Mmɛbusɛm 20
1 Nsa yɛ ɔfɛdifoɔ na nsaden yɛ ntɔkwapɛfoɔ; na obiara a nsã bɛma wafom ɛkwan no nnyɛ onyansafoɔ.
Wine is a mocker and strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby, is not wise.
2 Ɔhene abufuhyeɛ te sɛ gyata mmobom; na deɛ ɔhyɛ no abufuo no de nkwa twa so.
The feare of the King is like the roaring of a lyon: hee that prouoketh him vnto anger, sinneth against his owne soule.
3 Ɛyɛ onipa animuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa, nanso ogyimifoɔ biara pɛ ntɔkwa.
It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
4 Onihafoɔ mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne berɛ mu; enti ɛduru twaberɛ a ɔnnya hwee.
The slouthfull will not plowe, because of winter: therefore shall he beg in sommer, but haue nothing.
5 Onipa akoma apɛdeɛ yɛ subunu mu, nanso onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu no twetwe.
The counsell in the heart of man is like deepe waters: but a man that hath vnderstanding, will drawe it out.
6 Nnipa dodoɔ no ara ka sɛ wɔwɔ ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da, na hwan na ɔbɛtumi ahunu ɔnokwafoɔ?
Many men wil boast, euery one of his owne goodnes: but who can finde a faithfull man?
7 Ɔteneneeni bu ɔbra kronkron; nhyira ne ne mma a wɔba nʼakyi.
He that walketh in his integritie, is iust: and blessed shall his children be after him.
8 Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahennwa so bu atɛn a, ɔde nʼani huhu bɔne nyinaa so gu.
A King that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euill with his eyes.
9 Hwan na ɔbɛtumi aka sɛ, “Mapra mʼakoma mu; meyɛ kronn na menni bɔne”?
Who can say, I haue made mine heart cleane, I am cleane from my sinne?
10 Nkariboɔ ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no Awurade kyiri ne mmienu.
Diuers weightes, and diuers measures, both these are euen abomination vnto the Lord.
11 Mpo wɔnam abɔfra nneyɛɛ so hunu no, sɛ ne suban yɛ kronn ne papa.
A childe also is knowen by his doings, whether his worke be pure and right.
12 Aso a wɔde te asɛm ne ani a wɔde hunu adeɛ, Awurade na wayɛ ne mmienu.
The Lord hath made both these, euen the eare to heare, and the eye to see.
13 Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia; ɛnna, na wobɛnya aduane ama abu so.
Loue not sleepe least thou come vnto pouertie: 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 naught, it is naught, sayth the buyer: but when he is gone apart, 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 golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewel.
16 Fa obi a ɔdi ɔhɔhoɔ akagyinamu atadeɛ; sɛ ɔregyina ɔbaa huhufoɔ akyi a, fa si awowa.
Take his garment, that is suretie for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
17 Aduane a wɔnya no ɛkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anomu dɛ, nanso akyire no ɛdane mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
The bread of deceit is sweete to a man: but afterward his mouth shalbe filled with grauel.
18 Pɛ afotuo yɛ wo nhyehyɛeɛ; sɛ wotu ɔsa a, nya ho akwankyerɛ.
Establish the thoughtes by counsell: and by counsell make warre.
19 Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi; enti twe wo ho firi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne maame a, wɔbɛdum ne kanea wɔ esum kabii mu.
He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shalbe put out in obscure darkenes.
21 Agyapadeɛ a wɔpere ho nya no ahyɛaseɛ no renyɛ nhyira akyire no.
An heritage is hastely gotten 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 wil recompense euill: but waite vpon the Lord, and he shall saue thee.
23 Awurade kyiri nkariboɔ a ɛnyɛ papa, na nsisie nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
Diuers weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.
24 Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntuo. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
The steps of man are ruled by the Lord: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way?
25 Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a, ɔsum ne ho afidie.
It is a destruction for a man to deuoure that which is sanctified, and after the vowes to inquire.
26 Ɔhene nyansafoɔ hunu amumuyɛfoɔ; na ɔde ayuyamfidie hankra fa wɔn so.
A wise King scattereth the wicked, and causeth the wheele to turne ouer them.
27 Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu, ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
The light of the Lord is the breath of man, and searcheth all the bowels of the belly.
28 Ɔdɔ ne nokorɛdie bɔ ɔhene ho ban; nʼadɔeɛ ma nʼahennwa tim.
Mercie and trueth preserue the King: for his throne shall be established with mercie.
29 Mmeranteɛ animuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden, tidwono nso ne mmasiriwa animuonyam.
The beautie of yong men is their strength, and the glory of the aged is the gray head.
30 Ɔhweɛ ne apirakuro hohoro amumuyɛ mmaaka te akoma mu.
The blewnes of the wound serueth to purge the euill, and the stripes within the bowels of the belly.
