Mmɛbusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm no yɛ sene ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa ɛkwan mu.
Better is the poore that walketh in his vprightnes, then he that abuseth his lips, and is a foole.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nyɛ, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera ɛkwan nso nyɛ.
For without knowledge the minde is not good, and he that hasteth with his feete, sinneth.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso nʼakoma huru tia Awurade.
The foolishnesse of a man peruerteth his way, and his heart freateth against the Lord.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gya no hɔ.
Riches gather many friends: but the poore is separated from his neighbour.
5 Adansekurumni bɛnya nʼakatua, na deɛ ɔtwa nkontompo remfa ne ho nni.
A false witnes shall not be vnpunished: and he that speaketh lyes, shall not escape.
6 Nnipa pii pɛ adom firi sodifoɔ nkyɛn, na deɛ ɔkyɛ adeɛ yɛ obiara adamfo.
Many reuerence the face of the prince, and euery man is friend to him that giueth giftes.
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 the poore doe hate him: howe much more will his friends depart farre from him? though hee be instant with wordes, yet they will not.
8 Deɛ ɔnya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; deɛ ɔpɛ nhunumu no nya nkɔsoɔ.
He that possesseth vnderstanding, loueth his owne soule, and keepeth wisdome to finde goodnesse.
9 Adansekurumni bɛnya asotwe, na deɛ ɔtwa nkontompo no bɛyera.
A false witnes shall not be vnpunished: and he that speaketh lyes, shall perish.
10 Akɛsesɛm mfata ɔkwasea, anaasɛ akoa bɛdi mmapɔmma so!
Pleasure is not comely for a foole, much lesse for a seruant to haue rule ouer princes.
11 Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboaseɛ; sɛ ɔbu nʼani gu mfomsoɔ bi so a ɛhyɛ no animuonyam.
The discretion of man deferreth his anger: and his glory is to passe by an offence.
12 Ɔhene abufuo te sɛ gyata mmobom, na nʼadom te sɛ ɛserɛ so bosuo.
The Kings wrath is like the roaring of a lyon: but his fauour is like the dewe vpon ye grasse.
13 Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛeɛ, ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ te sɛ nsusosɔ a ɛntwa da.
A foolish sonne is the calamitie of his father, and the contentions of a wife are like a continuall dropping.
14 Afie ne ahonyadeɛ yɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛfiri awofoɔ, na ɔyere nimdefoɔ firi Awurade.
House and riches are the inheritance of the fathers: but a prudent wife commeth of the Lord.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɛkɔm de ɔkwadwofoɔ.
Slouthfulnes causeth to fall asleepe, and a deceitfull person shall be affamished.
16 Deɛ ɔdi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na deɛ ɔgyaagyaa ne ho no bɛwu.
He that keepeth the commandement, keepeth his owne soule: but hee that despiseth his wayes, shall dye.
17 Deɛ ɔyɛ adɔeɛ ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na ɔbɛtua no deɛ ɔyɛ no so ka.
He that hath mercy vpon the poore, lendeth vnto the Lord: and the Lord will recompense him that which he hath giuen.
18 Tene wo ba, na ɛno mu na anidasoɔ wɔ, na ɛnyɛ wɔn a wɔde no kɔ owuo mu no mu baako.
Chasten thy sonne while there is hope, and let not thy soule spare for his murmuring.
19 Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a nʼakoma ha no no tua so ka; sɛ woka ma no a wobɛyɛ bio.
A man of much anger shall suffer punishment: and though thou deliuer him, yet wil his anger come againe.
20 Tie afotuo na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awieeɛ no, wobɛhunu nyansa.
Heare counsell and receiue instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter ende.
21 Nhyehyɛeɛ bebree wɔ onipa akoma mu, nanso deɛ Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
Many deuises are in a mans heart: but the counsell of the Lord shall stand.
22 Deɛ onipa pɛ ne nokorɛ dɔ; ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛyɛ ohiani sene sɛ wobɛyɛ ɔtorofoɔ.
That that is to be desired of a man, is his goodnes, and a poore man is better then a lyer.
23 Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
The feare of the Lord leadeth to life: and he that is filled therewith, shall continue, and shall not be visited with euill.
24 Ɔkwadwofoɔ nsa ka ayowaa mu na ɔremma so mpo nkɔ nʼano!
The slouthfull hideth his hand in his bosome, and wil not put it to his mouth againe.
25 Twa ɔfɛdifoɔ mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu anim, na ɔbɛnya nimdeɛ.
Smite a scorner, and the foolish wil beware: and reproue the prudent, and he wil vnderstand knowledge.
26 Deɛ ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔno na ɔpamo ne maame no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwuo ne animguaseɛ ba.
He that destroyeth his father, or chaseth away his mother, is a lewde and shamefull childe.
27 Me ba, sɛ wogyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛmane afiri nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
My sonne, heare no more the instruction, that causeth to erre from ye words of knowledge.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntenenee ho fɛw; na omumuyɛfoɔ ano mene bɔne.
A wicked witnes mocketh at iudgement, and the mouth of ye wicked swalloweth vp iniquitie.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛdifoɔ, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafoɔ akyi.
But iudgements are prepared for the scorners, and stripes for the backe of the fooles.
