Mmɛbusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm no yɛ sene ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa ɛkwan mu.
Better is the poor man who walketh in his integrity, Than he who is of false lips and a fool.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nyɛ, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera ɛkwan nso nyɛ.
Moreover, that the soul be without knowledge is not good, And he that hasteth with is feet stumbleth.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso nʼakoma huru tia Awurade.
The folly of man destroyeth his way, And then his heart fretteth against the LORD.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gya no hɔ.
Wealth maketh many friends; But the poor is separated from his neighbor.
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 are they who caress the noble, And every one is the friend of him who 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.
All the brethren of the poor man hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He runneth after their words, —they are gone!
8 Deɛ ɔnya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; deɛ ɔpɛ nhunumu no nya nkɔsoɔ.
He that getteth wisdom loveth himself; He that keepeth understanding shall find good.
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!
Luxury is not seemly for a fool; Much less should a servant have rule over princes.
11 Onipa nyansa ma no ntoboaseɛ; sɛ ɔbu nʼani gu mfomsoɔ bi so a ɛhyɛ no animuonyam.
A man of understanding is slow to anger; Yea, it is his glory to pass over an offence.
12 Ɔhene abufuo te sɛ gyata mmobom, na nʼadom te sɛ ɛserɛ so bosuo.
The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; But his favor, like dew upon the grass.
13 Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛeɛ, ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ te sɛ nsusosɔ a ɛntwa da.
A foolish son is a calamity to 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.
Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɛkɔm de ɔkwadwofoɔ.
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, And the idle person 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 life; But he that neglecteth his ways shall die.
17 Deɛ ɔyɛ adɔeɛ ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na ɔbɛtua no deɛ ɔyɛ no so ka.
He who hath pity on the poor lendeth to the LORD, And that which he giveth will he repay 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 because there is hope, But let not thy soul desire to slay 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 will suffer punishment; For if thou deliver him, yet must thou do it again.
20 Tie afotuo na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awieeɛ no, wobɛhunu nyansa.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That thou mayst be wise in thy latter years.
21 Nhyehyɛeɛ bebree wɔ onipa akoma mu, nanso deɛ Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
Many are the devices in the heart of a man; But the purpose of the LORD, that shall 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 better is a poor man than a liar.
23 Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
The fear of the LORD tendeth to life, And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.
24 Ɔkwadwofoɔ nsa ka ayowaa mu na ɔremma so mpo nkɔ nʼano!
The slothful man dippeth his hand into the dish: He doth not bring it back even to his mouth.
25 Twa ɔfɛdifoɔ mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu anim, na ɔbɛnya nimdeɛ.
Strike the scoffer, and the simple will become prudent; Reprove a man of understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
26 Deɛ ɔbɔ nʼagya korɔno na ɔpamo ne maame no yɛ ɔba a ɔde aniwuo ne animguaseɛ ba.
The son that causeth shame and disgrace doeth violence to his father, And chaseth away his mother.
27 Me ba, sɛ wogyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛmane afiri nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
Cease, my son, to listen to the instruction That causeth thee to wander from the words of knowledge!
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntenenee ho fɛw; na omumuyɛfoɔ ano mene bɔne.
A worthless witness scoffeth at justice, And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth down iniquity.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛdifoɔ, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafoɔ akyi.
Punishments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.
