Mmɛbusɛm 20
1 Nsa yɛ ɔfɛdifoɔ na nsaden yɛ ntɔkwapɛfoɔ; na obiara a nsã bɛma wafom ɛkwan no nnyɛ onyansafoɔ.
It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise.
2 Ɔhene abufuhyeɛ te sɛ gyata mmobom; na deɛ ɔhyɛ no abufuo no de nkwa twa so.
Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.
3 Ɛyɛ onipa animuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa, nanso ogyimifoɔ biara pɛ ntɔkwa.
Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.
4 Onihafoɔ mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne berɛ mu; enti ɛduru twaberɛ a ɔnnya hwee.
Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.
5 Onipa akoma apɛdeɛ yɛ subunu mu, nanso onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu no twetwe.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out.
6 Nnipa dodoɔ no ara ka sɛ wɔwɔ ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da, na hwan na ɔbɛtumi ahunu ɔnokwafoɔ?
Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?
7 Ɔteneneeni bu ɔbra kronkron; nhyira ne ne mma a wɔba nʼakyi.
The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.
8 Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahennwa so bu atɛn a, ɔde nʼani huhu bɔne nyinaa so gu.
The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.
9 Hwan na ɔbɛtumi aka sɛ, “Mapra mʼakoma mu; meyɛ kronn na menni bɔne”?
Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?”
10 Nkariboɔ ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no Awurade kyiri ne mmienu.
Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.
11 Mpo wɔnam abɔfra nneyɛɛ so hunu no, sɛ ne suban yɛ kronn ne papa.
A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.
12 Aso a wɔde te asɛm ne ani a wɔde hunu adeɛ, Awurade na wayɛ ne mmienu.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both.
13 Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia; ɛnna, na wobɛnya aduane ama abu so.
Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and 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“It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.
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 there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Fa obi a ɔdi ɔhɔhoɔ akagyinamu atadeɛ; sɛ ɔregyina ɔbaa huhufoɔ akyi a, fa si awowa.
Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.
17 Aduane a wɔnya no ɛkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anomu dɛ, nanso akyire no ɛdane mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.
18 Pɛ afotuo yɛ wo nhyehyɛeɛ; sɛ wotu ɔsa a, nya ho akwankyerɛ.
Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.
19 Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi; enti twe wo ho firi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips.
20 Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne maame a, wɔbɛdum ne kanea wɔ esum kabii mu.
Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.
21 Agyapadeɛ a wɔpere ho nya no ahyɛaseɛ no renyɛ nhyira akyire no.
When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.
22 Nka sɛ, “Mɛtua wo saa bɔne yi so ka!” Twɛn Awurade, na ɔbɛgye wo.
Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.
23 Awurade kyiri nkariboɔ a ɛnyɛ papa, na nsisie nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.
24 Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntuo. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?
25 Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a, ɔsum ne ho afidie.
It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.
26 Ɔhene nyansafoɔ hunu amumuyɛfoɔ; na ɔde ayuyamfidie hankra fa wɔn so.
A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.
27 Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu, ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.
28 Ɔdɔ ne nokorɛdie bɔ ɔhene ho ban; nʼadɔeɛ ma nʼahennwa tim.
Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 Mmeranteɛ animuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden, tidwono nso ne mmasiriwa animuonyam.
The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Ɔhweɛ ne apirakuro hohoro amumuyɛ mmaaka te akoma mu.
The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.
