Mmebusɛm 21
1 Ɔhene koma da Awurade nsam; ɔkyerɛ no ɔkwan te sɛ asuten ma ɔkɔ baabiara a ɔpɛ.
The king’s heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Onipa akwan nyinaa teɛ wɔ nʼani so, nanso Awurade na ɔkari koma.
Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
3 Sɛ woyɛ ade pa ne ade a ɛteɛ a, ɛsɔ Awurade ani sen afɔrebɔ.
To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Ani a ɛtra ntɔn ne ahomaso koma, ne amumɔyɛfo asetena nyinaa yɛ bɔne!
An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the plowing of the wicked, [is] sin.
5 Nsiyɛfo nhyehyɛe de mfaso ba, sɛnea ntɛmpɛ kowie ohia no.
The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one [that is] hasty only to want.
6 Ahonya a nkontompo tɛkrɛma de ba no, ɛyɛ omununkum a etwa mu kɔ, na ɛsan yɛ owu afiri.
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue [is] a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7 Amumɔyɛfo basabasayɛ bɛtwe wɔn akɔ, efisɛ wɔmpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ nea ɛteɛ.
The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
8 Onipa a odi fɔ no akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, na nea ne ho nni asɛm no nneyɛe teɛ.
The way of man [is] froward and strange: but [as for] the pure, his work [is] right.
9 Suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi tena ye sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
[It is] better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10 Omumɔyɛfo kɔn dɔ bɔne; onni ahummɔbɔ mma ne yɔnko.
The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 Sɛ wɔtwe ɔfɛwdifo aso a, ntetekwaafo hu nyansa, sɛ wɔkyerɛkyerɛ onyansafo a, onya nimdeɛ.
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 Ɔtreneeni no hu nea ɛrekɔ so wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi, na ɔde omumɔyɛfo no kɔ ɔsɛe mu.
The righteous [man] wisely considereth the house of the wicked: [but God] overthroweth the wicked for [their] wickedness.
13 Sɛ onipa sisiw nʼaso wɔ mmɔborɔni su ho a, ɔno nso besu afrɛ, na wɔrennye no so.
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14 Kokoa mu adekyɛ dwudwo koma, kɛtɛasehyɛ nso pata abufuwhyew.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15 Sɛ wubu atɛntrenee a, atreneefo ani gye, nanso ɛyɛ ahunahuna ma abɔnefo.
[It is] joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction [shall be] to the workers of iniquity.
16 Onipa a ɔman fi nhumu kwan so no bɛhome wɔ awufo fekuw mu.
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17 Nea odi ahosɛpɛw akyi no bɛyɛ ohiani; nea ɔpɛ nsa ne ngo no rennya ne ho da.
He that loveth pleasure [shall be] a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 Amumɔyɛfo de wɔn nkwa to hɔ ma atreneefo, na atorofo yɛ saa ma wɔn a wɔyɛ pɛ.
The wicked [shall be] a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
19 Eye sɛ wobɛtena sare so, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo a ne koma haw no no bɛtena.
[It is] better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20 Nnuan pa ne ngo ayɛ onyansafo fi ma, nanso ɔkwasea di nea ɔwɔ nyinaa.
[There is] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
21 Nea otiw trenee ne ɔdɔ no nya nkwa, yiyedi ne anuonyam.
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22 Onyansafo tow hyɛ ahoɔdenfo kuropɔn so, na odwiriw abandennen a wɔn werɛ hyɛ mu no gu fam.
A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Nea ɔkora nʼano ne ne tɛkrɛma no twe ne ho fi amanenya ho.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 Ɔhantanni a ɔma ne ho so no, ne din ne “Ɔfɛwdifo” ɔde ahantan ntraso yɛ ade.
Proud [and] haughty scorner [is] his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
25 Nea ɔkwadwofo kɔn dɔ no bɛyɛ owu ama no, efisɛ ne nsa mpɛ adwumayɛ.
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26 Da mu nyinaa ɔpere sɛ obenya bebree, nanso ɔtreneeni de, ɔma a ɔnnodow ho.
He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27 Omumɔyɛfo afɔrebɔ yɛ akyiwade, ne titiriw ne sɛ ɔde adwemmɔne bata ho.
The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination: how much more, [when] he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28 Ɔdansekurumni bɛyera, na wɔbɛsɛe obiara a otie no no nso.
A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
29 Amumɔyɛfo di akakabensɛm, na ɔtreneeni de, osusuw nʼakwan ho.
A wicked man hardeneth his face: but [as for] the upright, he directeth his way.
30 Nyansa, nhumu ne nhyehyɛe biara nni hɔ a ebetumi ayɛ yiye atia Awurade.
[There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31 Wosiesie apɔnkɔ ma ɔko da, nanso nkonimdi yɛ Awurade dea.
The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD.
