Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
Aduane mmɔwe a asomdwoeɛ wɔ ho yɛ sene efie a apontoɔ ahyɛ no ma a nso basabasayɛ wɔ mu.
2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
Ɔsomfoɔ nyansafoɔ bɛdi ɔba nimguasefoɔ so, na ɔbɛnya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapadeɛ no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.
Kyɛmferɛ wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ akoma hwɛ.
4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
Omumuyɛfoɔ tie nsusuiɛ bɔne; ɔtorofoɔ yɛ aso ma adwen bɔne tɛkrɛma.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [And] he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Deɛ ɔdi ahiafoɔ ho fɛ no bu wɔn Yɛfoɔ animtiaa; na deɛ ɔfoa amanehunu soɔ no bɛnya asotwe.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.
Mmanananom yɛ mmasiriwa animuonyam, na awofoɔ yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.
Anokrokro nyɛ mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a ɛdi torɔ mfata ɔhene.
8 A bribe is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Kɛtɛasehyɛ daadaa deɛ ɔma; ɔgye sɛ ɛbɛma no nkonim.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
Deɛ ɔbu nʼani gu mfomsoɔ so no ma ɔdɔ ɛkwan, na deɛ ɔbɔ soɔ no tete nnamfonom ntam.
10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Nkaanim sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu ani sene mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Onipa bɔnefoɔ ani wɔ atuateɛ nko ara so na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛfoɔ tirimuɔdenfoɔ akɔ ne so.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛhyia sisire a wɔawia ne mma sene ɔkwasea a ɔregyimie.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fie da.
14 The beginning of strife is [as] when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
Ntɔkwa ahyɛaseɛ te sɛ deɛ wɔretue suka; enti gyae ma ɛnka na ankɔfa ɔham amma.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
Sɛ wɔbɛgyaa deɛ ɔdi fɔ ne sɛ wɔbɛbu deɛ ɔdi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyiri ne mmienu.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam ho nni mfasoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ ɔnni botaeɛ biara sɛ ɔbɛhunu nyansa.
17 A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.
Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ ɛberɛ nyinaa mu, wɔwo onua barima ma ahokyere berɛ.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.
Obi a ɔnni adwene no na ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu nam so de si awowa ma ne yɔnko.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.
Deɛ ɔpɛ ntɔkwa no dɔ bɔne; deɛ ɔsi ɛpono tentene no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛeɛ.
20 He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Onipa a ɔwɔ akoma kontonkyi no nnya nkɔsoɔ; deɛ ne tɛkrɛma daadaa no tɔ amaneɛ mu.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.
Deɛ ɔwo ɔba kwasea no di awerɛhoɔ; ɔba kwasea agya nni anigyeɛ.
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
Akoma mu anigyeɛ yɛ aduro ɛsa yadeɛ, nanso honhom a apɛkyɛ no wewe nnompe.
23 A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.
Omumuyɛfoɔ gye adanmudeɛ wɔ esum ase de kyea atɛntenenee.
24 Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu no ani kɔ nyansa so, na ɔkwasea toto nʼani kɔsi asase ano.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
Ɔba kwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhoɔ, na ɔma deɛ ɔnyinsɛnee no no di yea.
26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, [Nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness.
Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔtwe deɛ ɔdi bem aso, anaasɛ wɔtwa adwumayɛfoɔ mmaa wɔ wɔn nokorɛdie enti.
27 He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Ɔnimdefoɔ dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu no wɔ abodwoɔ.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.
Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea yɛ dinn a wɔbu no sɛ ɔnyansafoɔ, na sɛ ɔmua nʼano a wɔbu no sɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu.
