Mmɛbusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm no yɛ sene ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa ɛkwan mu.
Better is the poor who walks in his simplicity, than the rich who twists his lips and is unwise.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nyɛ, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera ɛkwan nso nyɛ.
Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good. And whoever hurries with his feet will stumble.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso nʼakoma huru tia Awurade.
The foolishness of a man undermines his steps. And then he seethes in his soul against God.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gya no hɔ.
Riches add many friends. But from the pauper, even those whom he had become separated.
5 Adansekurumni bɛnya nʼakatua, na deɛ ɔtwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witness shall not go unpunished. And whoever speaks lies will not escape.
6 Nnipa pii pɛ adom firi sodifoɔ nkyɛn, na deɛ ɔkyɛ adeɛ yɛ obiara adamfo.
Many honor the character of one who is powerful, and there are friends for a giver of gifts.
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.
The brothers of the poor man hate him. Moreover, even his friends have withdrawn far from him. Whoever pursues only words shall have nothing.
8 Deɛ ɔnya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; deɛ ɔpɛ nhunumu no nya nkɔsoɔ.
But whoever possesses reason loves his own soul. And one who guards prudence shall discover good things.
9 Adansekurumni bɛnya asotwe, na deɛ ɔtwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witness shall not go unpunished. And whoever speaks lies will perish.
10 Akɛsesɛm mfata ɔkwasea, anaasɛ akoa bɛdi mmapɔmma so!
Fine things are not fitting for the foolish, nor is it fitting for a servant to rule over princes.
11 Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboaseɛ; sɛ ɔbu nʼani gu mfomsoɔ bi so a ɛhyɛ no animuonyam.
The doctrine of a man is known through patience. And his glory is to pass beyond iniquities.
12 Ɔhene abufuo te sɛ gyata mmobom, na nʼadom te sɛ ɛserɛ so bosuo.
Like the roaring of a lion, so also is the wrath of a king. And his cheerfulness is like the dew upon the grass.
13 Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛeɛ, ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ te sɛ nsusosɔ a ɛntwa da.
A foolish son is the grief of his father. And an argumentative wife is like a roof that is continually leaking.
14 Afie ne ahonyadeɛ yɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛfiri awofoɔ, na ɔyere nimdefoɔ firi Awurade.
A house and its riches are given by parents. But a prudent wife is particularly from the Lord.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɛkɔm de ɔkwadwofoɔ.
Laziness sends one into a deep sleep, and a dissolute soul will go hungry.
16 Deɛ ɔdi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na deɛ ɔgyaagyaa ne ho no bɛwu.
Whoever guards a commandment guards his own soul. But whoever neglects his own way will die.
17 Deɛ ɔyɛ adɔeɛ ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na ɔbɛtua no deɛ ɔyɛ no so ka.
Whoever is merciful to the poor lends to the Lord. And he will repay him for his efforts.
18 Tene wo ba, na ɛno mu na anidasoɔ wɔ, na ɛnyɛ wɔn a wɔde no kɔ owuo mu no mu baako.
Teach your son; do not despair. But do not set your soul toward putting him to death.
19 Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a nʼakoma ha no no tua so ka; sɛ woka ma no a wobɛyɛ bio.
Whoever is impatient will sustain damage. And when it has been taken away, he will set up another.
20 Tie afotuo na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awieeɛ no, wobɛhunu nyansa.
Listen to counsel and take up discipline, so that you may be wise in your latter days.
21 Nhyehyɛeɛ bebree wɔ onipa akoma mu, nanso deɛ Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
There are many intentions in the heart of a man. But the will of the Lord shall stand firm.
22 Deɛ onipa pɛ ne nokorɛ dɔ; ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sene sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofoɔ.
An indigent man is merciful. And a pauper is better than a deceitful man.
23 Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
The fear of the Lord is unto life. And he shall linger in plentitude, without being visited by disaster.
24 Ɔkwadwofoɔ nsa ka ayowaa mu na ɔremma so mpo nkɔ nʼano!
The lazy conceals his hand under his arm, and he will not so much as bring it to his mouth.
25 Twa ɔfɛdifoɔ mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu anim, na ɔbɛnya nimdeɛ.
When the pestilent are scourged, the foolish will become wiser. But if you chastise the wise, he will understand discipline.
26 Deɛ ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔno na ɔpamo ne maame no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwuo ne animguaseɛ ba.
Whoever afflicts his father and flees from his mother is disreputable and unhappy.
27 Me ba, sɛ wogyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛmane afiri nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
Son, do not cease listening to doctrine, and do not be ignorant of the sermons of knowledge.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntenenee ho fɛw; na omumuyɛfoɔ ano mene bɔne.
An unjust witness ridicules judgment. And the mouth of the impious devours iniquity.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛdifoɔ, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafoɔ akyi.
Judgments are prepared for those who ridicule. And striking hammers are prepared for the bodies of the foolish.
