Mmɛbusɛm 16
1 Akoma mu nhyehyɛeɛ yɛ onipa dea, na tɛkrɛma mmuaeɛ firi Awurade.
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
2 Ɛyɛ onipa sɛ nʼakwan nyinaa yɛ kronn nanso Awurade na ɔpɛɛpɛɛ adwene mu.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the motives.
3 Fa deɛ woyɛ nyinaa hyɛ Awurade nsam, na wo nhyehyɛeɛ bɛsi yie.
Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.
4 Awurade yɛ biribiara ma nʼankasa botaeɛ, mpo, ɔhwɛ omumuyɛfoɔ kɔsi amanehunu da.
Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Awurade kyiri akoma mu ahantanfoɔ nyinaa. Nya saa nteaseɛ yi sɛ, wɔremfa wɔn ho nni.
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh; they shall certainly not be unpunished.
6 Wɔnam ɔdɔ ne nokorɛ so pata bɔne; onipa nam Awurade suro so yi bɔne akwa.
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
7 Sɛ onipa akwan sɔ Awurade ani a, ɔma nʼatamfoɔ mpo ne no tena asomdwoeɛ mu.
When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Kakraa bi a wɔnam tenenee kwan so nya no yɛ sene mfasoɔ pii a wɔnam ntɛnkyea so nya.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
9 Onipa yɛ ne nhyehyɛeɛ wɔ nʼakoma mu, nanso Awurade na ɔhwɛ nʼanammɔntuo.
A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.
10 Ɔhene anomu kasa te sɛ nkɔmhyɛ, enti ɛnsɛ sɛ nʼano ka deɛ ɛnyɛ atɛntenenee.
Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
11 Nsania ne abrammoɔ a nsisie nni mu firi Awurade; nkariboɔ a ɛwɔ kotokuo mu no, ɔno na ɔyɛeɛ.
Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 Ahemfo kyiri bɔneyɛ, ɛfiri sɛ ahennwa si tenenee so.
It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Ahemfo ani sɔ ano a ɛka nokorɛ; na wɔbu onipa a ɔka nokorɛ.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
14 Ɔhene abufuhyeɛ yɛ owuo somafoɔ, nanso onyansafoɔ bɛdwodwo ano.
The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
15 Sɛ ɔhene anim te a, ɛyɛ nkwa, nʼadom te sɛ osutɔberɛ mu osumuna.
In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
16 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛnya nyansa sene sɛ wobɛnya sikakɔkɔɔ, sɛ wobɛnya nhunumu sene sɛ wobɛnya dwetɛ!
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 Ɔteneneeni kwantempɔn kwati bɔne; deɛ ɔhwɛ nʼakwan yie no bɔ ne nkwa ho ban.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Ahantan di ɔsɛeɛ anim, na ahomasoɔ honhom nso di ahweaseɛ anim.
Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛyɛ honhom mu hiani wɔ wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so mu sene sɛ wo ne ahantanfoɔ bɛkyɛ afodeɛ.
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
20 Deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsetie ma nkyerɛkyerɛ no nya nkɔsoɔ; nhyira nka deɛ ɔde ne ho to Awurade so.
He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.
21 Wɔfrɛ akoma mu anyansafoɔ sɛ nhunumufoɔ, na kasa pa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
22 Nteaseɛ yɛ nkwa nsutire ma wɔn a wɔwɔ bi, nanso agyimisɛm de asotweɛ brɛ nkwaseafoɔ.
Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
23 Onyansafoɔ akoma kyerɛ nʼano kwan, na nʼanofafa ma nkyerɛkyerɛ kɔ so.
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
24 Abodwosɛm te sɛ ɛwokyɛm ɛyɛ ɔkra dɛ, na ɛsa nnompe yadeɛ.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 Ɛkwan bi wɔ hɔ a ɛyɛ wɔ onipa ani so, nanso ɛkɔwie owuo mu.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
26 Odwumayɛfoɔ akɔnnɔ ma no yɛ adwuma den; ɛfiri sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔkum ne kɔm.
The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
27 Ohuhuni bɔ pɔ bɔne, ne kasa te sɛ egyadɛreɛ a ɛhye adeɛ.
A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
28 Onipa kɔntɔnkye de mpaapaemu ba, na osekuni tete nnamfonom ntam.
A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
29 Basabasayɛni daadaa ne yɔnko na ɔde no fa ɛkwammɔne so.
A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Deɛ ɔbu nʼani no redwene bɔneyɛ ho; na deɛ ɔmua nʼano no ani wɔ bɔne so.
One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
31 Ɛdwono yɛ animuonyam abotire; tenenee mu asetena na ɛde ba.
Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
32 Deɛ ɔwɔ abodwokyerɛ no yɛ sene ɔkofoɔ, na deɛ ɔmfa abufuo yɛ sene deɛ ɔko fa kuropɔn.
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
33 Wɔtwe ntonto de hwehwɛ deɛ Awurade pɛ, nanso ne gyinasie biara firi Awurade.
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.
