Mmɛbusɛm 16
1 Akoma mu nhyehyɛeɛ yɛ onipa dea, na tɛkrɛma mmuaeɛ firi Awurade.
Unto man belong the resolves of the heart; but from the Lord cometh the expression of the tongue.
2 Ɛyɛ onipa sɛ nʼakwan nyinaa yɛ kronn nanso Awurade na ɔpɛɛpɛɛ adwene mu.
Every one of the ways of a man is pure in his own eyes; but the Lord measureth the spirits.
3 Fa deɛ woyɛ nyinaa hyɛ Awurade nsam, na wo nhyehyɛeɛ bɛsi yie.
Commit unto the Lord thy works, and thy plans will be firmly established.
4 Awurade yɛ biribiara ma nʼankasa botaeɛ, mpo, ɔhwɛ omumuyɛfoɔ kɔsi amanehunu da.
Every thing hath the Lord wrought for its destined end; yes, even the wicked for the day of unhappiness.
5 Awurade kyiri akoma mu ahantanfoɔ nyinaa. Nya saa nteaseɛ yi sɛ, wɔremfa wɔn ho nni.
An abomination of the Lord is every one that is proud of heart: the hand [of God] being against [his] hand, he shall not go unpunished.
6 Wɔnam ɔdɔ ne nokorɛ so pata bɔne; onipa nam Awurade suro so yi bɔne akwa.
Through kindness and truth is iniquity atoned for; and by the fear of the Lord [men] depart from evil.
7 Sɛ onipa akwan sɔ Awurade ani a, ɔma nʼatamfoɔ mpo ne no tena asomdwoeɛ mu.
When the Lord receiveth in favor a man's ways, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Kakraa bi a wɔnam tenenee kwan so nya no yɛ sene mfasoɔ pii a wɔnam ntɛnkyea so nya.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great incomes through injustice.
9 Onipa yɛ ne nhyehyɛeɛ wɔ nʼakoma mu, nanso Awurade na ɔhwɛ nʼanammɔntuo.
A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth firmly his steps.
10 Ɔhene anomu kasa te sɛ nkɔmhyɛ, enti ɛnsɛ sɛ nʼano ka deɛ ɛnyɛ atɛntenenee.
There should be a wise sentence on the lips of the king: his mouth should never commit a trespass in judging.
11 Nsania ne abrammoɔ a nsisie nni mu firi Awurade; nkariboɔ a ɛwɔ kotokuo mu no, ɔno na ɔyɛeɛ.
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord: his work are all the weights in the bag.
12 Ahemfo kyiri bɔneyɛ, ɛfiri sɛ ahennwa si tenenee so.
It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for through righteousness [alone] can a throne be established.
13 Ahemfo ani sɔ ano a ɛka nokorɛ; na wɔbu onipa a ɔka nokorɛ.
Righteous lips [should obtain] the favor of kings; and him that speaketh uprightly should they love.
14 Ɔhene abufuhyeɛ yɛ owuo somafoɔ, nanso onyansafoɔ bɛdwodwo ano.
The fury of a king is like the messengers of death; but a wise man will appease it.
15 Sɛ ɔhene anim te a, ɛyɛ nkwa, nʼadom te sɛ osutɔberɛ mu osumuna.
In the light of the king's countenance there is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛnya nyansa sene sɛ wobɛnya sikakɔkɔɔ, sɛ wobɛnya nhunumu sene sɛ wobɛnya dwetɛ!
How much better is it to obtain wisdom than gold! and to obtain understanding is preferable to silver!
17 Ɔteneneeni kwantempɔn kwati bɔne; deɛ ɔhwɛ nʼakwan yie no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he preserveth his soul that watcheth his way.
18 Ahantan di ɔsɛeɛ anim, na ahomasoɔ honhom nso di ahweaseɛ anim.
Before downfall [goeth] pride, and before stumbling, haughtiness of spirit.
19 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛyɛ honhom mu hiani wɔ wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so mu sene sɛ wo ne ahantanfoɔ bɛkyɛ afodeɛ.
Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide spoil with the proud.
20 Deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsetie ma nkyerɛkyerɛ no nya nkɔsoɔ; nhyira nka deɛ ɔde ne ho to Awurade so.
He that reflecteth on a matter wisely will find happiness; and whoso trusteth in the Lord—happiness attend him!
21 Wɔfrɛ akoma mu anyansafoɔ sɛ nhunumufoɔ, na kasa pa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth information.
22 Nteaseɛ yɛ nkwa nsutire ma wɔn a wɔwɔ bi, nanso agyimisɛm de asotweɛ brɛ nkwaseafoɔ.
Intelligence is a source of life unto its possessor; but the correction of fools is folly.
23 Onyansafoɔ akoma kyerɛ nʼano kwan, na nʼanofafa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips he increaseth information.
24 Abodwosɛm te sɛ ɛwokyɛm ɛyɛ ɔkra dɛ, na ɛsa nnompe yadeɛ.
[Like] the droppings of honey are pleasant sayings, sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.
25 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 the ways unto death.
26 Odwumayɛfoɔ akɔnnɔ ma no yɛ adwuma den; ɛfiri sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔkum ne kɔm.
The desire of the laborer laboreth for him; for his mouth imposeth it on him.
27 Ohuhuni bɔ pɔ bɔne, ne kasa te sɛ egyadɛreɛ a ɛhye adeɛ.
An ungodly man diggeth up mischief, and on his lips there is as it were a scathing fire.
28 Onipa kɔntɔnkye de mpaapaemu ba, na osekuni tete nnamfonom ntam.
A perverse man scattereth strife; and a whisperer separateth confident friends.
29 Basabasayɛni daadaa ne yɔnko na ɔde no fa ɛkwammɔne so.
The man of violence misleadeth his neighbor, and maketh him go on a way which is not good.
30 Deɛ ɔbu nʼani no redwene bɔneyɛ ho; na deɛ ɔmua nʼano no ani wɔ bɔne so.
He shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things: when he compresseth his lips then hath he fully resolved on evil.
31 Ɛdwono yɛ animuonyam abotire; tenenee mu asetena na ɛde ba.
An ornamental crown is the hoary head, on the way of righteousness can it be found.
32 Deɛ ɔwɔ abodwokyerɛ no yɛ sene ɔkofoɔ, na deɛ ɔmfa abufuo yɛ sene deɛ ɔko fa kuropɔn.
One that is slow to anger is better than a hero; and he that ruleth his spirit, than the conqueror of a city.
33 Wɔtwe ntonto de hwehwɛ deɛ Awurade pɛ, nanso ne gyinasie biara firi Awurade.
In the lap the lot is cast: but from the Lord cometh the whole of its decision.
