Mmɛbusɛm 21
1 Ɔhene akoma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɛkwan te sɛ asutene ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
As streams of water, So is the heart of the king in the hand of the LORD; He turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Onipa akwan nyinaa tene wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari akoma.
All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the heart.
3 Sɛ woyɛ adepa ne adeɛ a ɛtene a ɛsɔ Awurade ani sene afɔrebɔ.
To do justice and equity Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomasoɔ akoma, ne amumuyɛfoɔ asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
The lofty look, the proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is ruin.
5 Nsiyɛfoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ de mfasoɔ ba sɛdeɛ ntɛmpɛ kɔwie ohia no.
The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; But the hasty hasteneth only to want.
6 Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no yɛ huhuro ne owuo afidie.
The getting of treasures by a false tongue Is the fleeting breath of them that seek death.
7 Amumuyɛfoɔ basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, ɛfiri sɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ deɛ ɛtene.
The rapine of the wicked shall snatch them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
8 Onipa a ɔdi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na deɛ ne ho nni asɛm no adeyɛ tene.
The way of the guilty man is crooked; But he that is pure, his doings are right.
9 Suhyɛ twɛtwɛwa ase baabi tena yɛ sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ bɛtena efie.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop Than with a brawling woman in a large house.
10 Omumuyɛfoɔ kɔn dɔ bɔne; ɔnni ahummɔborɔ mma ne yɔnko.
The soul of the wicked longeth to do evil; His neighbor findeth no compassion in his eyes.
11 Sɛ wɔtwe fɛdifoɔ aso a, ntetekwaafoɔ hunu nyansa, sɛ wɔkyerɛkyerɛ onyansafoɔ a, ɔnya nimdeɛ.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; When the wise man is taught, he receiveth knowledge.
12 Ɔteneneeni no nim deɛ ɛrekɔso wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ fie na ɔde omumuyɛfoɔ no kɔ ɔsɛeɛ mu.
The righteous man hath regard to the house of the wicked; He casteth the wicked headlong into 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 aloud, but shall not be heard.
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 justice shall be joy to the righteous; But destruction is for them that do iniquity.
16 Onipa a ɔmane firi nhunumu kwan soɔ no bɛhome wɔ awufoɔ fekuo mu.
A man who wandereth from the way of discretion 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 that loveth pleasure will be a poor man; He that loveth wine and oil will not be rich.
18 Amumuyɛfoɔ de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma teneneefoɔ, na atorofoɔ yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous! And in the room of the upright shall be the transgressor.
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.
Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise; But the foolish man swalloweth them up.
21 Deɛ ɔti tenenee ne ɔdɔ no ɔnya nkwa, yiedie ne animuonyam.
He who followeth after righteousness and mercy Shall find life, prosperity, and honor.
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 strength in which it trusted.
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 trouble.
24 Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛdifoɔ” ɔde ahantan ntrasoɔ yɛ adeɛ.
The proud and haughty, —scoffer is his name; He acteth with haughty arrogance.
25 Deɛ ɔkwadwofoɔ kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owuo ama no, ɛfiri sɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
The desire of the sluggard will destroy him; For his hands refuse to labor.
26 Ɛda mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ ɔbɛnya bebree, nanso ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔma a ɔnnodo ho.
The covetous man coveteth all the day long; But the righteous man giveth, and doth 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 bringeth it with an evil design!
28 Adansekurumdini bɛyera, na obiara a ɔtie noɔ no nso wɔbɛsɛe no.
A false witness shall perish; But a man that hearkeneth shall speak forever.
29 Amumuyɛfoɔ di akakabensɛm na ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔdwene nʼakwan ho.
The wicked man hardeneth his face; But the upright directeth his way.
30 Nyansa, nhunumu ne nhyehyɛeɛ biara nni hɔ a ɛbɛtumi ayɛ yie atia Awurade.
Wisdom is nothing, and understanding is nothing, And devices are nothing, 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 from the LORD.
