1Mmuae pa sianka abufuwhyew,
nanso asɛm a ano yɛ den hwanyan abufuw mu.
2Onyansafo tɛkrɛma yi nimdeɛ ayɛ,
nanso ɔkwasea ano woro agyimisɛm.
3Awurade ani hu baabiara,
na ɛhwɛ amumɔyɛfo ne apapafo.
4Tɛkrɛma a ɛde abodwo ba yɛ nkwadua,
nanso nnaadaa tɛkrɛma dwerɛw honhom.
5Ɔkwasea mfa nʼagya nteɛso nyɛ hwee,
na nea otie nteɛso no kyerɛ sɛ ɔyɛ onitefo.
6Ahonya bebree wɔ ɔtreneeni fi,
nanso amumɔyɛfo adenya de ɔhaw brɛ wɔn.
7Anyansafo ano trɛtrɛw nimdeɛ mu,
nanso ɛnyɛ saa na nkwaseafo koma te.
8Awurade kyi amumɔyɛfo afɔrebɔ,
nanso teefo mpaebɔ sɔ nʼani.
9Awurade kyi amumɔyɛfo akwan,
nanso ɔdɔ wɔn a wotiw trenee.
10Asotwe dennen wɔ hɔ ma nea ɔman fi ɔkwan no so,
nea ɔtan nteɛso no bewu.
11Owu ne Ɔsɛe da Awurade anim,
na nnipa koma mu de, onim ma ɛboro so.
12Ɔfɛwdifo mpɛ nteɛso;
onkobisa anyansafo hwee.
13Anigye koma ma anim yɛ sereserew,
na koma a abotow dwerɛw honhom.
14Nhumufo koma hwehwɛ nimdeɛ,
nanso ɔkwasea ano ka agyimisɛm.
15Wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so nna nyinaa yɛ mmɔbɔmmɔbɔ,
nanso anigye koma wɔ daa ahosɛpɛw mu.
16Ketewa bi a yenya a Awurade suro ka ho no ye
sen ahonyade bebree a ɔhaw bata ho.
17Nhabamma aduan a ɔdɔ wɔ mu no ye
sen nantwi sradenam a ɔtan bata ho.
18Nea ne bo fuw ntɛm no de mpaapaemu ba,
nanso nea ɔwɔ ntoboase pata ntɔkwaw.
19Nsɔe ama onihawfo kwan asiw,
nanso teefo kwan yɛ ɔtempɔn.
20Ɔba nyansafo ma nʼagya ani gye,
nanso ɔba kwasea bu ne na animtiaa.
21Agyimisɛm ma nea onni adwene ani gye,
nanso nea ɔwɔ ntease no fa ɔkwan a ɛteɛ so.
22Nhyehyɛe a enni afotu no sɛe,
nanso afotufo bebree ma ɛyɛ yiye.
23Onipa a ɔma mmuae a ɛfata no ani gye,
asɛm a ɛba bere pa mu no nso ye.
24Onyansafo asetena mu kwan ma no nkɔso,
esiw ne da mukɔ ho kwan.
25Awurade sɛe ɔhantanni fi,
na ɔma akunafo ahye yɛ pɛpɛɛpɛ.
26Awurade kyi amumɔyɛfo nsusuwii,
nanso nʼani sɔ wɔn a wɔyɛ kronkron no de.
27Odifudepɛfo de ɔhaw brɛ nʼabusua,
nanso nea okyi kɛtɛasehyɛ no benya nkwa.
28Ɔtreneeni koma kari ne mmuae,
nanso omumɔyɛfo ano woro bɔne.
29Awurade mmɛn amumɔyɛfo koraa,
nanso ɔte ɔtreneeni mpaebɔ.
30Anim a ɛtew ma koma nya ahomeka,
na asɛm pa ma nnompe ahoɔden.
31Nea otie animka a ɛma nkwa no
ne anyansafo bɛbɔ mu atena ase.
32Nea ɔmfa ahohyɛso no bu ne ho animtiaa,
na nea otie nteɛso no nya nhumu.
33Awurade suro kyerɛ onipa nyansa,
ahobrɛase di anuonyam anim.
1A gentle answer turns anger away.
But mean words stir up anger.
2The tongues of wise people use knowledge well.
But the mouths of foolish people pour out foolish words.
3The eyes of the Lord are everywhere.
They watch those who are evil and those who are good.
4A tongue that calms is like a tree of life.
But a tongue that tells lies produces a broken spirit.
5A foolish person turns their back on their parent’s correction.
But anyone who accepts correction shows understanding.
6The houses of those who do what is right hold great wealth.
But those who do what is wrong earn only ruin.
7The lips of wise people spread knowledge.
But the hearts of foolish people are not honest.
8The Lord hates the sacrifice of sinful people.
But the prayers of honest people please him.
9The Lord hates how sinners live.
But he loves those who run after what is right.
10Hard training is in store for anyone who leaves the right path.
A person who hates to be corrected will die.
11Death and the Grave lie open in front of the Lord.
So human hearts certainly lie open to him!
12People who make fun of others don’t like to be corrected.
So they stay away from wise people.
13A happy heart makes a face look cheerful.
But a sad heart produces a broken spirit.
14A heart that understands what is right looks for knowledge.
But the mouths of foolish people feed on what is foolish.
15All the days of those who are crushed are filled with pain and suffering.
But a cheerful heart enjoys a good time that never ends.
16It is better to have respect for the Lord and have little
than to be rich and have trouble.
17A few vegetables where there is love
are better than the finest meat where there is hatred.
18A person with a bad temper stirs up conflict.
But a person who is patient calms things down.
19The way of people who don’t want to work is blocked with thorns.
But the path of honest people is a wide road.
20A wise son makes his father glad.
But a foolish son hates his mother.
21A person who has no sense enjoys doing foolish things.
But a person who has understanding walks straight ahead.
22Plans fail without good advice.
But they succeed when there are many advisers.
23Joy is found in giving the right answer.
And how good is a word spoken at the right time!
24The path of life leads up for those who are wise.
It keeps them from going down to the place of the dead.
25The Lord tears down the proud person’s house.
But he keeps the widow’s property safe.
26The Lord hates the thoughts of sinful people.
But he considers kind words to be pure.
27Those who always want more bring ruin to their households.
But a person who refuses to be paid to lie will live.
28The hearts of those who do right think about how they will answer.
But the mouths of those who do wrong pour out evil.
29The Lord is far away from those who do wrong.
But he hears the prayers of those who do right.
30The cheerful look of a messenger brings joy to your heart.
And good news gives health to your body.
31Whoever listens to a warning that gives life
will be at home among those who are wise.
32Those who turn away from correction hate themselves.
But anyone who accepts correction gains understanding.
33Wisdom teaches you to have respect for the Lord.
So don’t be proud if you want to be honored.
