne ho akoma mu, na wɔn a wɔpɛ asomdwoeɛ nya ahosɛpɛ.
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evils. But gladness follows those who take up counsels of peace.
21 Ɔhaw biara rento ɔteneneeni, nanso amanehunu mee amumuyɛfoɔ.
Whatever may befall the just, it will not discourage him. But the impious will be filled with disasters.
22 Awurade kyiri ano a ɛtwa atorɔ, na nʼani gye nnipa a wɔdi nokorɛ ho.
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. But whoever acts faithfully pleases him.
23 Ɔnifirafoɔ mmɔ ne nimdeɛ ho dawuro na nkwaseafoɔ akoma da agyimisɛm adi.
A resourceful man conceals knowledge. And the heart of the unwise provokes foolishness.
24 Nsa a ɛyɛ adwuma no bɛdi tumi, nanso akwadworɔ wie nkoasom mu.
The hand of the strong will rule. But anyone who is neglectful will pay tribute.
25 Akoma a ɛpere adeɛ ho ma onipa boto, nanso nkuranhyɛsɛm bi hyɛ no den.
Grief in the heart of a man humbles him. And with a good word he shall be made glad.
26 Ɔteneneeni wɔ ntoboaseɛ wɔ ayɔnkofa mu, nanso amumuyɛfoɔ kwan ma wɔfom.
He who ignores a loss for the sake of a friend is just. But the way of the impious will deceive them.
27 Onihafoɔ ntoto ne hanam, nanso nsiyɛfoɔ ahonyadeɛ som bo ma wɔn.
The dishonest will not discover gain. But the substance of a man will be like precious gold.
28 Tenenee kwan mu wɔ nkwa; na owuo nni saa ɛkwan no so.
In the path of justice, there is life. But the devious way leads to death.
