Proverbs 18
1 He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
Ɔhonankani yɛ pɛsɛmenkomenya; na ɔmfa atɛntenenee nyɛ hwee.
2 A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
Ɔkwasea nni nhunumu ho anigyeɛ na mmom deɛ ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto dwa.
3 The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
Sɛ amumuyɛsɛm ba a animtiabuo di so, na aniwuo nso di animguaseɛ akyi.
4 Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
Onipa anom nsɛm yɛ nsuo a emu dɔ, na nyansa asutire yɛ asuwa a ɛrepu ahuro.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.
Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔdi ma omumuyɛfoɔ anaasɛ wɔbu deɛ ɔdi bem atɛnkyea.
6 The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
Ɔkwasea ano de akasakasa ba na nʼano frɛfrɛ ɔhweɛ.
7 The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.
Ɔkwasea ano yɛ ɔno ara sɛeɛ na nʼanofafa yɛ ne kra afidie.
8 The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
9 He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
Deɛ ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no nuabarima ne deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsɛefoɔ.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefoɔ dwane kɔtoa na wɔnya banbɔ.
11 The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
Adefoɔ ahonyadeɛ ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasuo tenten a wɔntumi mforo.
12 Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no ɔnya ahomasoɔ akoma, na ahobrɛaseɛ di animuonyam anim.
13 He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
Deɛ ɔntie asɛm ansa na wama mmuaeɛ no, ɛno ne ne gyimie ne nʼanimguaseɛ.
14 The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
Onipa sunsum na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ yadeɛ mu na honhom a apɛkyɛ deɛ, hwan na ɔpɛ?
15 A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
Nhunumu akoma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafoɔ aso nso hwehwɛ.
16 A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
Akyɛdeɛ bue ɛkwan ma deɛ ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitire anim.
17 The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
Ɛyɛ deɛ ɔbɔ ne nkuro kane no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kɔsi sɛ ɔfoforɔ bɛba abɛbisa no nsɛm no mu.
18 The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.
Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegyeɛ so, na ɛpata atamfoɔ.
19 A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
Onua a wɔafom noɔ no asɛm yɛ dene sene kuropɔn a ɛwɔ banbɔ, akyinnyegyeɛ te sɛ abankɛsewa apono a wɔabram akyire.
20 Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
Onipa anom asɛm so aba ma ɔyafunu mee, nnɔbaeɛ a nʼanofafa twa no mee no.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
Tɛkrɛma kura nkwa ne owuo tumi, na wɔn a wɔdɔ no no bɛdi nʼaba.
22 He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
Deɛ wanya yere no anya adepa na ɔnya adom firi Awurade hɔ.
23 The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
Ohiani srɛ ahummɔborɔ, nanso ɔdefoɔ de kasaden bua no.
24 A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso bɛtumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asene onua.
