Mmɛbusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm no yɛ sene ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa ɛkwan mu.
Better is a poor [man] that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nyɛ, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera ɛkwan nso nyɛ.
Also that a person be without knowledge is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet maketh false steps.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso nʼakoma huru tia Awurade.
The folly of man distorteth his way, and his heart is irritated against Jehovah.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gya no hɔ.
Wealth addeth many friends; but the poor is separated from his friend.
5 Adansekurumni bɛnya nʼakatua, na deɛ ɔtwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witness shall not be held innocent, and he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
6 Nnipa pii pɛ adom firi sodifoɔ nkyɛn, na deɛ ɔkyɛ adeɛ yɛ obiara adamfo.
Many court the favour of a noble; and every one is friend to a man that giveth.
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.
All the brethren of a poor [man] hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him: he pursueth [them] with words, — they are not [to be found].
8 Deɛ ɔnya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; deɛ ɔpɛ nhunumu no nya nkɔsoɔ.
He that getteth sense loveth his own soul; he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9 Adansekurumni bɛnya asotwe, na deɛ ɔtwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witness shall not be held innocent, and he that uttereth lies shall perish.
10 Akɛsesɛm mfata ɔkwasea, anaasɛ akoa bɛdi mmapɔmma so!
Good living beseemeth not a fool; how much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboaseɛ; sɛ ɔbu nʼani gu mfomsoɔ bi so a ɛhyɛ no animuonyam.
The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12 Ɔhene abufuo te sɛ gyata mmobom, na nʼadom te sɛ ɛserɛ so bosuo.
The king's displeasure is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
13 Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛeɛ, ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ te sɛ nsusosɔ a ɛntwa da.
A foolish son is the calamity of his father; and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14 Afie ne ahonyadeɛ yɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛfiri awofoɔ, na ɔyere nimdefoɔ firi Awurade.
House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers; but a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɛkɔm de ɔkwadwofoɔ.
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 Deɛ ɔdi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na deɛ ɔgyaagyaa ne ho no bɛwu.
He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; he that is careless of his ways shall die.
17 Deɛ ɔyɛ adɔeɛ ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na ɔbɛtua no deɛ ɔyɛ no so ka.
He that is gracious to the poor lendeth unto Jehovah; and what he hath bestowed will he repay unto him.
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, seeing there is hope; but set not thy soul upon killing him.
19 Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a nʼakoma ha no no tua so ka; sɛ woka ma no a wobɛyɛ bio.
A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment; for if thou deliver [him], yet thou must do it again.
20 Tie afotuo na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awieeɛ no, wobɛhunu nyansa.
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21 Nhyehyɛeɛ bebree wɔ onipa akoma mu, nanso deɛ Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
Many are the thoughts in a man's heart, but the counsel of Jehovah, that doth stand.
22 Deɛ onipa pɛ ne nokorɛ dɔ; ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sene sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofoɔ.
The charm of a man is his kindness; and a poor [man] is better than a liar.
23 Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
The fear of Jehovah [tendeth] to life, and he [that hath it] shall rest satisfied without being visited with evil.
24 Ɔkwadwofoɔ nsa ka ayowaa mu na ɔremma so mpo nkɔ nʼano!
A sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it to his mouth again.
25 Twa ɔfɛdifoɔ mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu anim, na ɔbɛnya nimdeɛ.
Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware; reprove the intelligent, and he will understand knowledge.
26 Deɛ ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔno na ɔpamo ne maame no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwuo ne animguaseɛ ba.
He that ruineth [his] father and chaseth away [his] mother is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
27 Me ba, sɛ wogyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛmane afiri nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
Cease, my son, to hear the instruction which causeth to stray from the words of knowledge.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntenenee ho fɛw; na omumuyɛfoɔ ano mene bɔne.
A witness of Belial scorneth judgment, and the mouth of the wicked swalloweth down iniquity.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛdifoɔ, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafoɔ akyi.
Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of the foolish.
