Mmɛbusɛm 16
1 Akoma mu nhyehyɛeɛ yɛ onipa dea, na tɛkrɛma mmuaeɛ firi Awurade.
2 Ɛyɛ onipa sɛ nʼakwan nyinaa yɛ kronn nanso Awurade na ɔpɛɛpɛɛ adwene mu.
All the works of the humble [man] are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day.
3 Fa deɛ woyɛ nyinaa hyɛ Awurade nsam, na wo nhyehyɛeɛ bɛsi yie.
4 Awurade yɛ biribiara ma nʼankasa botaeɛ, mpo, ɔhwɛ omumuyɛfoɔ kɔsi amanehunu da.
5 Awurade kyiri akoma mu ahantanfoɔ nyinaa. Nya saa nteaseɛ yi sɛ, wɔremfa wɔn ho nni.
Every one that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes hands with hand shall not be held guiltless. The beginning of a good way is to do justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices. He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace. All of the works of the Lord [are done] with righteousness; and the ungodly [man] is kept for the evil day.
6 Wɔnam ɔdɔ ne nokorɛ so pata bɔne; onipa nam Awurade suro so yi bɔne akwa.
7 Sɛ onipa akwan sɔ Awurade ani a, ɔma nʼatamfoɔ mpo ne no tena asomdwoeɛ mu.
8 Kakraa bi a wɔnam tenenee kwan so nya no yɛ sene mfasoɔ pii a wɔnam ntɛnkyea so nya.
9 Onipa yɛ ne nhyehyɛeɛ wɔ nʼakoma mu, nanso Awurade na ɔhwɛ nʼanammɔntuo.
10 Ɔhene anomu kasa te sɛ nkɔmhyɛ, enti ɛnsɛ sɛ nʼano ka deɛ ɛnyɛ atɛntenenee.
[There is] an oracle upon the lips of a king; and his mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 Nsania ne abrammoɔ a nsisie nni mu firi Awurade; nkariboɔ a ɛwɔ kotokuo mu no, ɔno na ɔyɛeɛ.
The poise of the balance is righteousness with the Lord; and his works are righteous measures.
12 Ahemfo kyiri bɔneyɛ, ɛfiri sɛ ahennwa si tenenee so.
An evil-doer is an abomination to a king; for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.
13 Ahemfo ani sɔ ano a ɛka nokorɛ; na wɔbu onipa a ɔka nokorɛ.
Righteous lips are acceptable to a king; and he loves right words.
14 Ɔhene abufuhyeɛ yɛ owuo somafoɔ, nanso onyansafoɔ bɛdwodwo ano.
The anger of a king is a messenger of death; but a wise man will pacify him.
15 Sɛ ɔhene anim te a, ɛyɛ nkwa, nʼadom te sɛ osutɔberɛ mu osumuna.
The son of a king is in the light of life; and they that are in favor with him are as a cloud of latter rain.
16 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛnya nyansa sene sɛ wobɛnya sikakɔkɔɔ, sɛ wobɛnya nhunumu sene sɛ wobɛnya dwetɛ!
The brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence more to be chosen than silver.
17 Ɔteneneeni kwantempɔn kwati bɔne; deɛ ɔhwɛ nʼakwan yie no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban.
The paths of life turn aside from evil; and the ways of righteousness are length of life. He that receives instruction shall be in prosperity; and he that regards reproofs shall be made wise. He that keeps his ways, preserves his own soul; and he that loves his life will spare his mouth.
18 Ahantan di ɔsɛeɛ anim, na ahomasoɔ honhom nso di ahweaseɛ anim.
Pride goes before destruction, and folly before a fall.
19 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛyɛ honhom mu hiani wɔ wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so mu sene sɛ wo ne ahantanfoɔ bɛkyɛ afodeɛ.
Better is a meek-spirited [man] with lowliness, than one who divides spoils with the proud.
20 Deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsetie ma nkyerɛkyerɛ no nya nkɔsoɔ; nhyira nka deɛ ɔde ne ho to Awurade so.
[He who is] skillful in business finds good: but he that trusts in God is most blessed.
21 Wɔfrɛ akoma mu anyansafoɔ sɛ nhunumufoɔ, na kasa pa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
[Men] call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.
22 Nteaseɛ yɛ nkwa nsutire ma wɔn a wɔwɔ bi, nanso agyimisɛm de asotweɛ brɛ nkwaseafoɔ.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil.
23 Onyansafoɔ akoma kyerɛ nʼano kwan, na nʼanofafa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
The heart of the wise will discern the [things which proceed] from his own mouth; and on his lips he will wear knowledge.
24 Abodwosɛm te sɛ ɛwokyɛm ɛyɛ ɔkra dɛ, na ɛsa nnompe yadeɛ.
Good words are honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.
25 Ɛkwan bi wɔ hɔ a ɛyɛ wɔ onipa ani so, nanso ɛkɔwie owuo mu.
There are ways that seem to be right to a man, but the end of them looks to the depth of hell. (questioned)
26 Odwumayɛfoɔ akɔnnɔ ma no yɛ adwuma den; ɛfiri sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔkum ne kɔm.
A man who labors, labors for himself, and drives from [him] his own ruin.
27 Ohuhuni bɔ pɔ bɔne, ne kasa te sɛ egyadɛreɛ a ɛhye adeɛ.
But the perverse bears destruction upon his own mouth: a foolish man digs up evil for himself, and treasures fire on his own lips.
28 Onipa kɔntɔnkye de mpaapaemu ba, na osekuni tete nnamfonom ntam.
A perverse man spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he separates friends.
29 Basabasayɛni daadaa ne yɔnko na ɔde no fa ɛkwammɔne so.
A transgressor tries [to ensnare] friends, and leads them in ways [that are] not good.
30 Deɛ ɔbu nʼani no redwene bɔneyɛ ho; na deɛ ɔmua nʼano no ani wɔ bɔne so.
And the man that fixes his eyes devises perverse things, and marks out with his lips all evil: he is a furnace of wickedness.
31 Ɛdwono yɛ animuonyam abotire; tenenee mu asetena na ɛde ba.
Old age is a crown of honor, but it is found in the ways of righteousness.
32 Deɛ ɔwɔ abodwokyerɛ no yɛ sene ɔkofoɔ, na deɛ ɔmfa abufuo yɛ sene deɛ ɔko fa kuropɔn.
A man slow to anger is better than a strong [man]; and he that governs [his] temper better than he that takes a city.
33 Wɔtwe ntonto de hwehwɛ deɛ Awurade pɛ, nanso ne gyinasie biara firi Awurade.
All [evils] come upon the ungodly into [their] bosoms; but all righteous things [come] of the Lord.
