Mmɛbusɛm 19
1 Ohiani a ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm no yɛ sene ɔkwasea a nʼasɛm mfa ɛkwan mu.
Better is a poor man, walking in his integrity, than one of perverse lips, and, he, a dullard.
2 Mmɔdemmɔ a nimdeɛ nka ho no nyɛ, saa ara na ntɛmpɛ a ɛma obi yera ɛkwan nso nyɛ.
Surely, for the soul to be, without knowledge, is not good, and, he that hasteth with his feet, strayeth.
3 Onipa agyimisɛm sɛe nʼabrabɔ, nanso nʼakoma huru tia Awurade.
The folly of a man, subverteth his way, and, against Yahweh, his heart is angry.
4 Ahonya frɛfrɛ nnamfonom bebree; nanso ohiani adamfo gya no hɔ.
Wealth, addeth many friends, but, the poor man, from his own friend, is parted.
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, will entreat the favour of a noble, and, every one, is a friend to a man abounding in 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 a poor man, hate him, how much more have, his friends, gone far from him, he may hunt up promises—there are none.
8 Deɛ ɔnya nyansa no dɔ ne kra; deɛ ɔpɛ nhunumu no nya nkɔsoɔ.
He that acquireth sense, loveth his own soul, he that guardeth understanding, shall find blessing.
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!
Unseemly for a dullard, is delicate living, how much more for, a servant, to bear 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, deferreth his anger, and, his adorning, is to pass over transgression.
12 Ɔhene abufuo te sɛ gyata mmobom, na nʼadom te sɛ ɛserɛ so bosuo.
The growl as of a young lion, is the rage of a king, but, like dew upon the grass, is his good pleasure.
13 Ɔba kwasea yɛ nʼagya ɔsɛeɛ, ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ te sɛ nsusosɔ a ɛntwa da.
Engulfing ruin to his father, is a son that is a dullard, —and, a continuous dripping, are the contentions of a wife.
14 Afie ne ahonyadeɛ yɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛfiri awofoɔ, na ɔyere nimdefoɔ firi Awurade.
House and substance, are an inheritance from one’s fathers, but, from Yahweh, cometh a wife who is prudent.
15 Akwadworɔ de nnahɔɔ ba, na ɛkɔm de ɔkwadwofoɔ.
Sloth, falleth into a deep sleep, and, a soul that is indolent, shall famish.
16 Deɛ ɔdi nkyerɛkyerɛ so no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban, na deɛ ɔgyaagyaa ne ho no bɛwu.
One who guardeth the commandment, guardeth his life, he that is reckless in his ways, shall die.
17 Deɛ ɔyɛ adɔeɛ ma ohiani no yɛ de fɛm Awurade, na ɔbɛtua no deɛ ɔyɛ no so ka.
A lender to Yahweh, is one who sheweth favour to the poor, and, his good deed, He will pay him back.
18 Tene wo ba, na ɛno mu na anidasoɔ wɔ, na ɛnyɛ wɔn a wɔde no kɔ owuo mu no mu baako.
Correct thy son, because there is hope, yet, not so as to slay him, let thy passion be excited.
19 Ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a nʼakoma ha no no tua so ka; sɛ woka ma no a wobɛyɛ bio.
A man in a rage, taketh away the penalty, —nevertheless, if thou let him go free, the more [stripes] must thou add.
20 Tie afotuo na gye nkyerɛkyerɛ to mu, na awieeɛ no, wobɛhunu nyansa.
Hear counsel, receive correction, that thou mayest be wise in thine after-life.
21 Nhyehyɛeɛ bebree wɔ onipa akoma mu, nanso deɛ Awurade pɛ no na ɛba mu.
Many are the devices in a man’s heart, but, the counsel of Yahweh, 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 lovingkindness, —and better a poor man, than one who deceiveth.
23 Awurade suro kɔ nkwa mu; na onipa de abotɔyam home a ɔhaw bi nni mu.
The reverence of Yahweh, leadeth to life, satisfied then, let a man remain—let him not be visited by calamity.
24 Ɔkwadwofoɔ nsa ka ayowaa mu na ɔremma so mpo nkɔ nʼano!
A sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, even unto his own mouth, will he not bring it back.
25 Twa ɔfɛdifoɔ mmaa, na atetekwaa bɛfa adwene; ka deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu anim, na ɔbɛnya nimdeɛ.
The scoffer, thou shalt smite, and, the simple, will beware, but correct a man of intelligence—he will understand teaching.
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 causing shame and reproach.
27 Me ba, sɛ wogyae nkyerɛkyerɛ tie a, wobɛmane afiri nimdeɛ nsɛm ho.
Cease, my son, to hear instruction that would cause thee to wander from the sayings of knowledge.
28 Adansekurumni di atɛntenenee ho fɛw; na omumuyɛfoɔ ano mene bɔne.
An abandoned witness, scorneth justice, and, the mouth of lawless men, swalloweth iniquity.
29 Wɔasiesie asotwe ama fɛdifoɔ, ne mmaabɔ ama nkwaseafoɔ akyi.
Prepared for scoffers, are punishments, and stripes, for the back of dullards.
