Mmɛbusɛm 20
1 Nsa yɛ ɔfɛdifoɔ na nsaden yɛ ntɔkwapɛfoɔ; na obiara a nsã bɛma wafom ɛkwan no nnyɛ onyansafoɔ.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
2 Ɔhene abufuhyeɛ te sɛ gyata mmobom; na deɛ ɔhyɛ no abufuo no de nkwa twa so.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.
3 Ɛyɛ onipa animuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa, nanso ogyimifoɔ biara pɛ ntɔkwa.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
4 Onihafoɔ mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne berɛ mu; enti ɛduru twaberɛ a ɔnnya hwee.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Onipa akoma apɛdeɛ yɛ subunu mu, nanso onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu no twetwe.
Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Nnipa dodoɔ no ara ka sɛ wɔwɔ ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da, na hwan na ɔbɛtumi ahunu ɔnokwafoɔ?
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 Ɔteneneeni bu ɔbra kronkron; nhyira ne ne mma a wɔba nʼakyi.
A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.
8 Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahennwa so bu atɛn a, ɔde nʼani huhu bɔne nyinaa so gu.
A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Hwan na ɔbɛtumi aka sɛ, “Mapra mʼakoma mu; meyɛ kronn na menni bɔne”?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Nkariboɔ ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no Awurade kyiri ne mmienu.
Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Mpo wɔnam abɔfra nneyɛɛ so hunu no, sɛ ne suban yɛ kronn ne papa.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 Aso a wɔde te asɛm ne ani a wɔde hunu adeɛ, Awurade na wayɛ ne mmienu.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13 Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia; ɛnna, na wobɛnya aduane ama abu so.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 Ɔtɔfoɔ ka sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ, ɛnyɛ!” nanso sɛ ɔkɔ a, ɔde deɛ watɔ no hoahoa ne ho.
It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Sika kɔkɔɔ wɔ hɔ, na nhwenepa nso abu so, na ano a ɛka nimdeɛ nsɛm yɛ ɔbohemaa a ɛho yɛ nna.
There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Fa obi a ɔdi ɔhɔhoɔ akagyinamu atadeɛ; sɛ ɔregyina ɔbaa huhufoɔ akyi a, fa si awowa.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for foreigners.
17 Aduane a wɔnya no ɛkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anomu dɛ, nanso akyire no ɛdane mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Pɛ afotuo yɛ wo nhyehyɛeɛ; sɛ wotu ɔsa a, nya ho akwankyerɛ.
Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.
19 Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi; enti twe wo ho firi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20 Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne maame a, wɔbɛdum ne kanea wɔ esum kabii mu.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 Agyapadeɛ a wɔpere ho nya no ahyɛaseɛ no renyɛ nhyira akyire no.
An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Nka sɛ, “Mɛtua wo saa bɔne yi so ka!” Twɛn Awurade, na ɔbɛgye wo.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23 Awurade kyiri nkariboɔ a ɛnyɛ papa, na nsisie nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.
24 Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntuo. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?
25 Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a, ɔsum ne ho afidie.
It is a snare to a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, And after vows to make inquiry.
26 Ɔhene nyansafoɔ hunu amumuyɛfoɔ; na ɔde ayuyamfidie hankra fa wɔn so.
A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the [threshing]-wheel over them.
27 Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu, ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.
28 Ɔdɔ ne nokorɛdie bɔ ɔhene ho ban; nʼadɔeɛ ma nʼahennwa tim.
Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.
29 Mmeranteɛ animuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden, tidwono nso ne mmasiriwa animuonyam.
The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 Ɔhweɛ ne apirakuro hohoro amumuyɛ mmaaka te akoma mu.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes [reach] the innermost parts.
