Mmɛbusɛm 29
1 Obi a ɔkɔ so yɛ tufoanteɛ wɔ animka pii akyi no wɔbɛsɛe no mpofirim a wɔrentumi nsi ano.
A reprover is better than a stiff-necked man: for when the latter is suddenly set on fire, there shall be no remedy.
2 Sɛ teneneefoɔ di yie a, nnipa no di ahurisie; sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ di nnipa so a, wosi apinie.
When the righteous are praised, the people will rejoice: but when the ungodly rule, men mourn.
3 Onipa a ɔdɔ nyansa no ma nʼagya anigye, nanso nnwamanfoɔ yɔnko sɛe nʼahonya.
When a man loves wisdom, his father rejoices: but he that keeps harlots will waste wealth.
4 Ɔhene nam atɛntenenee so ma ɔman no asomdwoeɛ, nanso deɛ ɔde adifudepɛ gye adanmudeɛ no bɔ ɔman no.
A righteous king establishes a country: but a transgressor destroys [it].
5 Obiara a ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko no sum ne nan afidie.
He that prepares a net in the way of his own friend, entangles his own feet in it.
6 Ɔdebɔneyɛfoɔ bɔne sum no afidie, nanso ɔteneneeni bɛtumi ato dwom ama nʼani agye.
A great snare [is spread] for a sinner: but the righteous shall be in joy and gladness.
7 Ahiafoɔ atɛnteneebuo ho hia teneneefoɔ, nanso amumuyɛfoɔ nni saa tema no.
A righteous man knows how to judge for the poor: but the ungodly understands not knowledge; and the poor man has not an understanding mind.
8 Fɛdifoɔ de basabasayɛ ba kuropɔn mu, nanso anyansafoɔ dwodwo abufuo ano.
Lawless men burn down a city: but wise men turn away wrath.
9 Sɛ onyansafoɔ de ɔkwasea kɔ asɛnniiɛ a, ɔkwasea no bobom kasa di fɛ, na asomdwoeɛ mma.
A wise man shall judge nations: but a worthless man being angry laughs and fears not.
10 Mogyapɛfoɔ kyiri ɔnokwafoɔ, na wɔhwehwɛ sɛ wɔbɛkum deɛ ɔtene.
Bloody men hate a holy [person], but the upright will seek his soul.
11 Ɔkwasea da abufuo nyinaa adi, nanso onyansafoɔ hyɛ ne ho so.
A fool utters all is mind: but the wise reserves his in part.
12 Sɛ sodifoɔ tie nkontomposɛm a, nʼadwumayɛfoɔ nyinaa bɛyɛ amumuyɛfoɔ.
When a king hearkens to unjust language, all his subjects are transgressors.
13 Ohiani ne ɔhyɛsofoɔ nyinaa wɔ saa adeɛ baako yi: Awurade ma wɔn baanu nyinaa ani a wɔde hunu adeɛ.
When the creditor and debtor meet together, the Lord oversees them both.
14 Sɛ ɔhene di ahiafoɔ asɛm yie a, nʼahennwa bɛtim hɔ daa.
When a king judges the poor in truth, his throne shall be established for a testimony.
15 Ntenesoɔ abaa ma nyansa, na abɔfra a wɔde ne pɛ ma noɔ no, gu ne na anim ase.
Stripes and reproofs give wisdom: but an erring child disgraces his parents.
16 Sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ di yie a, bɔne nso kɔ so, na teneneefoɔ bɛhunu wɔn asehweɛ.
When the ungodly abound, sins abound: but when they fall, the righteous are warned.
17 Tene wo ba so, na ɔbɛma wo asomdwoeɛ; ɔbɛma wo ɔkra ani agye.
Chasten your son, and he shall give you rest; and he shall give honour to your soul.
18 Sɛ anisoadehunu nni hɔ a, nnipa no yɛ basaa; na nhyira nka deɛ ɔdi mmara so.
There shall be no interpreter to a sinful nation: but he that observes the law is blessed.
19 Wɔmmfa anomu nsɛm nko ara ntene ɔsomfoɔ so, ɔte aseɛ deɛ, nanso ɔremfa.
A stubborn servant will not be reproved by words: for even if he understands, still he will not obey.
20 Wohunu obi a ɔpere ne nsɛm ho anaa? Ɔkwasea mu wɔ anidasoɔ sene no.
If you see a man hasty in [his] words, know that the fool has hope rather than he.
21 Sɛ obi korɔkorɔ ne ɔsomfoɔ firi ne mmɔfraase a, awieeɛ no ɔde awerɛhoɔ na ɛbɛba.
He that lives wantonly from a child, shall be a servant, and in the end shall grieve over himself.
22 Onipa a ne bo afuo de mpaapaemu ba, na deɛ ne bo nkyɛre fu no yɛ bɔne pii.
A furious man stirs up strife, and a passionate man digs up sin.
23 Onipa ahomasoɔ brɛ no ase, nanso deɛ ɔwɔ ahobrɛaseɛ no nya animuonyam.
Pride brings a man low, but the Lord upholds the humble-minded with honour.
24 Deɛ ɔboa ɔkorɔmfoɔ no ha ɔno ankasa ho. Wɔama waka ntam enti ɔsuro sɛ ɔbɛdi adanseɛ.
He that shares with a thief, hates his own soul: and if any having heard an oath uttered tell not of it,
25 Onipa ho suro bɛtumi ayɛ afidie ama wo, na deɛ ɔde ne ho to Awurade so no, wɔbɛgye no.
[they] fearing and reverencing men [unreasonably] have been overthrown, but he that trusts in the Lord shall rejoice. Ungodliness causes a man to stumble: but he that trusts in his master shall be safe.
26 Bebree hwehwɛ sɛ wɔbɛnya ɔhene ne no akasa, nanso onipa nya atɛntenenee firi Awurade nkyɛn.
Many wait on the favour of rulers; but justice comes to a man from the Lord.
27 Teneneefoɔ kyiri atorofoɔ; na amumuyɛfoɔ kyiri wɔn a wɔn akwan tene.
A righteous man is an abomination to an unrighteous man, and the direct way is an abomination to the sinner.
