Mmɛbusɛm 15
1 Mmuaeɛ pa dwodwo abufuo, nanso asɛm a ano yɛ den hwanyane abufuo mu.
A soft answer turneth away fury; but a mortifying word stirreth up anger.
2 Onyansafoɔ tɛkrɛma yi nimdeɛ ayɛ, nanso ɔkwasea ano woro agyimisɛm.
The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge acceptable; but the mouth of fools sputtereth out folly.
3 Awurade ani hunu baabiara, na ɛhwɛ amumuyɛfoɔ ne apapafoɔ.
In every place are the eyes of the Lord, looking on the bad and the good.
4 Tɛkrɛma a ɛde abodwoɔ ba yɛ nkwa dua, nanso nnaadaa tɛkrɛma dwerɛ honhom.
A healing [word] of the tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a breach to the spirit.
5 Ɔkwasea mmfa nʼagya ntenesoɔ nyɛ hwee, na deɛ ɔtie ntenesoɔ no kyerɛ sɛ ɔyɛ ɔnitefoɔ.
A fool contemneth the correction of his father; but he that observeth admonition will become prudent.
6 Ahonya bebree wɔ ɔteneneeni fie, nanso amumuyɛfoɔ adenya de ɔhaw brɛ wɔn.
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure; but in the income of the wicked is trouble.
7 Anyansafoɔ ano trɛtrɛ nimdeɛ mu; nanso ɛnyɛ saa na nkwaseafoɔ akoma teɛ.
The lips of the wise scatter knowledge; but the heart of fools is not reliable.
8 Awurade kyiri amumuyɛfoɔ afɔrebɔ, nanso teefoɔ mpaeɛbɔ sɔ nʼani.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination of the Lord: but, the prayer of the upright [obtaineth] his favor.
9 Awurade kyiri amumuyɛfoɔ akwan, nanso ɔdɔ wɔn a wɔti tenenee.
An abomination of the Lord is the way of the wicked; but him that pursueth righteousness will he love.
10 Asotwe denden wɔ hɔ ma dea ɔmane firi ɛkwan no so, deɛ ɔtane ntenesoɔ no bɛwu.
An evil correction is [destined] for him that forsaketh the [right] path; he that hateth admonition will die.
The nether world and corruption are open before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men! (Sheol h7585)
12 Ɔfɛdifoɔ mpɛ ntenesoɔ; ɔnnkɔbisa anyansafoɔ hwee.
A scorner loveth not that one should admonish him: unto the wise doth he not go.
13 Anigyeɛ akoma ma anim yɛ seresere, na akoma a abotoɔ dwerɛ honhom.
A merry heart cheereth up the countenance; but when the heart feeleth pain the spirit is depressed.
14 Nhunumufoɔ akoma hwehwɛ nimdeɛ, nanso ɔkwasea ano ka agyimisɛm.
The heart of the man of understanding seeketh knowledge; but the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
15 Wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so nna nyinaa yɛ mmɔbɔmmɔbɔ, nanso anigyeɛ akoma wɔ daa ahosɛpɛ mu.
All the days of the afflicted are evil; but he that is of a cheerful heart hath a continual feast.
16 Ketewa bi a yɛnya a Awurade suro ka ho no yɛ sene ahonyadeɛ bebree a ɔhaw bata ho.
Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and confusion therewith.
17 Nhahamma aduane a ɔdɔ wɔ mu no yɛ sene nantwie sradenam a ɔtan bata ho.
Better is an allowance of herbs when love is there, than a stall-fed ox and hatred therewith.
18 Deɛ ne bo fu ntɛm de mpaapaemu ba, nanso deɛ ɔwɔ ntoboaseɛ pata ntɔkwa.
A man of fury stirreth up strife; but he that is slow to anger assuageth contention.
19 Nkasɛɛ ama onihafoɔ kwan asi, nanso teneneefoɔ kwan yɛ tempɔn.
The way of the slothful man is like a hedge of thorns; but the path of the upright is a levelled [road].
20 Ɔba nyansafoɔ ma nʼagya ani gye nanso ɔba kwasea bu ne maame animtiaa.
A wise son causeth his father to rejoice; but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
21 Agyimisɛm ma deɛ ɔnni adwene ani gye, nanso deɛ ɔwɔ nteaseɛ no fa ɛkwan a ɛtene so.
Folly is joy to him that is void of sense; but a man of understanding walketh straight forward.
22 Nhyehyɛeɛ a ɛnni afotuo no sɛe, nanso afotufoɔ bebree ma ɛyɛ yie.
Plans are frustrated without consultation; but through a multitude of counsellors canst thou maintain thyself.
23 Onipa a ɔma mmuaeɛ a ɛfata no ani gye, asɛm a ɛba berɛ pa mu no nso yɛ.
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and a word [spoken] at the proper time, how good is it!
The path of life [leadeth] upward for the intelligent, in order that he may avoid the nether world beneath. (Sheol h7585)
25 Awurade sɛe ɔhantanni fie na ɔma akunafoɔ ahyeɛ yɛ pɛpɛɛpɛ.
The Lord, will tear down the house of the proud; but he will set up firmly the boundary [-stone] of the widow.
26 Awurade kyiri amumuyɛfoɔ nsusuiɛ, nanso nʼani sɔ wɔn a wɔyɛ kronn no deɛ.
An abomination of the Lord are the thoughts of the bad man; but pleasant speeches are pure [before him].
27 Ɔdufudepɛfoɔ de ɔhaw brɛ nʼabusua, nanso deɛ ɔkyiri kɛtɛasehyɛ no bɛnya nkwa.
He that is greedy after gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts will live.
28 Ɔteneneeni akoma kari ne mmuaeɛ, nanso omumuyɛfoɔ ano woro bɔne.
The heart of the righteous reflecteth to answer; but the mouth of the wicked sputtereth out evil things.
29 Awurade mmɛn amumuyɛfoɔ koraa nanso ɔte ɔteneneeni mpaeɛbɔ.
The Lord is far from the wicked; but the prayer of the righteous doth he hear.
30 Animu a ɛteɛ ma akoma nya ahomeka, na asɛm pa ma nnompe ahoɔden.
[What is pleasant to] the light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: a good report giveth marrow to the bones.
31 Deɛ ɔtie animka a ɛma nkwa no ne anyansafoɔ bɛbɔ mu atena ase.
The ear that heareth the admonition of life will ever abide in the midst of the wise.
32 Deɛ ɔmfa ahohyɛsoɔ no bu ne ho animtiaa, na deɛ ɔtie ntenesoɔ no nya nhunumu.
He that rejecteth correction despiseth his own soul; but he that heareth admonition acquireth intelligence.
33 Awurade suro kyerɛ onipa nyansa, ahobrɛaseɛ di animuonyam anim.
The fear of the Lord is the correction for wisdom; and before honor there must come humility.
