Mmɛbusɛm 13
1 Ɔba nyansafoɔ tie nʼagya nkyerɛkyerɛ; na ɔfɛdifoɔ ntie animka.
A wise son [becometh so] by the correction of his father; but a scorner hearkeneth not 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 a man's mouth doth he eat what is good; but the longing of the treacherous is for violence.
3 Deɛ ɔkora nʼano no kora ne nkwa so, nanso deɛ ɔkasa a ɔnsusu ho no bɛba ɔsɛeɛ mu.
He that watcheth his mouth guardeth his soul; but he that openeth wide his lips [prepareth] himself destruction.
4 Onihafoɔ pere hwehwɛ nanso ɔnnya hwee, na deɛ ɔyɛ adwuma no nya deɛ ɔpɛ biara.
The sluggard longeth [in] his soul, and there [cometh] nothing; but the soul of the diligent will be abundantly gratified.
5 Teneneefoɔ kyiri deɛ ɛnyɛ nokorɛ, nanso amumuyɛfoɔ de aniwuo ne ahohora ba.
The righteous hateth the word of falsehood; but the wicked bringeth shame and dishonor.
6 Tenenee bɔ ɔnokwafoɔ ho ban, na amumuyɛsɛm tu ɔbɔnefoɔ gu.
Righteousness keepeth [him that is] upright on his way; but wickedness perverteth the [man of] sin.
7 Obi yɛ ne ho sɛ ɔdefoɔ, a nso ɔnni hwee, ɔfoforɔ yɛ ne ho sɛ ohiani, a nso ɔwɔ ahonya bebree.
There is some one that pretendeth to be rich without having any thing; another that pretendeth to be poor while having abundant wealth.
8 Obi ahonya bɛtumi agye no nkwa, nanso ohiani nte ahunahuna biara.
As the ransom of a man's life [hath he often to give] his riches; but the poor heareth no threat.
9 Teneneefoɔ kanea hyerɛn pa ara, nanso wɔdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea.
The light of the righteous burneth joyfully; but the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
10 Ahantan de ntɔkwa nko ara na ɛba, na wɔhunu nyansa wɔ wɔn a wɔtie afutuo mu.
Only through presumptuous conduct doth man produce 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 vain deeds will be diminished; but he that gathereth by close labor will increase it.
12 Anidasoɔ a wɔtu hyɛ da no bɔ akoma yadeɛ, nanso anigyinadeɛ a nsa aka no yɛ nkwa dua.
Expectation long deferred maketh the heart sick; but a tree of life is a desire which is fulfilled.
13 Deɛ ɔtwiri ahyɛdeɛ no bɛtua so ka, nanso deɛ ɔde obuo ma mmara no, wɔma no akatua.
Whoso despiseth the word shall fall in debt to it; but he that feareth the commandment will be rewarded.
14 Onyansafoɔ nkyerɛkyerɛ te sɛ nkwa asutire, ɛyi onipa firi owuo afidie mu.
The instruction of the wise is a source of life, [teaching] to avoid the snares of death.
15 Nhunumu pa de adom ba, nanso atorofoɔ ɛkwan so yɛ den.
Good intelligence giveth grace; but the way of the treacherous is hard.
16 Ɔbadwemma biara yɛ nʼadeɛ wɔ nimdeɛ mu, nanso ɔkwasea da nʼagyimisɛm adi.
Every prudent man acteth with knowledge; but a fool spreadeth abroad his folly.
17 Ɔsomafoɔ mumuyɛfoɔ tɔ amaneɛ mu, nanso ɔnanmusini nokwafoɔ de abodwoɔ ba.
A wicked messenger falleth into unhappiness; but a faithful ambassador [bringeth] healing.
18 Deɛ ɔpo ntenesoɔ no kɔ ohia ne animguaseɛ mu, na deɛ ɔtie ntenesoɔ no, wɔhyɛ no animuonyam.
Poverty and disgrace will overtake him that rejecteth correction; but he that observeth admonition will be honored.
19 Akɔnnɔdeɛ a nsa aka ma ɔkra ani gye, nanso nkwaseafoɔ kyiri sɛ wɔtwe wɔn ho firi bɔne ho.
A desire accomplished is pleasant 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 will become wise; but he that associateth with fools will be destroyed.
21 Ɔhaw di ɔbɔnefoɔ akyi, na nkɔsoɔ yɛ teneneeni akatua.
Evil pursueth the sinners; but the righteous will [God] repay with happiness.
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; but the wealth of the sinner is treasured up for the righteous.
23 Ohiani afuom nnɔbaeɛ tumi ba pii, nanso ntɛnkyea pra kɔ.
Much food bringeth the new-tilled ground of the poor; but there are many others that are taken away through injustice.
24 Deɛ ɔkyɛe nʼabaa so no tane ne ba, na deɛ ɔdɔ no no hwɛ sɛ ɔbɛtene no.
He that withholdeth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chastiseth him betimes.
25 Teneneefoɔ didi ma wɔn akoma mee nanso, ɛkɔm de amumuyɛfoɔ.
The righteous eateth to satisfy his desire [to eat]; but the belly of the wicked always suffereth want.
