Mmɛbusɛm 28
1 Omumuyɛfoɔ dwane ɛberɛ a obiara ntaa no, nanso teneneefoɔ koko yɛ duru sɛ agyata.
The impious flees, though no one pursues. But the just, like a confident lion, shall be without dread.
2 Atuateɛ ɔman nya sodifoɔ pii, nanso onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu ne nimdeɛ ma mmara yɛ adwuma.
Because of the sins of the land, it has many princes. And because of the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the leader shall be prolonged.
3 Sodifoɔ a ɔhyɛ ahiafoɔ so no te sɛ brampɔnsuo a ɛsɛe mfudeɛ.
A poor man slandering the poor is like a violent rainstorm in advance of a famine.
4 Wɔn a wɔpo mmara no kamfo amumuyɛfoɔ, na wɔn a wɔdi mmara so no si wɔn kwan.
Those who abandon the law praise the impious. Those who guard it are inflamed against him.
5 Abɔnefoɔ nte atɛntenenee ase, nanso wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ Awurade no, te aseɛ yie.
Evil men do not intend judgment. But those who inquire after the Lord turn their souls toward all things.
6 Ohiani a ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm yɛ sene ɔdefoɔ a nʼakwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye.
Better is the pauper walking in his simplicity, than the rich walking in ways of depravity.
7 Deɛ ɔdi mmara so yɛ ɔba a ɔwɔ nhunumu, nanso deɛ ɔne adidibradafoɔ bɔ no gu nʼagya anim ase.
Whoever keeps the law is a wise son. But whoever feeds gluttons brings shame to his father.
8 Deɛ ɔgye mfɛntom mmorosoɔ de nya ne ho no ɔboaboa ano ma deɛ ɔbɛyɛ ahiafoɔ adɔeɛ.
Whoever piles up riches by usury and profit gathers them for him who will give freely to the poor.
9 Sɛ obi nni mmara so a, ne mpaeɛbɔ mpo yɛ akyiwadeɛ.
Whoever turns away his ears from listening to the law: his prayer will be detestable.
10 Deɛ ɔdi teneneefoɔ anim de wɔn fa ɛkwan bɔne so no bɛhwe ɔno ankasa afidie mu, nanso wɔn a wɔn ho nni asɛm no bɛnya agyapadeɛ a ɛyɛ.
Whoever deceives the just in a malicious way will fall into his own perdition. And the simple shall possess his goods.
11 Ɔdefoɔ tumi yɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ nʼankasa ani so, nanso ohiani a ɔwɔ nhunumu no hunu sɛdeɛ ɔteɛ.
The rich one seems wise to himself. But the poor one, being prudent, shall evaluate him.
12 Sɛ teneneefoɔ di nkonim a, nnipa di ahurisie pii; nanso sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ nya tumi a nnipa kɔhinta.
In the exultation of the just, there is great glory. When the impious reign, men are brought to ruin.
13 Onipa a ɔkata ne bɔne soɔ no nnya nkɔsoɔ, na deɛ ɔka ne bɔne na ɔgyae yɛ no nya ahummɔborɔ.
Whoever hides his crimes will not be guided. But whoever will have confessed and abandoned them shall overtake mercy.
14 Nhyira nka deɛ ɔsuro Awurade ɛberɛ nyinaa, nanso deɛ ɔpirim nʼakoma no tɔ amaneɛ mu.
Blessed is the man who is ever fearful. Yet truly, whoever is hardened in mind will fall into evil.
15 Omumuyɛfoɔ a ɔdi nnipa a wɔnni mmoa so no te sɛ gyata a ɔbobɔm anaa sisire a nʼani abereɛ.
An impious leader over a poor people is like a roaring lion and a hungry bear.
16 Sodifoɔ tirimuɔdenfoɔ nni adwene, na deɛ ɔkyiri mfasoɔ a wɔnam ɛkwan bɔne so nya no bɛnya nkwa tenten.
A leader destitute of prudence will oppress many through false accusations. But whoever hates avarice shall prolong his days.
17 Deɛ awudie ma ne tiboa bu no fɔ no, ɔbɛyɛ ɔkobɔfoɔ akɔsi ne wu da; mma obiara mmɔ ne ho ban.
A man who slanders the blood of a life, even if he flees to the pit, no one will tolerate him.
18 Deɛ ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm no, wɔgye no firi ɔhaw mu, nanso deɛ nʼakwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye no bɛhwe ase mpofirim.
Whoever walks simply shall be saved. Whoever is perverse in his steps will fall all at once.
19 Deɛ ɔyɛ nʼasase so adwuma no bɛnya aduane pii, nanso deɛ ɔdwene nneɛma hunu ho no bɛnya ne so ne ne hia.
Whoever works his land shall be satisfied with bread. But whoever pursues leisure will be filled with need.
20 Wɔbɛhyira onipa nokwafoɔ pii, na deɛ ɔpere pɛ ahonyadeɛ no remfa ne ho nni.
A faithful man shall be greatly praised. But whoever rushes to become rich will not be innocent.
21 Animhwɛ nyɛ, nanso aduane kakra enti nnipa yɛ bɔne.
Whoever shows favoritism in judgment does not do well; even if it is for a morsel of bread, he forsakes the truth.
22 Deɛ ɔyɛ pɛpɛɛ pere sɛ ɔbɛyɛ ɔdefoɔ na ɔnnim sɛ ohia retwɛn no.
A man who hurries to become rich, and who envies others, does not know that destitution will overwhelm him.
23 Deɛ ɔka obi anim no bɛsɔ nnipa ani akyire asene deɛ ɔwɔ tɛkrɛmadɛ.
Whoever corrects a man, afterward he shall find favor with him, more so than he who deceives him with a flattering tongue.
24 Deɛ ɔbɔ nʼagya anaa ne maame korɔno na ɔka sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ bɔne” no, ɔne ɔsɛefoɔ na ɛbɔ.
Whoever takes away anything from his father or mother, and who says, “This is not a sin,” is the associate of a murderer.
25 Ɔdifodepɛfoɔ de mpaapaemu ba na deɛ ɔde ne ho to Awurade so no bɛnya nkɔsoɔ.
Whoever boasts and enlarges himself stirs up conflicts. Yet truly, whoever trusts in the Lord will be healed.
26 Deɛ ɔgye ne ho die no yɛ ɔkwasea, na deɛ ɔnante nyansa mu no wɔbɛgye no.
Whoever trusts in his own heart is a fool. But whoever treads wisely, the same shall be saved.
27 Deɛ ɔma ahiafoɔ no, hwee renhia no, nanso deɛ ɔbu nʼani gu wɔn so no nya nnome pii.
Whoever gives to the poor shall not be in need. Whoever despises his petition will suffer scarcity.
28 Sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ nya tumi a, nnipa kɔhinta; na sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ ase tɔre a, teneneefoɔ ase dɔre.
When the impious rise up, men will hide themselves. When they perish, the just shall be multiplied.
