Mmɛbusɛm 28
1 Omumuyɛfoɔ dwane ɛberɛ a obiara ntaa no, nanso teneneefoɔ koko yɛ duru sɛ agyata.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 Atuateɛ ɔman nya sodifoɔ pii, nanso onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu ne nimdeɛ ma mmara yɛ adwuma.
For the transgression of a land many [are] its princes: but by a man of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] shall be prolonged.
3 Sodifoɔ a ɔhyɛ ahiafoɔ so no te sɛ brampɔnsuo a ɛsɛe mfudeɛ.
A poor man that oppresseth the poor [is like] a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
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 keep the law contend with them.
5 Abɔnefoɔ nte atɛntenenee ase, nanso wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ Awurade no, te aseɛ yie.
Evil men understand not judgment: 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 uprightness, than [he that is] perverse [in his] ways, though he [is] rich.
7 Deɛ ɔdi mmara so yɛ ɔba a ɔwɔ nhunumu, nanso deɛ ɔne adidibradafoɔ bɔ no gu nʼagya anim ase.
He who keepeth the law [is] a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous [men] shameth his father.
8 Deɛ ɔgye mfɛntom mmorosoɔ de nya ne ho no ɔboaboa ano ma deɛ ɔbɛyɛ ahiafoɔ adɔeɛ.
He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
9 Sɛ obi nni mmara so a, ne mpaeɛbɔ mpo yɛ akyiwadeɛ.
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] 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.
Whoever causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good [things] in possession.
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 conceit; but the poor man that hath understanding searcheth him out.
12 Sɛ teneneefoɔ di nkonim a, nnipa di ahurisie pii; nanso sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ nya tumi a nnipa kɔhinta.
When righteous [men] rejoice, [there is] great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
13 Onipa a ɔkata ne bɔne soɔ no nnya nkɔsoɔ, na deɛ ɔka ne bɔne na ɔgyae yɛ no nya ahummɔborɔ.
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but he who confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.
14 Nhyira nka deɛ ɔsuro Awurade ɛberɛ nyinaa, nanso deɛ ɔpirim nʼakoma no tɔ amaneɛ mu.
Happy [is] the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
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 ranging bear; [so is] a wicked ruler over the poor people.
16 Sodifoɔ tirimuɔdenfoɔ nni adwene, na deɛ ɔkyiri mfasoɔ a wɔnam ɛkwan bɔne so nya no bɛnya nkwa tenten.
The prince that wanteth understanding [is] also a great oppressor: [but] he that hateth covetousness 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 that doeth violence to the blood of [any] person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
18 Deɛ ne nanteɛ ho nni asɛm no, wɔgye no firi ɔhaw mu, nanso deɛ nʼakwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye no bɛhwe ase mpofirim.
He who walketh uprightly shall be saved: but [he that is] perverse [in his] ways shall fall 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.
He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain [persons] shall have poverty enough.
20 Wɔbɛhyira onipa nokwafoɔ pii, na deɛ ɔpere pɛ ahonyadeɛ no remfa ne ho nni.
A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
21 Animhwɛ nyɛ, nanso aduane kakra enti nnipa yɛ bɔne.
To have respect of persons [is] not good: for, for a piece of bread [that] man will transgress.
22 Deɛ ɔyɛ pɛpɛɛ pere sɛ ɔbɛyɛ ɔdefoɔ na ɔnnim sɛ ohia retwɛn no.
He that hasteth to be rich [hath] an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
23 Deɛ ɔka obi anim no bɛsɔ nnipa ani akyire asene deɛ ɔwɔ tɛkrɛmadɛ.
He that rebuketh a man afterward shall find more favor 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.
He that robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, [It is] no transgression; the same [is] the companion of a destroyer.
25 Ɔdifodepɛfoɔ de mpaapaemu ba na deɛ ɔde ne ho to Awurade so no bɛnya nkɔsoɔ.
He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
26 Deɛ ɔgye ne ho die no yɛ ɔkwasea, na deɛ ɔnante nyansa mu no wɔbɛgye no.
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoever walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
27 Deɛ ɔma ahiafoɔ no, hwee renhia no, nanso deɛ ɔbu nʼani gu wɔn so no nya nnome pii.
He that giveth to the poor shall not want: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
28 Sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ nya tumi a, nnipa kɔhinta; na sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ ase tɔre a, teneneefoɔ ase dɔre.
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
