Mmɛbusɛm 13
1 Ɔba nyansafoɔ tie nʼagya nkyerɛkyerɛ; na ɔfɛdifoɔ ntie animka.
A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.
2 Nneɛma pa a ɛfiri onipa anom no ma no anigyeɛ, na wɔn a wɔnni nokorɛ no kɔn dɔ basabasayɛ.
By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave 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 guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
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 desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
5 Teneneefoɔ kyiri deɛ ɛnyɛ nokorɛ, nanso amumuyɛfoɔ de aniwuo ne ahohora ba.
A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.
6 Tenenee bɔ ɔnokwafoɔ ho ban, na amumuyɛsɛm tu ɔbɔnefoɔ gu.
Righteousness guards the way of integrity, 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 are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have 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 hear no threats.
9 Teneneefoɔ kanea hyerɛn pa ara, nanso wɔdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea.
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10 Ahantan de ntɔkwa nko ara na ɛba, na wɔhunu nyansa wɔ wɔn a wɔtie afutuo mu.
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice.
11 Ahonya a ɛnam kwammɔne soɔ no hwere ntɛm so, na deɛ ɔboa sika ano nkakrankakra no ma ɛdɔɔso.
Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
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 longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
13 Deɛ ɔtwiri ahyɛdeɛ no bɛtua so ka, nanso deɛ ɔde obuo ma mmara no, wɔma no akatua.
Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he 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 spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.
15 Nhunumu pa de adom ba, nanso atorofoɔ ɛkwan so yɛ den.
Good understanding wins favour, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 Ɔbadwemma biara yɛ nʼadeɛ wɔ nimdeɛ mu, nanso ɔkwasea da nʼagyimisɛm adi.
Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.
17 Ɔsomafoɔ mumuyɛfoɔ tɔ amaneɛ mu, nanso ɔnanmusini nokwafoɔ de abodwoɔ ba.
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains 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 refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honoured.
19 Akɔnnɔdeɛ a nsa aka ma ɔkra ani gye, nanso nkwaseafoɔ kyiri sɛ wɔtwe wɔn ho firi bɔne ho.
Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
20 Deɛ ɔne onyansafoɔ nante no hunu nyansa, na deɛ ɔne nkwaseafoɔ bɔ no hunu amane.
One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Ɔhaw di ɔbɔnefoɔ akyi, na nkɔsoɔ yɛ teneneeni akatua.
Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards 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 wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.
23 Ohiani afuom nnɔbaeɛ tumi ba pii, nanso ntɛnkyea pra kɔ.
An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.
24 Deɛ ɔkyɛe nʼabaa so no tane ne ba, na deɛ ɔdɔ no no hwɛ sɛ ɔbɛtene no.
One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
25 Teneneefoɔ didi ma wɔn akoma mee nanso, ɛkɔm de amumuyɛfoɔ.
The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
