Mmɛbusɛm 21
1 Ɔhene akoma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɛkwan te sɛ asutene ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills.
2 Onipa akwan nyinaa tene wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari akoma.
Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.
3 Sɛ woyɛ adepa ne adeɛ a ɛtene a ɛsɔ Awurade ani sene afɔrebɔ.
To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
4 Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomasoɔ akoma, ne amumuyɛfoɔ asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
5 Nsiyɛfoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ de mfasoɔ ba sɛdeɛ ntɛmpɛ kɔwie ohia no.
The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
6 Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no yɛ huhuro ne owuo afidie.
Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
7 Amumuyɛfoɔ basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, ɛfiri sɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ deɛ ɛtene.
The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
8 Onipa a ɔdi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na deɛ ne ho nni asɛm no adeyɛ tene.
The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright.
9 Suhyɛ twɛtwɛwa ase baabi tena yɛ sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ bɛtena efie.
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.
10 Omumuyɛfoɔ kɔn dɔ bɔne; ɔnni ahummɔborɔ mma ne yɔnko.
The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.
11 Sɛ wɔtwe fɛdifoɔ aso a, ntetekwaafoɔ hunu nyansa, sɛ wɔkyerɛkyerɛ onyansafoɔ a, ɔnya nimdeɛ.
When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.
12 Ɔteneneeni no nim deɛ ɛrekɔso wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ fie na ɔde omumuyɛfoɔ no kɔ ɔsɛeɛ mu.
The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
13 Sɛ onipa sisi nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a ɔno nso bɛsu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded.
14 Kokoam adekyɛ dwodwo akoma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuhyeɛ.
A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
15 Sɛ wobu atɛntenenee a, teneneefoɔ anigye nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefoɔ.
It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
16 Onipa a ɔmane firi nhunumu kwan soɔ no bɛhome wɔ awufoɔ fekuo mu.
A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.
17 Deɛ ɔdi ahosɛpɛ akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; deɛ ɔpɛ nsã ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
18 Amumuyɛfoɔ de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma teneneefoɔ, na atorofoɔ yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.
19 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛtena ɛserɛ so, sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ a nʼakoma ha no bɛtena.
It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
20 Nnuane pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafoɔ fie ma, nanso ɔkwasea di deɛ ɔwɔ nyinaa.
There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
21 Deɛ ɔti tenenee ne ɔdɔ no ɔnya nkwa, yiedie ne animuonyam.
Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
22 Onyansafoɔ to hyɛ ahoɔdenfoɔ kuropɔn so na ɔdwiri abandenden a wɔn werɛ hyɛ mu gu fam.
The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
23 Deɛ ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no ɔtwe ne ho firi amanenya ho.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
24 Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛdifoɔ” ɔde ahantan ntrasoɔ yɛ adeɛ.
A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
25 Deɛ ɔkwadwofoɔ kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owuo ama no, ɛfiri sɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
26 Ɛda mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ ɔbɛnya bebree, nanso ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔma a ɔnnodo ho.
He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
27 Omumuyɛfoɔ afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwadeɛ, ne titire ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
28 Adansekurumdini bɛyera, na obiara a ɔtie noɔ no nso wɔbɛsɛe no.
A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
29 Amumuyɛfoɔ di akakabensɛm na ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔdwene nʼakwan ho.
The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
30 Nyansa, nhunumu ne nhyehyɛeɛ biara nni hɔ a ɛbɛtumi ayɛ yie atia Awurade.
There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
31 Wɔsiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdie yɛ Awurade dea.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
