Proverbs 18
1 He who desires to separate himself seeks excuses, and rages against all sound wisdom.
Ɔhonamkani yɛ pɛsɛmenkominya; na nea ɛmfa atɛntrenee mma no turuw ɔham.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
Ɔkwasea nni nhumu ho anigye, na mmom nea ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto gua.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, and with disgrace, reproach.
Sɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ba a animtiaabu di so, na aniwu nso di animguase akyi.
4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters. The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
Onipa anom nsɛm yɛ nsu a emu dɔ, na nyansa asuti yɛ asuwa a ɛrefi ahuru.
5 To respect the person of a wicked man is not good, nor to turn aside a righteous man in judgment.
Enye sɛ wodi ma omumɔyɛfo anaasɛ wobu nea odi bem ntɛnkyew.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for stripes.
Nkwaseafo ano de akasakasa ba, na wɔn ano frɛfrɛ ɔhwe.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Nkwaseafo ano yɛ wɔn ara wɔn sɛe, na wɔn anofafa yɛ wɔn ara wɔn kra afiri.
8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
9 He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
Nea ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no yɛ ɔsɛefo nuabarima.
10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. A righteous man runs into it, and is safe.
Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefo guan kɔtoa na wonya bammɔ.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
Adefo ahonyade ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasu tenten a wontumi mforo.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no onya ahomaso koma, na ahobrɛase di anuonyam anim.
13 He who gives answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.
Nea ontie asɛm ansa na wama mmuae no, ɛno ne ne gyimi ne nʼanimguase.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?
Onipa honhom na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ ɔyare mu na honhom a abotow de, hena na ɔpɛ?
15 The heart of a prudent man gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Nhumu koma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafo aso nso hwehwɛ.
16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Akyɛde bue kwan ma nea ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitiriw anim.
17 He who pleads his case first seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.
Ɛyɛ nea ɔbɔ ne nkuro kan no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kosi sɛ ɔfoforo bɛba abebisa no nsɛm no mu.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease, and decides between the mighty.
Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegye so, na ɛpata atamfo.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Onua a wɔafom no no asɛm yɛ den sen kuropɔn a ɛwɔ bammɔ, akyinnyegye te sɛ abankɛse apon a wɔabram akyi.
20 A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the increase of his lips he shall be satisfied.
Onipa anom asɛm so aba ma ɔyafunu mee, nnɔbae a nʼanofafa twa no mee no.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it.
Tɛkrɛma kura nkwa ne owu tumi, na wɔn a wɔdɔ no no bedi nʼaba.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from Jehovah.
Nea wanya yere no anya ade pa na onya adom fi Awurade hɔ.
23 A poor man uses entreaties, but a rich man answers roughly.
Ohiani srɛ ahummɔbɔ, nanso ɔdefo de kasaden bua no.
24 He who makes many friends does it to his own destruction, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso betumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asen onua.
