Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
Ɔhene akoma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɛkwan te sɛ asutene ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts.
Onipa akwan nyinaa tene wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari akoma.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
Sɛ woyɛ adepa ne adeɛ a ɛtene a ɛsɔ Awurade ani sene afɔrebɔ.
4 A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomasoɔ akoma, ne amumuyɛfoɔ asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
5 The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
Nsiyɛfoɔ nhyehyɛeɛ de mfasoɔ ba sɛdeɛ ntɛmpɛ kɔwie ohia no.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no yɛ huhuro ne owuo afidie.
7 The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
Amumuyɛfoɔ basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, ɛfiri sɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ deɛ ɛtene.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Onipa a ɔdi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na deɛ ne ho nni asɛm no adeyɛ tene.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Suhyɛ twɛtwɛwa ase baabi tena yɛ sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ bɛtena efie.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
Omumuyɛfoɔ kɔn dɔ bɔne; ɔnni ahummɔborɔ mma ne yɔnko.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Sɛ wɔtwe fɛdifoɔ aso a, ntetekwaafoɔ hunu nyansa, sɛ wɔkyerɛkyerɛ onyansafoɔ a, ɔnya nimdeɛ.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
Ɔteneneeni no nim deɛ ɛrekɔso wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ fie na ɔde omumuyɛfoɔ no kɔ ɔsɛeɛ mu.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
Sɛ onipa sisi nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a ɔno nso bɛsu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
Kokoam adekyɛ dwodwo akoma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuhyeɛ.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
Sɛ wobu atɛntenenee a, teneneefoɔ anigye nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefoɔ.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
Onipa a ɔmane firi nhunumu kwan soɔ no bɛhome wɔ awufoɔ fekuo mu.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
Deɛ ɔdi ahosɛpɛ akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; deɛ ɔpɛ nsã ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
Amumuyɛfoɔ de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma teneneefoɔ, na atorofoɔ yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛtena ɛserɛ so, sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ a nʼakoma ha no bɛtena.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
Nnuane pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafoɔ fie ma, nanso ɔkwasea di deɛ ɔwɔ nyinaa.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Deɛ ɔti tenenee ne ɔdɔ no ɔnya nkwa, yiedie ne animuonyam.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
Onyansafoɔ to hyɛ ahoɔdenfoɔ kuropɔn so na ɔdwiri abandenden a wɔn werɛ hyɛ mu gu fam.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Deɛ ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no ɔtwe ne ho firi amanenya ho.
24 The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛdifoɔ” ɔde ahantan ntrasoɔ yɛ adeɛ.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
Deɛ ɔkwadwofoɔ kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owuo ama no, ɛfiri sɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
Ɛda mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ ɔbɛnya bebree, nanso ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔma a ɔnnodo ho.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
Omumuyɛfoɔ afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwadeɛ, ne titire ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
28 A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
Adansekurumdini bɛyera, na obiara a ɔtie noɔ no nso wɔbɛsɛe no.
29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
Amumuyɛfoɔ di akakabensɛm na ɔteneneeni deɛ, ɔdwene nʼakwan ho.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
Nyansa, nhunumu ne nhyehyɛeɛ biara nni hɔ a ɛbɛtumi ayɛ yie atia Awurade.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with Yahweh.
Wɔsiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdie yɛ Awurade dea.
