Mmɛbusɛm 21
1 Ɔhene akoma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɛkwan te sɛ asutene ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
[Like] channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, —whithersoever he will, he turneth it.
2 Onipa akwan nyinaa tene wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari akoma.
Every way of a man, may be right in his own eyes, but, he that testeth hearts, is Yahweh.
3 Sɛ woyɛ adepa ne adeɛ a ɛtene a ɛsɔ Awurade ani sene afɔrebɔ.
To do righteousness and justice, is more choice to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomasoɔ akoma, ne amumuyɛfoɔ asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
Loftiness of eyes, and ambition of heart—the lamp of the lawless, are sin.
5 Nsiyɛfoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ de mfasoɔ ba sɛdeɛ ntɛmpɛ kɔwie ohia no.
The plans of the diligent, tend only to abundance, but, of every one that is urgent, only to want.
6 Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no yɛ huhuro ne owuo afidie.
The gaining of treasures with a tongue of falsehood, is a vapour driven away, [they who seek them] seek death,
7 Amumuyɛfoɔ basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, ɛfiri sɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ deɛ ɛtene.
The violence of the lawless, shall drag them away, —because they have refused to do justice.
8 Onipa a ɔdi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na deɛ ne ho nni asɛm no adeyɛ tene.
Crooked is the way of a guilty man, but, as for the pure, straight is his dealing.
9 Suhyɛ twɛtwɛwa ase baabi tena yɛ sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ bɛtena efie.
Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
10 Omumuyɛfoɔ kɔn dɔ bɔne; ɔnni ahummɔborɔ mma ne yɔnko.
The soul of the lawless man, craveth mischief, his own friend, findeth no favour 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, becometh wise, 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 observeth the house of the lawless, —He is ready to cast down lawless men into misfortune.
13 Sɛ onipa sisi nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a ɔno nso bɛsu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
He that shutteth his ear from the cry of the poor, even he, shall call, and not be answered.
14 Kokoam adekyɛ dwodwo akoma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuhyeɛ.
A gift in secret, quencheth anger, and, a present in the bosom, mighty wrath.
15 Sɛ wobu atɛntenenee a, teneneefoɔ anigye nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefoɔ.
It is a joy, to a righteous man, to do justice, but, dismay, to the workers of iniquity.
16 Onipa a ɔmane firi nhunumu kwan soɔ no bɛhome wɔ awufoɔ fekuo mu.
The man who wandereth from the way of discretion, in the gathered host of the shades, shall settle down.
17 Deɛ ɔdi ahosɛpɛ akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; deɛ ɔpɛ nsã ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
A needy man, shall he be that loveth merriment, the lover of wine and oil, shall not become rich.
18 Amumuyɛfoɔ de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma teneneefoɔ, na atorofoɔ yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
A ransom for the righteous, is the lawless, and, instead of upright men, the traitor.
19 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛtena ɛserɛ so, sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ a nʼakoma ha no bɛtena.
Better to dwell in a desert land, than with a woman, quarrelsome and provoking.
20 Nnuane pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafoɔ fie ma, nanso ɔkwasea di deɛ ɔwɔ nyinaa.
Desirable treasure and oil, are in the home of the wise, but, a man who is a dullard, will destroy it.
21 Deɛ ɔti tenenee ne ɔdɔ no ɔnya nkwa, yiedie ne animuonyam.
He that pursueth righteousness and lovingkindness, shall find life, righteousness and honour.
22 Onyansafoɔ to hyɛ ahoɔdenfoɔ kuropɔn so na ɔdwiri abandenden a wɔn werɛ hyɛ mu gu fam.
A city of heroes, doth a wise man scale, and bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
23 Deɛ ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no ɔtwe ne ho firi amanenya ho.
He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth, out of distresses, his soul.
24 Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛdifoɔ” ɔde ahantan ntrasoɔ yɛ adeɛ.
A haughty insolent one—Scoffer is his name, is he that acteth in a transport of pride.
25 Deɛ ɔkwadwofoɔ kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owuo ama no, ɛfiri sɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
The craving of the sluggard, killeth him, for his hands have refused to work.
26 Ɛda mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ ɔbɛnya bebree, nanso ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔma a ɔnnodo ho.
All the day, he greatly craveth, whereas, the righteous, giveth, and doth not spare.
27 Omumuyɛfoɔ afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwadeɛ, ne titire ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
The sacrifice of the lawless, is an abomination, how much more, when, with wickedness, he bringeth it in!
28 Adansekurumdini bɛyera, na obiara a ɔtie noɔ no nso wɔbɛsɛe no.
A false witness, shall perish, but, the man who hearkeneth, with abiding effect, shall speak.
29 Amumuyɛfoɔ di akakabensɛm na ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔdwene nʼakwan ho.
A lawless man emboldeneth his face, but, as for the upright, he, directeth his ways.
30 Nyansa, nhunumu ne nhyehyɛeɛ biara nni hɔ a ɛbɛtumi ayɛ yie atia Awurade.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, to confront Yahweh.
31 Wɔsiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdie yɛ Awurade dea.
The horse, is prepared for the day of battle, but, to Yahweh, pertaineth the victory.
