Mmɛbusɛm 14
1 Ɔbaa nyansafoɔ si ne dan, nanso ɔbaa kwasea de nʼankasa ne nsa dwiri ne deɛ gu fam.
Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
2 Deɛ ne nanteɛ tene no suro Awurade, na deɛ nʼakwan kyea no bu no animtiaa.
He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonored.
3 Ɔkwasea kasa ma wɔbɔ nʼakyi abaa, nanso anyansafoɔ ano bɔ wɔn ho ban.
Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Baabi a anantwie nni no, adididaka no mu da mpan, na ɔnantwie ahoɔden mu na nnɔbaeɛ pii firi ba.
Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
5 Ɔdanseni nokwafoɔ rennaadaa, ɔdansekurumni hwie atorɔ gu hɔ.
A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
6 Ɔfɛdifoɔ hwehwɛ nyansa nanso ɔnnya, nanso wɔn a wɔwɔ nhunumu nya nimdeɛ ntɛm.
You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
7 Twe wo ho firi ɔkwasea ho, ɛfiri sɛ, worennya nimdeɛ mfiri nʼano.
All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
8 Anitefoɔ nyansa ne sɛ wɔbɛdwene wɔn akwan ho, na nkwaseafoɔ agyimisɛm yɛ nnaadaa.
The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
9 Nkwaseafoɔ de bɔne ho adwensakyera di fɛ, na wɔn a wɔtene mu na anisɔ wɔ.
The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
10 Akoma biara nim ɔyea ɛwɔ ne mu, na obi foforɔ rentumi ne no nkyɛ nʼanigyeɛ.
[If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
11 Wɔbɛsɛe mumuyɛfoɔ efie, nanso teefoɔ ntomadan bɛyɛ frɔmm.
The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
12 Ɛkwan bi wɔ hɔ a ɛyɛ wɔ onipa ani so, nanso ɛkɔwie owuo mu.
There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it reach to the depths of hell. (questioned)
13 Ɔsereɛ mu mpo, akoma tumi di yea, na anigyeɛ tumi wie awerɛhoɔ.
Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
14 Akyirisanfoɔ bɛnya akatua sɛdeɛ wɔn akwan teɛ, na onipa pa nso bɛnya ne deɛ.
A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
15 Atetekwaa gye biribiara di, nanso ɔnitefoɔ dwene nʼanammɔntuo ho.
The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
16 Onyansafoɔ suro Awurade na ɔdwane bɔne, nanso ɔkwasea yɛ asowuiɛ ne basabasa.
A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
17 Onipa a ne bo nkyɛre fuo no yɛ nkwaseadeɛ, na deɛ ɔpam apammɔne no, wɔtane no.
A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
18 Ntetekwaafoɔ agyapadeɛ ne gyimie, na wɔde nimdeɛ bɔ anitefoɔ abotire.
Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
19 Nnipa bɔnefoɔ bɛkoto nnipa pa anim, na amumuyɛfoɔ akoto ateneneefoɔ apono ano.
Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
20 Ahiafoɔ deɛ, wɔn ayɔnkofoɔ mpo mpɛ wɔn anim ahwɛ, nanso adefoɔ wɔ nnamfonom bebree.
Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 Deɛ ɔbu ne yɔnko animtiaa yɛ bɔne, na nhyira nka deɛ ne yam yɛ ma onnibie.
He that dishonors the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
22 Wɔn a wɔbɔ pɔ bɔne nyera ɛkwan anaa? Nanso wɔn a wɔhyehyɛ deɛ ɛyɛ no nya adɔeɛ ne nokorɛ.
They that go astray devise evils: but the good devise mercy and truth. The framers of evil do not understand mercy and truth: but compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.
23 Adwumadenyɛ nyinaa de mfasoɔ ba, na kasa hunu deɛ, ɛkɔ ohia mu.
With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
24 Anyansafoɔ ahonya ne wɔn abotire, na nkwaseafoɔ agyimisɛm so gyimie aba.
A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
25 Ɔdanseni nokwafoɔ gye nkwa, nanso ɔdansekurumni yɛ ɔdaadaafoɔ.
A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
26 Deɛ ɔsuro Awurade no wɔ banbɔ a emu yɛ den, na ɛbɛyɛ dwanekɔbea ama ne mma.
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
27 Awurade suro yɛ nkwa asutire, ɛyi onipa firi owuo afidie mu.
The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
28 Ɔman mu nnipa dodoɔ yɛ ɔhene animuonyam, nanso sɛ asomfoɔ nni hɔ a mmapɔmma no sɛe.
In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
29 Onipa a ɔwɔ abodwokyerɛ wɔ nteaseɛ a emu dɔ, na deɛ ne bo fu ntɛm no da agyimisɛm adi.
A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
30 Akoma mu asomdwoeɛ ma onipadua nkwa, na anibereɛ ma nnompe porɔ.
A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
31 Deɛ ɔhyɛ ahiafoɔ soɔ no bu wɔn Yɛfoɔ animtiaa, nanso deɛ ɔhunu ohiani mmɔbɔ no hyɛ Onyankopɔn animuonyam.
He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honors him has pity upon the poor.
32 Sɛ amanehunu ba a amumuyɛfoɔ hwe ase, nanso owuo mu mpo teneneefoɔ wɔ dwanekɔbea.
The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
33 Nyansa te nteaseɛ akoma mu, na nkwaseafoɔ mu mpo, ɔyi ne ho adi.
There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
34 Tenenee pagya ɔman na bɔne yɛ animguaseɛ ma nnipa biara.
Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
35 Ɔhene ani sɔ ɔsomfoɔ nyansani, na ɔsomfoɔ nimguaseni hyɛ no abufuo.
An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behavior he removes disgrace.
