Mmɛbusɛm 12
1 Obiara a ɔpɛ ahohyɛsoɔ no pɛ nimdeɛ, na deɛ ɔkyiri ntenesoɔ no yɛ ogyimifoɔ.
Whoever is loving instruction, is loving knowledge, And whoever is hating reproof [is] brutish.
2 Onipa pa nya Awurade nkyɛn adom, na Awurade bu onifirani fɔ.
The good brings forth favor from YHWH, And the man of wicked schemes He condemns.
3 Amumuyɛsɛm rentumi mma onipa ase ntim, na wɔrentumi nntu ɔteneneeni ase.
A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved.
4 Ɔyere a ɔwɔ suban pa yɛ ne kunu ahenkyɛ, nanso ɔyere animguasefoɔ te sɛ porɔeɛ wɔ ne kunu nnompe mu.
A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband, And as rottenness in his bones [is] one causing shame.
5 Teneneefoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ yɛ pɛ, na amumuyɛfoɔ afotuo yɛ nnaadaa.
The thoughts of the righteous [are] justice, The counsels of the wicked—deceit.
6 Amumuyɛfoɔ nsɛm da hɔ twɛn mogya, na ɔteneneeni kasa yi wɔn firi mu.
The words of the wicked [are]: “Lay [in] wait for blood,” And the mouth of the upright delivers them.
7 Wɔtu amumuyɛfoɔ gu na wɔyera, nanso teneneefoɔ fie gyina pintinn.
Overthrow the wicked, and they are not, And the house of the righteous stands.
8 Wɔkamfo onipa sɛdeɛ ne nyansa teɛ na nnipa a wɔn adwene yɛ kɔntɔnkye deɛ, wɔbu wɔn animtiaa.
A man is praised according to his wisdom, And the perverted of heart becomes despised.
9 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛyɛ wo ho sɛ ɔteta a nso wowɔ ɔsomfoɔ, sene sɛ wobɛyɛ wo ho sɛ obi, nanso wonni aduane.
Better [is] the lightly esteemed who has a servant, Than the self-honored who lacks bread.
10 Ɔteneneeni ma nʼayɛmmoa deɛ wɔpɛ, na amumuyɛfoɔ nneyɛɛ a ɛyɛ pa ara yɛ atirimuɔden.
The righteous knows the life of his beast, And the mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.
11 Deɛ ɔyɛ nʼasase so adwuma no bɛnya aduane bebree, na deɛ ɔdi nsɛm huhuo akyi no nni adwene.
Whoever is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoever is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,
12 Amumuyɛfoɔ pɛ abɔnefoɔ afodeɛ, nanso ɔteneneeni ase dɔre.
The wicked has desired the net of evildoers, And the root of the righteous gives.
13 Ɔbɔnefoɔ anosɛm yi no sɛ afidie, nanso ɔteneneeni nya ne ho tete wɔ ahohiahia mu.
The snare of the wicked [is] in transgression of the lips, And the righteous goes out from distress.
14 Nneɛma pa firi onipa anomu aba mu hyɛ no ma sɛdeɛ ne nsa ano adwuma ma no akatua no.
One [is] satisfied [with] good from the fruit of the mouth, And the deed of man’s hands returns to him.
15 Ɔkwasea akwan tene wɔ nʼani so, na ɔnyansafoɔ tie afotuo.
The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes, And whoever is listening to counsel [is] wise.
16 Ɔkwasea bo nkyɛre fu, nanso ɔbadwemma bu nʼani gu atɛnnidie so.
The fool—his anger is known in a day, And the prudent is covering shame.
17 Ɔdanseni nokwafoɔ di adanseɛ turodoo, na deɛ ɔdi adansekurumu no twa nkontompo.
Whoever utters faithfulness declares righteousness, And a false witness—deceit.
18 Nsɛm hunu keka wowɔ te sɛ akofena nanso onyansafoɔ tɛkrɛma ma abodwoeɛ.
A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.
19 Ano a ɛka nokorɛ no tim hɔ daa, na atorɔ tɛkrɛma ɛnkyɛre koraa.
The lip of truth is established forever, And a tongue of falsehood for a moment.
20 Nnaadaa hyɛ wɔn a wɔdwene bɔne ho akoma mu, na wɔn a wɔpɛ asomdwoeɛ nya ahosɛpɛ.
Deceit [is] in the heart of those devising evil, But for counselors of peace—joy.
21 Ɔhaw biara rento ɔteneneeni, nanso amanehunu mee amumuyɛfoɔ.
No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil.
22 Awurade kyiri ano a ɛtwa atorɔ, na nʼani gye nnipa a wɔdi nokorɛ ho.
Lying lips [are] an abomination to YHWH, And steadfast doers [are] his delight.
23 Ɔnifirafoɔ mmɔ ne nimdeɛ ho dawuro na nkwaseafoɔ akoma da agyimisɛm adi.
A prudent man is concealing knowledge, And the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 Nsa a ɛyɛ adwuma no bɛdi tumi, nanso akwadworɔ wie nkoasom mu.
The hand of the diligent rules, And slothfulness becomes tributary.
25 Akoma a ɛpere adeɛ ho ma onipa boto, nanso nkuranhyɛsɛm bi hyɛ no den.
Sorrow in the heart of a man bows down, And a good word makes him glad.
26 Ɔteneneeni wɔ ntoboaseɛ wɔ ayɔnkofa mu, nanso amumuyɛfoɔ kwan ma wɔfom.
The righteous searches his companion, And the way of the wicked causes them to err.
27 Onihafoɔ ntoto ne hanam, nanso nsiyɛfoɔ ahonyadeɛ som bo ma wɔn.
The slothful does not roast his game, And the wealth of a diligent man is precious.
28 Tenenee kwan mu wɔ nkwa; na owuo nni saa ɛkwan no so.
In the path of righteousness [is] life, And in the way of [that] path [is] no death!
