Mmɛbusɛm 21
1 Ɔhene akoma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɛkwan te sɛ asutene ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever He will.
2 Onipa akwan nyinaa tene wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari akoma.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the hearts.
3 Sɛ woyɛ adepa ne adeɛ a ɛtene a ɛsɔ Awurade ani sene afɔrebɔ.
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomasoɔ akoma, ne amumuyɛfoɔ asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
A haughty look, and a proud heart — the tillage of the wicked is sin.
5 Nsiyɛfoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ de mfasoɔ ba sɛdeɛ ntɛmpɛ kɔwie ohia no.
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.
6 Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no yɛ huhuro ne owuo afidie.
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapour driven to and fro; they that seek them seek death.
7 Amumuyɛfoɔ basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, ɛfiri sɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ deɛ ɛtene.
The violence of the wicked shall drag them away; because they refuse to do justly.
8 Onipa a ɔdi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na deɛ ne ho nni asɛm no adeyɛ tene.
The way of man is froward and strange; but as for the pure, his work is right.
9 Suhyɛ twɛtwɛwa ase baabi tena yɛ sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ bɛtena efie.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
10 Omumuyɛfoɔ kɔn dɔ bɔne; ɔnni ahummɔborɔ mma ne yɔnko.
The soul of the wicked desireth evil; his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 Sɛ wɔtwe fɛdifoɔ aso a, ntetekwaafoɔ hunu nyansa, sɛ wɔkyerɛkyerɛ onyansafoɔ a, ɔnya nimdeɛ.
When the scorner is punished, the thoughtless is made wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 Ɔteneneeni no nim deɛ ɛrekɔso wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ fie na ɔde omumuyɛfoɔ no kɔ ɔsɛeɛ mu.
The Righteous One considereth the house of the wicked; overthrowing the wicked to their ruin.
13 Sɛ onipa sisi nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a ɔno nso bɛsu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be answered.
14 Kokoam adekyɛ dwodwo akoma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuhyeɛ.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a present in the bosom strong wrath.
15 Sɛ wobu atɛntenenee a, teneneefoɔ anigye nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefoɔ.
To do justly is joy to the righteous, but ruin to the workers of iniquity.
16 Onipa a ɔmane firi nhunumu kwan soɔ no bɛhome wɔ awufoɔ fekuo mu.
The man that strayeth out of the way of understanding shall rest in the congregation of the shades.
17 Deɛ ɔdi ahosɛpɛ akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; deɛ ɔpɛ nsã ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 Amumuyɛfoɔ de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma teneneefoɔ, na atorofoɔ yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; and the faithless cometh in the stead of the upright.
19 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛtena ɛserɛ so, sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ a nʼakoma ha no bɛtena.
It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 Nnuane pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafoɔ fie ma, nanso ɔkwasea di deɛ ɔwɔ nyinaa.
There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
21 Deɛ ɔti tenenee ne ɔdɔ no ɔnya nkwa, yiedie ne animuonyam.
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, prosperity, and honour.
22 Onyansafoɔ to hyɛ ahoɔdenfoɔ kuropɔn so na ɔdwiri abandenden a wɔn werɛ hyɛ mu gu fam.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and bringeth down the stronghold wherein it trusteth.
23 Deɛ ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no ɔtwe ne ho firi amanenya ho.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛdifoɔ” ɔde ahantan ntrasoɔ yɛ adeɛ.
A proud and haughty man, scorner is his name, even he that dealeth in overbearing pride.
25 Deɛ ɔkwadwofoɔ kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owuo ama no, ɛfiri sɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26 Ɛda mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ ɔbɛnya bebree, nanso ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔma a ɔnnodo ho.
There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27 Omumuyɛfoɔ afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwadeɛ, ne titire ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more, when he bringeth it with the proceeds of wickedness?
28 Adansekurumdini bɛyera, na obiara a ɔtie noɔ no nso wɔbɛsɛe no.
A false witness shall perish; but the man that obeyeth shall speak unchallenged.
29 Amumuyɛfoɔ di akakabensɛm na ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔdwene nʼakwan ho.
A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he looketh well to his way.
30 Nyansa, nhunumu ne nhyehyɛeɛ biara nni hɔ a ɛbɛtumi ayɛ yie atia Awurade.
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31 Wɔsiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdie yɛ Awurade dea.
The horse is prepared against the day of battle; but victory is of the LORD.
