Proverbs 17
1 Better to eat a dry scrap in peace than to feast in a house full of people arguing.
Aduane mmɔwe a asomdwoeɛ wɔ ho yɛ sene efie a apontoɔ ahyɛ no ma a nso basabasayɛ wɔ mu.
2 A servant who acts wisely will be put in charge of a disgraced son, and will share the family inheritance with the brothers.
Ɔsomfoɔ nyansafoɔ bɛdi ɔba nimguasefoɔ so, na ɔbɛnya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapadeɛ no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
3 A crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, but the Lord tests the attitude of mind.
Kyɛmferɛ wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ akoma hwɛ.
4 Evil people listen to spiteful talk, and liars pay attention to malicious words.
Omumuyɛfoɔ tie nsusuiɛ bɔne; ɔtorofoɔ yɛ aso ma adwen bɔne tɛkrɛma.
5 Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, and anyone who enjoys the suffering of others will be punished.
Deɛ ɔdi ahiafoɔ ho fɛ no bu wɔn Yɛfoɔ animtiaa; na deɛ ɔfoa amanehunu soɔ no bɛnya asotwe.
6 Old people are proud of their grandchildren, and children are proud of their parents.
Mmanananom yɛ mmasiriwa animuonyam, na awofoɔ yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
7 Fine words don't suit stupid people, how much less are lies suited to a ruler.
Anokrokro nyɛ mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a ɛdi torɔ mfata ɔhene.
8 Whoever gives a bribe thinks it's a magical stone—that wherever they turn they'll have success!
Kɛtɛasehyɛ daadaa deɛ ɔma; ɔgye sɛ ɛbɛma no nkonim.
9 If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.
Deɛ ɔbu nʼani gu mfomsoɔ so no ma ɔdɔ ɛkwan, na deɛ ɔbɔ soɔ no tete nnamfonom ntam.
10 A reprimand hits a thinking person more than one hundred blows hit someone stupid.
Nkaanim sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu ani sene mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
11 Evil people are only looking to rebel, so a cruel messenger will be sent to attack them.
Onipa bɔnefoɔ ani wɔ atuateɛ nko ara so na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛfoɔ tirimuɔdenfoɔ akɔ ne so.
12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid person and their foolishness.
Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛhyia sisire a wɔawia ne mma sene ɔkwasea a ɔregyimie.
13 If you repay evil for good, evil will never leave your house.
Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fie da.
14 The beginning of a quarrel is like the first leak in a water dam, so drop it before a major argument bursts out.
Ntɔkwa ahyɛaseɛ te sɛ deɛ wɔretue suka; enti gyae ma ɛnka na ankɔfa ɔham amma.
15 The Lord hates it when the wicked are acquitted and the innocent condemned.
Sɛ wɔbɛgyaa deɛ ɔdi fɔ ne sɛ wɔbɛbu deɛ ɔdi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyiri ne mmienu.
16 Is there any point in stupid people trying to buy wisdom when they don't want to learn?
Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam ho nni mfasoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ ɔnni botaeɛ biara sɛ ɔbɛhunu nyansa.
17 A true friend is always there to love you, and family provides help when troubles come.
Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ ɛberɛ nyinaa mu, wɔwo onua barima ma ahokyere berɛ.
18 It's not a wise idea to make a pledge and guarantee a neighbor's debt.
Obi a ɔnni adwene no na ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu nam so de si awowa ma ne yɔnko.
19 People who love sin like to argue; those who build high gates invite destruction.
Deɛ ɔpɛ ntɔkwa no dɔ bɔne; deɛ ɔsi ɛpono tentene no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛeɛ.
20 People with warped minds don't succeed; those who tell lies get into trouble.
Onipa a ɔwɔ akoma kontonkyi no nnya nkɔsoɔ; deɛ ne tɛkrɛma daadaa no tɔ amaneɛ mu.
21 A stupid son brings grief to his father; the father of a child who does stupid things has no joy.
Deɛ ɔwo ɔba kwasea no di awerɛhoɔ; ɔba kwasea agya nni anigyeɛ.
22 A cheerful attitude is like good medicine, but discouragement makes you sick.
Akoma mu anigyeɛ yɛ aduro ɛsa yadeɛ, nanso honhom a apɛkyɛ no wewe nnompe.
23 The wicked take hidden bribes to pervert the course of justice.
Omumuyɛfoɔ gye adanmudeɛ wɔ esum ase de kyea atɛntenenee.
24 Sensible people focus on wisdom, but the eyes of stupid people are always wandering.
Onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu no ani kɔ nyansa so, na ɔkwasea toto nʼani kɔsi asase ano.
25 A stupid son brings grief to his father and sadness to his mother who gave birth to him.
Ɔba kwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhoɔ, na ɔma deɛ ɔnyinsɛnee no no di yea.
26 It's not right to impose a fine on someone who's innocent or to flog good leaders for their honesty.
Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔtwe deɛ ɔdi bem aso, anaasɛ wɔtwa adwumayɛfoɔ mmaa wɔ wɔn nokorɛdie enti.
27 If you're wise, you'll be careful what you say; and if you're sensible, you'll keep your temper.
Ɔnimdefoɔ dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu no wɔ abodwoɔ.
28 Even stupid people who keep quiet are considered wise; if they don't say anything they appear intelligent.
Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea yɛ dinn a wɔbu no sɛ ɔnyansafoɔ, na sɛ ɔmua nʼano a wɔbu no sɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu.
