Mmɛbusɛm 28
1 Omumuyɛfoɔ dwane ɛberɛ a obiara ntaa no, nanso teneneefoɔ koko yɛ duru sɛ agyata.
Every wicked fleeth when no man pursueth; but the righteous are like the confident young lion.
2 Atuateɛ ɔman nya sodifoɔ pii, nanso onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu ne nimdeɛ ma mmara yɛ adwuma.
When there is transgression in a land, it hath many for its princes; but under a man of understanding and knowledge [its] prosperity will long continue.
3 Sodifoɔ a ɔhyɛ ahiafoɔ so no te sɛ brampɔnsuo a ɛsɛe mfudeɛ.
A poor man that oppresseth the indigent is like a sweeping rain which bringeth no bread.
4 Wɔn a wɔpo mmara no kamfo amumuyɛfoɔ, na wɔn a wɔdi mmara so no si wɔn kwan.
They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as observe the law contend with them.
5 Abɔnefoɔ nte atɛntenenee ase, nanso wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ Awurade no, te aseɛ yie.
Bad men understand not justice; but they that seek the Lord understand all things.
6 Ohiani a ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm yɛ sene ɔdefoɔ a nʼakwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye.
Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Deɛ ɔdi mmara so yɛ ɔba a ɔwɔ nhunumu, nanso deɛ ɔne adidibradafoɔ bɔ no gu nʼagya anim ase.
Whoso keepeth the law is an intelligent son; but he that is a companion of gluttons bringeth dishonor on his father.
8 Deɛ ɔgye mfɛntom mmorosoɔ de nya ne ho no ɔboaboa ano ma deɛ ɔbɛyɛ ahiafoɔ adɔeɛ.
He that increaseth his wealth by interest and usury will gather it for him that will be kind to the poor.
9 Sɛ obi nni mmara so a, ne mpaeɛbɔ mpo yɛ akyiwadeɛ.
When one turneth away his ear so as not to listen to the law, even his prayer becometh an abomination.
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.
Whoso causeth the upright to go astray on an evil way, will surely fall into his own ditch; but the men of integrity will inherit what is good.
11 Ɔdefoɔ tumi yɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ nʼankasa ani so, nanso ohiani a ɔwɔ nhunumu no hunu sɛdeɛ ɔteɛ.
The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the indigent that hath understanding can search him through.
12 Sɛ teneneefoɔ di nkonim a, nnipa di ahurisie pii; nanso sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ nya tumi a nnipa kɔhinta.
When the righteous exult, there is great splendor; but when the wicked rise up, a man hath to be sought for.
13 Onipa a ɔkata ne bɔne soɔ no nnya nkɔsoɔ, na deɛ ɔka ne bɔne na ɔgyae yɛ no nya ahummɔborɔ.
He that concealeth his transgressions will not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them will obtain mercy.
14 Nhyira nka deɛ ɔsuro Awurade ɛberɛ nyinaa, nanso deɛ ɔpirim nʼakoma no tɔ amaneɛ mu.
Happy is the man that always dreadeth [to do evil]; but he that hardeneth his heart will fall into unhappiness.
15 Omumuyɛfoɔ a ɔdi nnipa a wɔnni mmoa so no te sɛ gyata a ɔbobɔm anaa sisire a nʼani abereɛ.
As a roaring lion, and a greedy bear, so is a wicked ruler over an indigent people.
16 Sodifoɔ tirimuɔdenfoɔ nni adwene, na deɛ ɔkyiri mfasoɔ a wɔnam ɛkwan bɔne so nya no bɛnya nkwa tenten.
The prince that is void of understanding is also a great oppressor; [but] he that hateth unjust gain will 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 oppressed by the load of having shed human blood will flee even to the pit: let no man hold him.
18 Deɛ ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm no, wɔgye no firi ɔhaw mu, nanso deɛ nʼakwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye no bɛhwe ase mpofirim.
Whoso walketh in integrity will be saved; but he that walketh perversely on two paths, will fall on one.
19 Deɛ ɔyɛ nʼasase so adwuma no bɛnya aduane pii, nanso deɛ ɔdwene nneɛma hunu ho no bɛnya ne so ne ne hia.
He that tilleth his ground will have plenty of bread; but he that runneth after idle persons will have enough of poverty.
20 Wɔbɛhyira onipa nokwafoɔ pii, na deɛ ɔpere pɛ ahonyadeɛ no remfa ne ho nni.
A faithful man will abound with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 Animhwɛ nyɛ, nanso aduane kakra enti nnipa yɛ bɔne.
To have respect to persons is not good; because even for a piece of bread will a man transgress.
22 Deɛ ɔyɛ pɛpɛɛ pere sɛ ɔbɛyɛ ɔdefoɔ na ɔnnim sɛ ohia retwɛn no.
He that is eager for wealth is a man of an evil eye, and he knoweth not that want will come upon him.
23 Deɛ ɔka obi anim no bɛsɔ nnipa ani akyire asene deɛ ɔwɔ tɛkrɛmadɛ.
He that reproveth a man after [my example] will obtain more grace than he that flattereth with the tongue.
24 Deɛ ɔbɔ nʼagya anaa ne maame korɔno na ɔka sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ bɔne” no, ɔne ɔsɛefoɔ na ɛbɔ.
Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, it is no transgression, —the same is a companion of a destroyer.
25 Ɔdifodepɛfoɔ de mpaapaemu ba na deɛ ɔde ne ho to Awurade so no bɛnya nkɔsoɔ.
He that hath an insatiable desire stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord will be abundantly gratified.
26 Deɛ ɔgye ne ho die no yɛ ɔkwasea, na deɛ ɔnante nyansa mu no wɔbɛgye no.
He that trusteth in his own sense is a fool; but whoso walketh in wisdom, will ever escape.
27 Deɛ ɔma ahiafoɔ no, hwee renhia no, nanso deɛ ɔbu nʼani gu wɔn so no nya nnome pii.
He that giveth unto the poor will not have any want; but he that hideth his eyes will have an abundance of curses.
28 Sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ nya tumi a, nnipa kɔhinta; na sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ ase tɔre a, teneneefoɔ ase dɔre.
When the wicked rise, men conceal themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.
