Mmebusɛm 11
1 Awurade kyi asisi nsania, na nʼani gye nokware nkaribo ho.
A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight.
2 Ahantan ba a, animguase na edi so, nanso ahobrɛase de nyansa ba.
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 Teefo nokwaredi kyerɛ wɔn kwan; nanso nkontompofo ano ntanta sɛe wɔn.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Ahonya nka hwee wɔ abufuwhyew da no, nanso trenee gye nkwa fi owu mu.
Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5 Wɔn a wonni bɔne no trenee bɔ kwan tee ma wɔn, nanso amumɔyɛfo amumɔyɛsɛm brɛ wɔn ase.
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 Pɛyɛfo treneeyɛ gye wɔn, nanso akɔnnɔ bɔne afiri yi nkontompofo.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7 Sɛ omumɔyɛfo wu a, nʼanidaso yera; nea osusuw sɛ obenya afi ne tumi mu nyinaa no yɛ ɔkwa.
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8 Wogye ɔtreneeni fi amane mu, na ɛba omumɔyɛfo so mmom.
A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.
9 Nea onsuro Onyame de nʼano sɛe ne yɔnko, nanso ɔtreneeni nam nimdeɛ so fi mu.
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10 Sɛ atreneefo di yiye a, kuropɔn no di ahurusi; nanso amumɔyɛfo wu a, wɔbɔ ose.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 Pɛyɛfo nhyira ma kuropɔn no kɔ so, nanso amumɔyɛfo ano ma ɛbɔ.
By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 Onipa a onni adwene no bu ne yɔnko animtiaa, nanso nea ɔwɔ nhumu no to ne tɛkrɛma nnareka.
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 Nsekudi sɛe ahotoso, nanso nea wɔwɔ ne mu ahotoso no kora ahintasɛm.
One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14 Ɔman a enni akwankyerɛ no bɔ, nanso afotufo dodow ma nkonimdi ba.
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
15 Nea odi akagyinamu ma ɔfoforo no behu amane, na nea ɔmmfa ne nsa nhyɛ awowasi ase no aso mu dwo no.
He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16 Ɔbea a ne yam ye no, wɔde obu ma no, nanso mmarima atirimɔdenfo nya ahode nkutoo.
A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.
17 Ɔyamyefo ye ma ne ho, na otirimɔdenfo de ɔhaw ba nʼankasa so.
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 Omumɔyɛfo nya akatua a ennyina, nanso nea ogu trenee aba no twa aba a edi mu.
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Nea ɔyɛ nokware treneeni no nya nkwa, nanso nea ɔkɔ so yɛ bɔne no kɔ owu mu.
He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20 Awurade kyi nnipa a wɔn koma akyea, na nʼani gye wɔn a wɔn akwan ho nni asɛm no ho.
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21 Gye to mu sɛ, amumɔyɛfo benya wɔn akatua, na atreneefo benya wɔn ti adidi mu.
Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Ɔbea hoɔfɛfo a ontumi nsi gyinae no te sɛ sika kaa a ɛhyɛ prako hwene mu.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 Atreneefo apɛde wie yiye, nanso amumɔyɛfo anidaso wie abufuwhyew.
The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 Obi yɛ adɔe, na onya ne ho bebree; obi nso yɛ pɛpɛe, nanso ehia no.
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 Ɔyamyefo bɛkɔ so anya ne ho; na nea ɔma ebinom mee no nso bɛmee.
The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 Nnipa dome nea ɔde atoko sie, na nhyira ba nea ɔtɔn ne de so.
People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 Nea ɔhwehwɛ papa akyi kwan no nya anisɔ, na nea ɔhwehwɛ bɔne no, bɔne ba ne so.
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28 Nea ɔde ne ho to nʼahonyade so no bɛhwe ase, na ɔtreneeni bɛyɛ frɔmfrɔm sɛ ahabammono.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 Nea ɔde ɔhaw bɛto nʼabusua so no bedi mframa ade, na ɔkwasea bɛyɛ onyansafo somfo.
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 Ɔtreneeni aba yɛ nkwadua, na nea ogye akra no yɛ onyansafo.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
31 Kyerɛwsɛm no ka se, “Ɛyɛ den sɛ wobegye onipa pa nkwa; na wɔn a wonnye asɛm no nni ne nnebɔneyɛfo no de, dɛn na ɛbɛba wɔn so?”
Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
