Mmɛbusɛm 13
1 Ɔba nyansafoɔ tie nʼagya nkyerɛkyerɛ; na ɔfɛdifoɔ ntie animka.
A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not 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 transgressors shall eat violence.
3 Deɛ ɔkora nʼano no kora ne nkwa so, nanso deɛ ɔkasa a ɔnsusu ho no bɛba ɔsɛeɛ mu.
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth 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 desireth, and hath 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 hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 Tenenee bɔ ɔnokwafoɔ ho ban, na amumuyɛsɛm tu ɔbɔnefoɔ gu.
Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth 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 that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
8 Obi ahonya bɛtumi agye no nkwa, nanso ohiani nte ahunahuna biara.
The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
9 Teneneefoɔ kanea hyerɛn pa ara, nanso wɔdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea.
The light of the righteous rejoiceth: 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.
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
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 that gathereth by labour shall increase.
12 Anidasoɔ a wɔtu hyɛ da no bɔ akoma yadeɛ, nanso anigyinadeɛ a nsa aka no yɛ nkwa dua.
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13 Deɛ ɔtwiri ahyɛdeɛ no bɛtua so ka, nanso deɛ ɔde obuo ma mmara no, wɔma no akatua.
Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 Onyansafoɔ nkyerɛkyerɛ te sɛ nkwa asutire, ɛyi onipa firi owuo afidie mu.
The law of the wise 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 giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
16 Ɔbadwemma biara yɛ nʼadeɛ wɔ nimdeɛ mu, nanso ɔkwasea da nʼagyimisɛm adi.
Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
17 Ɔsomafoɔ mumuyɛfoɔ tɔ amaneɛ mu, nanso ɔnanmusini nokwafoɔ de abodwoɔ ba.
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: 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 shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
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 abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 Deɛ ɔne onyansafoɔ nante no hunu nyansa, na deɛ ɔne nkwaseafoɔ bɔ no hunu amane.
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
21 Ɔhaw di ɔbɔnefoɔ akyi, na nkɔsoɔ yɛ teneneeni akatua.
Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
22 Onipa pa de agyapadeɛ gya ne nananom, na wɔkora ɔbɔnefoɔ ahonyadeɛ so ma ɔteneneeni.
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
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 destroyed for want of judgment.
24 Deɛ ɔkyɛe nʼabaa so no tane ne ba, na deɛ ɔdɔ no no hwɛ sɛ ɔbɛtene no.
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25 Teneneefoɔ didi ma wɔn akoma mee nanso, ɛkɔm de amumuyɛfoɔ.
The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
