Mmɛbusɛm 13
1 Ɔba nyansafoɔ tie nʼagya nkyerɛkyerɛ; na ɔfɛdifoɔ ntie animka.
A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
2 Nneɛma pa a ɛfiri onipa anom no ma no anigyeɛ, na wɔn a wɔnni nokorɛ no kɔn dɔ basabasayɛ.
From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is 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 protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
4 Onihafoɔ pere hwehwɛ nanso ɔnnya hwee, na deɛ ɔyɛ adwuma no nya deɛ ɔpɛ biara.
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
5 Teneneefoɔ kyiri deɛ ɛnyɛ nokorɛ, nanso amumuyɛfoɔ de aniwuo ne ahohora ba.
The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
6 Tenenee bɔ ɔnokwafoɔ ho ban, na amumuyɛsɛm tu ɔbɔnefoɔ gu.
Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner.
7 Obi yɛ ne ho sɛ ɔdefoɔ, a nso ɔnni hwee, ɔfoforɔ yɛ ne ho sɛ ohiani, a nso ɔwɔ ahonya bebree.
One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 Obi ahonya bɛtumi agye no nkwa, nanso ohiani nte ahunahuna biara.
Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.
9 Teneneefoɔ kanea hyerɛn pa ara, nanso wɔdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea.
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
10 Ahantan de ntɔkwa nko ara na ɛba, na wɔhunu nyansa wɔ wɔn a wɔtie afutuo mu.
Arrogance leads only to strife, 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.
Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
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 desire fulfilled 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 instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.
14 Onyansafoɔ nkyerɛkyerɛ te sɛ nkwa asutire, ɛyi onipa firi owuo afidie mu.
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.
15 Nhunumu pa de adom ba, nanso atorofoɔ ɛkwan so yɛ den.
Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult.
16 Ɔbadwemma biara yɛ nʼadeɛ wɔ nimdeɛ mu, nanso ɔkwasea da nʼagyimisɛm adi.
Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
17 Ɔsomafoɔ mumuyɛfoɔ tɔ amaneɛ mu, nanso ɔnanmusini nokwafoɔ de abodwoɔ ba.
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Deɛ ɔpo ntenesoɔ no kɔ ohia ne animguaseɛ mu, na deɛ ɔtie ntenesoɔ no, wɔhyɛ no animuonyam.
Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
19 Akɔnnɔdeɛ a nsa aka ma ɔkra ani gye, nanso nkwaseafoɔ kyiri sɛ wɔtwe wɔn ho firi bɔne ho.
Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools.
20 Deɛ ɔne onyansafoɔ nante no hunu nyansa, na deɛ ɔne nkwaseafoɔ bɔ no hunu amane.
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
21 Ɔhaw di ɔbɔnefoɔ akyi, na nkɔsoɔ yɛ teneneeni akatua.
Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
22 Onipa pa de agyapadeɛ gya ne nananom, na wɔkora ɔbɔnefoɔ ahonyadeɛ so ma ɔteneneeni.
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
23 Ohiani afuom nnɔbaeɛ tumi ba pii, nanso ntɛnkyea pra kɔ.
Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away.
24 Deɛ ɔkyɛe nʼabaa so no tane ne ba, na deɛ ɔdɔ no no hwɛ sɛ ɔbɛtene no.
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
25 Teneneefoɔ didi ma wɔn akoma mee nanso, ɛkɔm de amumuyɛfoɔ.
A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.
