Mmɛbusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm no yɛ sene ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa ɛkwan mu.
Better is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a rich man that is perverse in his lips, and 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 he that is hasty with his feet shall stumble.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso nʼakoma huru tia Awurade.
The folly of a man supplanteth his seeps: and he fretteth in his mind against God.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gya no hɔ.
Riches make many friends: but from the poor man, even they whom he had, depart.
5 Adansekurumni bɛnya nʼakatua, na deɛ ɔtwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
6 Nnipa pii pɛ adom firi sodifoɔ nkyɛn, na deɛ ɔkyɛ adeɛ yɛ obiara adamfo.
Many honour the person of him that is mighty, and are friends of him that giveth 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 brethren of the poor man hate him: moreover also his friends have departed far from him. He that followeth after words only, shall have nothing.
8 Deɛ ɔnya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; deɛ ɔpɛ nhunumu no nya nkɔsoɔ.
But he that possesseth a mind, loveth his own soul, and he that keepeth prudence shall find good things.
9 Adansekurumni bɛnya asotwe, na deɛ ɔtwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall perish.
10 Akɛsesɛm mfata ɔkwasea, anaasɛ akoa bɛdi mmapɔmma so!
Delicacies are not seemly for a fool: nor 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 learning of a man is known by patience and his glory is to pass over wrongs.
12 Ɔhene abufuo te sɛ gyata mmobom, na nʼadom te sɛ ɛserɛ so bosuo.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the anger of a king: and his cheerfulness as 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 a wrangling wife is like a roof continually dropping through.
14 Afie ne ahonyadeɛ yɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛfiri awofoɔ, na ɔyere nimdefoɔ firi Awurade.
House and riches are given by parents: but a prudent wife is properly from the Lord.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɛkɔm de ɔkwadwofoɔ.
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an 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 own soul: but he that neglecteth his own way, shall die.
17 Deɛ ɔyɛ adɔeɛ ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na ɔbɛtua no deɛ ɔyɛ no so ka.
He that hath mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord: and he will repay him.
18 Tene wo ba, na ɛno mu na anidasoɔ wɔ, na ɛnyɛ wɔn a wɔde no kɔ owuo mu no mu baako.
Chastise thy son, despair not: but to the killing of him set not thy soul.
19 Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a nʼakoma ha no no tua so ka; sɛ woka ma no a wobɛyɛ bio.
He that is impatient, shall suffer damage: and when he shall take away he shall add another thing.
20 Tie afotuo na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awieeɛ no, wobɛhunu nyansa.
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayst be wise in thy latter end.
21 Nhyehyɛeɛ bebree wɔ onipa akoma mu, nanso deɛ Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
There are many thoughts 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.
A needy man is merciful: and better is the poor than the lying 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 abide in fulness without being visited with evil.
24 Ɔkwadwofoɔ nsa ka ayowaa mu na ɔremma so mpo nkɔ nʼano!
The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and 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.
The wicked man being; scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if thou rebuke a wise man he will understand discipline.
26 Deɛ ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔno na ɔpamo ne maame no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwuo ne animguaseɛ ba.
He that afflicteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is infamous and unhappy.
27 Me ba, sɛ wogyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛmane afiri nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
Cease not, O my son, to hear instruction, and be not ignorant of the words of knowledge.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntenenee ho fɛw; na omumuyɛfoɔ ano mene bɔne.
An unjust witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛdifoɔ, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafoɔ akyi.
Judgments are prepared for scorners: and striking hammers for the bodies of fools.
