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 away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
3The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
4The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
5A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
6The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings ruin.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the hearts of fools are not upright.
8The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.
11Death and Destruction15:11 Hebrew Abaddon lie open before the Lord –
how much more do human hearts!
12Mockers resent correction,
so they avoid the wise.
13A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.
14The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with turmoil.
17Better a dish of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
18A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,
but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
19The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
20A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,
but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
22Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisors they succeed.
23A person finds joy in giving an apt reply –
and how good is a timely word!
24The path of life leads upward for the prudent
to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
25The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.
26The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but gracious words are pure in his sight.
27The greedy bring ruin to their households,
but the one who hates bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
29The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.
31Whoever heeds life-giving correction
will be at home among the wise.
32Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
33Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,
and humility comes before honour.
