Mmɛbusɛm 13
1 Ɔba nyansafoɔ tie nʼagya nkyerɛkyerɛ; na ɔfɛdifoɔ ntie animka.
A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer listens not to rebuke.
2 Nneɛma pa a ɛfiri onipa anom no ma no anigyeɛ, na wɔn a wɔnni nokorɛ no kɔn dɔ basabasayɛ.
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the treacherous, violence.
3 Deɛ ɔkora nʼano no kora ne nkwa so, nanso deɛ ɔkasa a ɔnsusu ho no bɛba ɔsɛeɛ mu.
He who guards his mouth keeps his life. He who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 Onihafoɔ pere hwehwɛ nanso ɔnnya hwee, na deɛ ɔyɛ adwuma no nya deɛ ɔpɛ biara.
The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 Teneneefoɔ kyiri deɛ ɛnyɛ nokorɛ, nanso amumuyɛfoɔ de aniwuo ne ahohora ba.
A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is loathsome, and comes to shame.
6 Tenenee bɔ ɔnokwafoɔ ho ban, na amumuyɛsɛm tu ɔbɔnefoɔ gu.
Righteousness guards him who is upright in the way, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 Obi yɛ ne ho sɛ ɔdefoɔ, a nso ɔnni hwee, ɔfoforɔ yɛ ne ho sɛ ohiani, a nso ɔwɔ ahonya bebree.
There is he who makes himself rich, yet has nothing, and he who makes himself poor, yet has great wealth.
8 Obi ahonya bɛtumi agye no nkwa, nanso ohiani nte ahunahuna biara.
The ransom of a man's life is his riches, but the poor hears no threatening.
9 Teneneefoɔ kanea hyerɛn pa ara, nanso wɔdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea.
The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Ahantan de ntɔkwa nko ara na ɛba, na wɔhunu nyansa wɔ wɔn a wɔtie afutuo mu.
Through pride a vain man causes contention, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
11 Ahonya a ɛnam kwammɔne soɔ no hwere ntɛm so, na deɛ ɔboa sika ano nkakrankakra no ma ɛdɔɔso.
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished, but he who gathers by labor shall have increase.
12 Anidasoɔ a wɔtu hyɛ da no bɔ akoma yadeɛ, nanso anigyinadeɛ a nsa aka no yɛ nkwa dua.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
13 Deɛ ɔtwiri ahyɛdeɛ no bɛtua so ka, nanso deɛ ɔde obuo ma mmara no, wɔma no akatua.
He who despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who fears the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 Onyansafoɔ nkyerɛkyerɛ te sɛ nkwa asutire, ɛyi onipa firi owuo afidie mu.
The law of a wise man is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
15 Nhunumu pa de adom ba, nanso atorofoɔ ɛkwan so yɛ den.
Good understanding gives favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard.
16 Ɔbadwemma biara yɛ nʼadeɛ wɔ nimdeɛ mu, nanso ɔkwasea da nʼagyimisɛm adi.
Every prudent man works with knowledge, but a fool flaunts folly.
17 Ɔsomafoɔ mumuyɛfoɔ tɔ amaneɛ mu, nanso ɔnanmusini nokwafoɔ de abodwoɔ ba.
A wicked messenger falls into evil, but a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Deɛ ɔpo ntenesoɔ no kɔ ohia ne animguaseɛ mu, na deɛ ɔtie ntenesoɔ no, wɔhyɛ no animuonyam.
Poverty and shame are to him who refuses correction, but he who regards reproof shall be honored.
19 Akɔnnɔdeɛ a nsa aka ma ɔkra ani gye, nanso nkwaseafoɔ kyiri sɛ wɔtwe wɔn ho firi bɔne ho.
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 Deɛ ɔne onyansafoɔ nante no hunu nyansa, na deɛ ɔne nkwaseafoɔ bɔ no hunu amane.
Walk with wise men, and thou shall be wise. But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
21 Ɔhaw di ɔbɔnefoɔ akyi, na nkɔsoɔ yɛ teneneeni akatua.
Evil pursues sinners, but the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
22 Onipa pa de agyapadeɛ gya ne nananom, na wɔkora ɔbɔnefoɔ ahonyadeɛ so ma ɔteneneeni.
A good man leaves an inheritance to his son's sons, and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
23 Ohiani afuom nnɔbaeɛ tumi ba pii, nanso ntɛnkyea pra kɔ.
Much food is in the tillage of the poor, but there is that is consumed because of injustice.
24 Deɛ ɔkyɛe nʼabaa so no tane ne ba, na deɛ ɔdɔ no no hwɛ sɛ ɔbɛtene no.
He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him chastens him promptly.
25 Teneneefoɔ didi ma wɔn akoma mee nanso, ɛkɔm de amumuyɛfoɔ.
A righteous man eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked shall want.
