Mmɛbusɛm 14
1 Ɔbaa nyansafoɔ si ne dan, nanso ɔbaa kwasea de nʼankasa ne nsa dwiri ne deɛ gu fam.
Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 Deɛ ne nanteɛ tene no suro Awurade, na deɛ nʼakwan kyea no bu no animtiaa.
He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
3 Ɔkwasea kasa ma wɔbɔ nʼakyi abaa, nanso anyansafoɔ ano bɔ wɔn ho ban.
The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect 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 crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 Ɔdanseni nokwafoɔ rennaadaa, ɔdansekurumni hwie atorɔ gu hɔ.
A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
6 Ɔfɛdifoɔ hwehwɛ nyansa nanso ɔnnya, nanso wɔn a wɔwɔ nhunumu nya nimdeɛ ntɛm.
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
7 Twe wo ho firi ɔkwasea ho, ɛfiri sɛ, worennya nimdeɛ mfiri nʼano.
Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
8 Anitefoɔ nyansa ne sɛ wɔbɛdwene wɔn akwan ho, na nkwaseafoɔ agyimisɛm yɛ nnaadaa.
The wisdom of the prudent is to think about 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.
Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but amongst the upright there is good will.
10 Akoma biara nim ɔyea ɛwɔ ne mu, na obi foforɔ rentumi ne no nkyɛ nʼanigyeɛ.
The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
11 Wɔbɛsɛe mumuyɛfoɔ efie, nanso teefoɔ ntomadan bɛyɛ frɔmm.
The house of the wicked will be overthrown, 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 a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Ɔsereɛ mu mpo, akoma tumi di yea, na anigyeɛ tumi wie awerɛhoɔ.
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
14 Akyirisanfoɔ bɛnya akatua sɛdeɛ wɔn akwan teɛ, na onipa pa nso bɛnya ne deɛ.
The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
15 Atetekwaa gye biribiara di, nanso ɔnitefoɔ dwene nʼanammɔntuo ho.
A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
16 Onyansafoɔ suro Awurade na ɔdwane bɔne, nanso ɔkwasea yɛ asowuiɛ ne basabasa.
A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
17 Onipa a ne bo nkyɛre fuo no yɛ nkwaseadeɛ, na deɛ ɔpam apammɔne no, wɔtane no.
He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.
18 Ntetekwaafoɔ agyapadeɛ ne gyimie, na wɔde nimdeɛ bɔ anitefoɔ abotire.
The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Nnipa bɔnefoɔ bɛkoto nnipa pa anim, na amumuyɛfoɔ akoto ateneneefoɔ apono ano.
The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 Ahiafoɔ deɛ, wɔn ayɔnkofoɔ mpo mpɛ wɔn anim ahwɛ, nanso adefoɔ wɔ nnamfonom bebree.
The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbour, but the rich person has many friends.
21 Deɛ ɔbu ne yɔnko animtiaa yɛ bɔne, na nhyira nka deɛ ne yam yɛ ma onnibie.
He who despises his neighbour sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.
22 Wɔn a wɔbɔ pɔ bɔne nyera ɛkwan anaa? Nanso wɔn a wɔhyehyɛ deɛ ɛyɛ no nya adɔeɛ ne nokorɛ.
Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 Adwumadenyɛ nyinaa de mfasoɔ ba, na kasa hunu deɛ, ɛkɔ ohia mu.
In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
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 crowns them with folly.
25 Ɔdanseni nokwafoɔ gye nkwa, nanso ɔdansekurumni yɛ ɔdaadaafoɔ.
A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
26 Deɛ ɔsuro Awurade no wɔ banbɔ a emu yɛ den, na ɛbɛyɛ dwanekɔbea ama ne mma.
In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
27 Awurade suro yɛ nkwa asutire, ɛyi onipa firi owuo afidie mu.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning people from 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 lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 Onipa a ɔwɔ abodwokyerɛ wɔ nteaseɛ a emu dɔ, na deɛ ne bo fu ntɛm no da agyimisɛm adi.
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30 Akoma mu asomdwoeɛ ma onipadua nkwa, na anibereɛ ma nnompe porɔ.
The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
31 Deɛ ɔhyɛ ahiafoɔ soɔ no bu wɔn Yɛfoɔ animtiaa, nanso deɛ ɔhunu ohiani mmɔbɔ no hyɛ Onyankopɔn animuonyam.
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honours him.
32 Sɛ amanehunu ba a amumuyɛfoɔ hwe ase, nanso owuo mu mpo teneneefoɔ wɔ dwanekɔbea.
The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
33 Nyansa te nteaseɛ akoma mu, na nkwaseafoɔ mu mpo, ɔyi ne ho adi.
Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
34 Tenenee pagya ɔman na bɔne yɛ animguaseɛ ma nnipa biara.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 Ɔhene ani sɔ ɔsomfoɔ nyansani, na ɔsomfoɔ nimguaseni hyɛ no abufuo.
The king’s favour is towards a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is towards one who causes shame.
