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 LORD's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
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 weighs 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 high look, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 Nsiyɛfoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ de mfasoɔ ba sɛdeɛ ntɛmpɛ kɔwie ohia no.
The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
6 Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no yɛ huhuro ne owuo afidie.
Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
7 Amumuyɛfoɔ basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, ɛfiri sɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ deɛ ɛtene.
The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
8 Onipa a ɔdi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na deɛ ne ho nni asɛm no adeyɛ tene.
The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Suhyɛ twɛtwɛwa ase baabi tena yɛ sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ bɛtena efie.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10 Omumuyɛfoɔ kɔn dɔ bɔne; ɔnni ahummɔborɔ mma ne yɔnko.
The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 Sɛ wɔtwe fɛdifoɔ aso a, ntetekwaafoɔ hunu nyansa, sɛ wɔkyerɛkyerɛ onyansafoɔ a, ɔnya nimdeɛ.
When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 Ɔteneneeni no nim deɛ ɛrekɔso wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ fie na ɔde omumuyɛfoɔ no kɔ ɔsɛeɛ mu.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Sɛ onipa sisi nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a ɔno nso bɛsu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
14 Kokoam adekyɛ dwodwo akoma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuhyeɛ.
A gift in secret pacifies anger; and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
15 Sɛ wobu atɛntenenee a, teneneefoɔ anigye nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefoɔ.
It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to evildoers.
16 Onipa a ɔmane firi nhunumu kwan soɔ no bɛhome wɔ awufoɔ fekuo mu.
The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Deɛ ɔdi ahosɛpɛ akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; deɛ ɔpɛ nsã ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves 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; the treacherous for 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 precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.
21 Deɛ ɔti tenenee ne ɔdɔ no ɔnya nkwa, yiedie ne animuonyam.
He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Onyansafoɔ to hyɛ ahoɔdenfoɔ kuropɔn so na ɔdwiri abandenden a wɔn werɛ hyɛ mu gu fam.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Deɛ ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no ɔtwe ne ho firi amanenya ho.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛdifoɔ” ɔde ahantan ntrasoɔ yɛ adeɛ.
The proud and haughty man, "scoffer" is his name; he works in the arrogance of pride.
25 Deɛ ɔkwadwofoɔ kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owuo ama no, ɛfiri sɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
26 Ɛda mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ ɔbɛnya bebree, nanso ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔma a ɔnnodo ho.
There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and do not withhold.
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 brings it with a wicked mind.
28 Adansekurumdini bɛyera, na obiara a ɔtie noɔ no nso wɔbɛsɛe no.
A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.
29 Amumuyɛfoɔ di akakabensɛm na ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔdwene nʼakwan ho.
A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
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 for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.
