Mmɛbusɛm 20
1 Nsa yɛ ɔfɛdifoɔ na nsaden yɛ ntɔkwapɛfoɔ; na obiara a nsã bɛma wafom ɛkwan no nnyɛ onyansafoɔ.
Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
2 Ɔhene abufuhyeɛ te sɛ gyata mmobom; na deɛ ɔhyɛ no abufuo no de nkwa twa so.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
3 Ɛyɛ onipa animuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa, nanso ogyimifoɔ biara pɛ ntɔkwa.
It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4 Onihafoɔ mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne berɛ mu; enti ɛduru twaberɛ a ɔnnya hwee.
Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given 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 water: 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 shall find a faithful man?
7 Ɔteneneeni bu ɔbra kronkron; nhyira ne ne mma a wɔba nʼakyi.
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahennwa so bu atɛn a, ɔde nʼani huhu bɔne nyinaa so gu.
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Hwan na ɔbɛtumi aka sɛ, “Mapra mʼakoma mu; meyɛ kronn na menni bɔne”?
Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Nkariboɔ ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no Awurade kyiri ne mmienu.
Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 Mpo wɔnam abɔfra nneyɛɛ so hunu no, sɛ ne suban yɛ kronn ne papa.
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and 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, the Lord hath made them both.
13 Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia; ɛnna, na wobɛnya aduane ama abu so.
Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 Ɔtɔfoɔ ka sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ, ɛnyɛ!” nanso sɛ ɔkɔ a, ɔde deɛ watɔ no hoahoa ne ho.
It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, 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 a multitude of jewels: but the 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 garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 Aduane a wɔnya no ɛkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anomu dɛ, nanso akyire no ɛdane mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
The bread of lying 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.
Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi; enti twe wo ho firi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne maame a, wɔbɛdum ne kanea wɔ esum kabii mu.
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 Agyapadeɛ a wɔpere ho nya no ahyɛaseɛ no renyɛ nhyira akyire no.
The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Nka sɛ, “Mɛtua wo saa bɔne yi so ka!” Twɛn Awurade, na ɔbɛgye wo.
Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
23 Awurade kyiri nkariboɔ a ɛnyɛ papa, na nsisie nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
Diverse weights are an abomination before 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 man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
25 Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a, ɔsum ne ho afidie.
It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26 Ɔhene nyansafoɔ hunu amumuyɛfoɔ; na ɔde ayuyamfidie hankra fa wɔn so.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu, ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
28 Ɔdɔ ne nokorɛdie bɔ ɔhene ho ban; nʼadɔeɛ ma nʼahennwa tim.
Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 Mmeranteɛ animuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden, tidwono nso ne mmasiriwa animuonyam.
The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 Ɔhweɛ ne apirakuro hohoro amumuyɛ mmaaka te akoma mu.
The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
