1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. 3It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. 4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.20.4 cold: or, winter 5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. 6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?20.6 goodness: or, bounty 7The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. 8A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. 9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 10Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.20.10 Divers weights: Heb. A stone and a stone20.10 divers measures: Heb. an ephah and an ephah 11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. 13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. 14It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. 15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. 17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.20.17 deceit: Heb. lying, or, falsehood 18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. 19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.20.19 flattereth: or, enticeth 20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.20.20 lamp: or, candle 21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. 22Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. 23Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.20.23 a false…: Heb. balance of deceit 24Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? 25It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. 26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. 27The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.20.27 candle: or, lamp 28Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. 29The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. 30The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.20.30 cleanseth…: Heb. is a purging medicine against
1Nsa yɛ ɔfɛwdifo na nsaden yɛ ɔtɔkwapɛfo;
na obiara a nsa bɛma wafom kwan no nyɛ onyansafo.
2Ɔhene abufuwhyew te sɛ gyata mmubomu;
na nea ɔhyɛ no abufuw no de nkwa twa so.
3Ɛyɛ onipa anuonyam sɛ ɔbɛkwati akasakasa,
nanso ogyimifo biara pɛ ntɔkwaw.
4Onihawfo mfuntum nʼasase wɔ ne bere mu;
enti edu twabere a onya hwee.
5Onipa koma botae yɛ asubun,
nanso nea ɔwɔ nhumu no twetwe ma epue.
6Nnipa dodow no ara ka se wɔwɔ ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da,
na hena na obetumi ahu ɔnokwafo?
7Ɔtreneeni bu ɔbra kronkron;
nhyira nka ne mma a wɔba wɔ nʼakyi.
8Sɛ ɔhene tena nʼahengua so bu atɛn a,
ɔde nʼani huhuw bɔne nyinaa so gu.
9Hena na obetumi aka se, “Mapra me koma mu;
meyɛ kronkron na minni bɔne?”
10Nkaribo ne susudua a ɛnyɛ papa no,
Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
11Mpo wɔnam abofra nketewa nneyɛe so hu wɔn,
saa ara na ne suban yɛ kronkron ne papa no.
12Aso a wɔde te asɛm ne ani a wɔde hu ade,
Awurade na wayɛ nʼabien no nyinaa.
13Mma nna nyɛ wo dɛ, na woanni hia;
nna, na wubenya aduan ama abu so.
14Adetɔni ka se, “Enye, enye!”
nanso sɛ ɔkɔ a ɔde nea watɔ no hoahoa ne ho.
15Sika kɔkɔɔ wɔ hɔ, na nhene pa nso abu so,
na ano a ɛka nimdeɛ nsɛm yɛ ɔbohemaa a ɛho yɛ na.
16Fa obi a odi ɔhɔho akagyinamu atade;
sɛ ɔregyina ɔbea huhufo akyi a, fa si awowa.
17Aduan a wonya no ɔkwan bɔne so no yɛ onipa anom dɛ,
nanso akyiri no, ɛdan mmosea wɔ nʼanom.
18Pɛ afotu yɛ wo nhyehyɛe;
sɛ wutu ɔsa a, nya ho akwankyerɛ.
19Osekuni da kokoamsɛm adi;
enti twe wo ho fi onipa a ɔkasa bebree ho.
20Sɛ obi dome nʼagya anaasɛ ne na a,
wobedum ne kanea wɔ sum kabii mu.
21Agyapade a wɔpere ho nya no,
renyɛ nhyira akyiri no.
22Nka se, “Metua wo saa bɔne yi so ka!”
Twɛn Awurade, na obegye wo.
23Awurade kyi nkaribo a ɛnyɛ papa,
na asisi nsania nso nsɔ nʼani.
24Awurade na ɔkyerɛ onipa anammɔntu.
Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi bɛte nʼankasa akwan ase?
25Obi pɛ ntɛm hyɛ bɔ, ansa na wadwene ho a,
osum ne ho afiri.
26Ɔhene nyansafo hu amumɔyɛfo;
na ɔde awiyam afiri hankare fa wɔn so.
27Awurade kanea hwehwɛ onipa honhom mu,
ɛhwehwɛ ne mu baabiara.
28Ɔdɔ ne nokwaredi bɔ ɔhene ho ban;
nʼadɔe ma nʼahengua tim.
29Mmerante anuonyam ne wɔn ahoɔden,
tidwen nso ne mmasiriwa anuonyam.
30Ɔhwe ne apirakuru hohoro amumɔyɛ,
mmaatwa tew koma mu.
