Mmɛbusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm no yɛ sene ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa ɛkwan mu.
The folly of a man spoils his ways: and he blames God in his heart.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nyɛ, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera ɛkwan nso nyɛ.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso nʼakoma huru tia Awurade.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gya no hɔ.
Wealth acquires many friends; but the poor is deserted even of the friend he has.
5 Adansekurumni bɛnya nʼakatua, na deɛ ɔtwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that accuses unjustly shall not escape.
6 Nnipa pii pɛ adom firi sodifoɔ nkyɛn, na deɛ ɔkyɛ adeɛ yɛ obiara adamfo.
Many court the favour of kings; but every bad man becomes a reproach to [another] man.
7 Ohiani abusuafoɔ nyinaa po no, na saa ara na ne nnamfonom po no! Mpo ɔhwehwɛ wɔn pɛ sɛ ɔpa wɔn kyɛw, nanso ɔnhunu wɔn baabiara.
Every one who hates [his] poor brother shall also be far from friendship. Good understanding will draw near to them that know it, and a sensible man will find it. He that does much harm perfects mischief; and he that used provoking words shall not escape.
8 Deɛ ɔnya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; deɛ ɔpɛ nhunumu no nya nkɔsoɔ.
He that procures wisdom loves himself; and he that keeps wisdom shall find good.
9 Adansekurumni bɛnya asotwe, na deɛ ɔtwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witness shall not be unpunished; and whosoever shall kindle mischief shall perish by it.
10 Akɛsesɛm mfata ɔkwasea, anaasɛ akoa bɛdi mmapɔmma so!
Delight does not suit a fool, nor [is it seemly] if a servant should begin to rule with haughtiness.
11 Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboaseɛ; sɛ ɔbu nʼani gu mfomsoɔ bi so a ɛhyɛ no animuonyam.
A merciful man is long-suffering; and his triumph overtakes transgressors.
12 Ɔhene abufuo te sɛ gyata mmobom, na nʼadom te sɛ ɛserɛ so bosuo.
The threatening of a king is like the roaring of a lion; but as dew on the grass, so is his favour.
13 Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛeɛ, ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ te sɛ nsusosɔ a ɛntwa da.
A foolish son is a disgrace to his father: vows [paid out] of the hire of a harlot are not pure.
14 Afie ne ahonyadeɛ yɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛfiri awofoɔ, na ɔyere nimdefoɔ firi Awurade.
Fathers divide house and substance to [their] children: but a wife is suited to a man by the Lord.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɛkɔm de ɔkwadwofoɔ.
Cowardice possesses the effeminate [man]; and the soul of the sluggard shall hunger.
16 Deɛ ɔdi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na deɛ ɔgyaagyaa ne ho no bɛwu.
He that keeps the commandment keeps his own soul; but he that despises his ways shall perish.
17 Deɛ ɔyɛ adɔeɛ ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na ɔbɛtua no deɛ ɔyɛ no so ka.
He that has pity on the poor lends to the Lord; and he will recompense to him according to his gift.
18 Tene wo ba, na ɛno mu na anidasoɔ wɔ, na ɛnyɛ wɔn a wɔde no kɔ owuo mu no mu baako.
Chasten thy son, for so he shall be hopeful; and be not exalted in thy soul to haughtiness.
19 Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a nʼakoma ha no no tua so ka; sɛ woka ma no a wobɛyɛ bio.
A malicious man shall be severely punished, and if he commit injury, he shall also lose his life.
20 Tie afotuo na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awieeɛ no, wobɛhunu nyansa.
Hear, son, the instruction of thy father, that thou mayest be wise at thy latter end.
21 Nhyehyɛeɛ bebree wɔ onipa akoma mu, nanso deɛ Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
[There are] many thoughts in a man's heart; but the counsel of the Lord abides for ever.
22 Deɛ onipa pɛ ne nokorɛ dɔ; ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sene sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofoɔ.
Mercy is a fruit to a man: and a poor man is better than a rich liar.
23 Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
The fear of the Lord is life to a man: and he shall lodge without fear in places where knowledge is not seen.
24 Ɔkwadwofoɔ nsa ka ayowaa mu na ɔremma so mpo nkɔ nʼano!
He that unjustly hides his hands in his bosom, will not even [bring] them up to his mouth.
25 Twa ɔfɛdifoɔ mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu anim, na ɔbɛnya nimdeɛ.
When a pestilent character is scourged, a simple man is made wiser: and if thou reprove a wise man, he will understand discretion.
26 Deɛ ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔno na ɔpamo ne maame no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwuo ne animguaseɛ ba.
He that dishonours his father, and drives away his mother, shall be disgraced and shall be exposed to reproach.
27 Me ba, sɛ wogyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛmane afiri nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
A son who ceases to attend to the instruction of a father will cherish evil designs.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntenenee ho fɛw; na omumuyɛfoɔ ano mene bɔne.
He that becomes surety for a foolish child will despise the ordinance: and the mouth of ungodly men shall drink down judgment.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛdifoɔ, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafoɔ akyi.
Scourges are preparing for the intemperate, and punishments likewise for fools.
