Mmɛbusɛm 14
1 Ɔbaa nyansafoɔ si ne dan, nanso ɔbaa kwasea de nʼankasa ne nsa dwiri ne deɛ gu fam.
The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.
2 Deɛ ne nanteɛ tene no suro Awurade, na deɛ nʼakwan kyea no bu no animtiaa.
In his uprightness walketh he that feareth the Lord; but perverse in his ways is he that despiseth him.
3 Ɔkwasea kasa ma wɔbɔ nʼakyi abaa, nanso anyansafoɔ ano bɔ wɔn ho ban.
In the mouth of the foolish is a stick [for his] pride; but the lips of the wise will 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, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through the strength of the ox.
5 Ɔdanseni nokwafoɔ rennaadaa, ɔdansekurumni hwie atorɔ gu hɔ.
A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness constantly uttereth lies.
6 Ɔfɛdifoɔ hwehwɛ nyansa nanso ɔnnya, nanso wɔn a wɔwɔ nhunumu nya nimdeɛ ntɛm.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
7 Twe wo ho firi ɔkwasea ho, ɛfiri sɛ, worennya nimdeɛ mfiri nʼano.
Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know the lips of knowledge.
8 Anitefoɔ nyansa ne sɛ wɔbɛdwene wɔn akwan ho, na nkwaseafoɔ agyimisɛm yɛ nnaadaa.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Nkwaseafoɔ de bɔne ho adwensakyera di fɛ, na wɔn a wɔtene mu na anisɔ wɔ.
The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.
10 Akoma biara nim ɔyea ɛwɔ ne mu, na obi foforɔ rentumi ne no nkyɛ nʼanigyeɛ.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.
11 Wɔbɛsɛe mumuyɛfoɔ efie, nanso teefoɔ ntomadan bɛyɛ frɔmm.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 Ɛkwan bi wɔ hɔ a ɛyɛ wɔ onipa ani so, nanso ɛkɔwie owuo mu.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.
13 Ɔsereɛ mu mpo, akoma tumi di yea, na anigyeɛ tumi wie awerɛhoɔ.
Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.
14 Akyirisanfoɔ bɛnya akatua sɛdeɛ wɔn akwan teɛ, na onipa pa nso bɛnya ne deɛ.
The backslider in heart will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.
15 Atetekwaa gye biribiara di, nanso ɔnitefoɔ dwene nʼanammɔntuo ho.
The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man understandeth his steps.
16 Onyansafoɔ suro Awurade na ɔdwane bɔne, nanso ɔkwasea yɛ asowuiɛ ne basabasa.
A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, and is confident.
17 Onipa a ne bo nkyɛre fuo no yɛ nkwaseadeɛ, na deɛ ɔpam apammɔne no, wɔtane no.
He that is soon angry committeth folly; and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 Ntetekwaafoɔ agyapadeɛ ne gyimie, na wɔde nimdeɛ bɔ anitefoɔ abotire.
The simple inherit folly; but the prudent crown themselves with knowledge.
19 Nnipa bɔnefoɔ bɛkoto nnipa pa anim, na amumuyɛfoɔ akoto ateneneefoɔ apono ano.
The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are at the gates of the righteous.
20 Ahiafoɔ deɛ, wɔn ayɔnkofoɔ mpo mpɛ wɔn anim ahwɛ, nanso adefoɔ wɔ nnamfonom bebree.
Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; 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 despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!
22 Wɔn a wɔbɔ pɔ bɔne nyera ɛkwan anaa? Nanso wɔn a wɔhyehyɛ deɛ ɛyɛ no nya adɔeɛ ne nokorɛ.
Behold, those who contrive evil are in error; but kindness and truth attend on those who contrive what is good.
23 Adwumadenyɛ nyinaa de mfasoɔ ba, na kasa hunu deɛ, ɛkɔ ohia mu.
In all painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.
24 Anyansafoɔ ahonya ne wɔn abotire, na nkwaseafoɔ agyimisɛm so gyimie aba.
The crown of the wise is their riches; but the folly of fools is [only] folly.
25 Ɔdanseni nokwafoɔ gye nkwa, nanso ɔdansekurumni yɛ ɔdaadaafoɔ.
A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth lies.
26 Deɛ ɔsuro Awurade no wɔ banbɔ a emu yɛ den, na ɛbɛyɛ dwanekɔbea ama ne mma.
In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.
27 Awurade suro yɛ nkwa asutire, ɛyi onipa firi owuo afidie mu.
The fear of the Lord is the source of life, [teaching] to avoid the snares of death.
28 Ɔman mu nnipa dodoɔ yɛ ɔhene animuonyam, nanso sɛ asomfoɔ nni hɔ a mmapɔmma no sɛe.
In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of a population is the downfall of the prince.
29 Onipa a ɔwɔ abodwokyerɛ wɔ nteaseɛ a emu dɔ, na deɛ ne bo fu ntɛm no da agyimisɛm adi.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.
30 Akoma mu asomdwoeɛ ma onipadua nkwa, na anibereɛ ma nnompe porɔ.
A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 Deɛ ɔhyɛ ahiafoɔ soɔ no bu wɔn Yɛfoɔ animtiaa, nanso deɛ ɔhunu ohiani mmɔbɔ no hyɛ Onyankopɔn animuonyam.
He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.
32 Sɛ amanehunu ba a amumuyɛfoɔ hwe ase, nanso owuo mu mpo teneneefoɔ wɔ dwanekɔbea.
Through his own evil is the wicked thrust down; but even in his death doth the righteous have confidence.
33 Nyansa te nteaseɛ akoma mu, na nkwaseafoɔ mu mpo, ɔyi ne ho adi.
In the heart of the man of understanding resteth wisdom: but [the little which is] in the bosom of fools is made known.
34 Tenenee pagya ɔman na bɔne yɛ animguaseɛ ma nnipa biara.
Righteousness exalteth a people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.
35 Ɔhene ani sɔ ɔsomfoɔ nyansani, na ɔsomfoɔ nimguaseni hyɛ no abufuo.
The king's favor is bestowed on an intelligent servant; but his wrath is against him that deserveth shame.
