Proverbs 18
1 Selfish people only please themselves, they attack anything that makes good sense.
Ɔhonamkani yɛ pɛsɛmenkominya; na nea ɛmfa atɛntrenee mma no turuw ɔham.
2 Stupid people have no interest in trying to understand, they only want to express their opinions.
Ɔkwasea nni nhumu ho anigye, na mmom nea ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto gua.
3 With wickedness comes contempt; with dishonor comes disgrace.
Sɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ba a animtiaabu di so, na aniwu nso di animguase akyi.
4 People's words can be profound like deep waters, a gushing stream that is the source of wisdom.
Onipa anom nsɛm yɛ nsu a emu dɔ, na nyansa asuti yɛ asuwa a ɛrefi ahuru.
5 It's not right to show favoritism to the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.
Enye sɛ wodi ma omumɔyɛfo anaasɛ wobu nea odi bem ntɛnkyew.
6 What stupid people say gets them into fights, as if they're asking for a beating.
Nkwaseafo ano de akasakasa ba, na wɔn ano frɛfrɛ ɔhwe.
7 Stupid people are caught out by what they say; their own words trap them.
Nkwaseafo ano yɛ wɔn ara wɔn sɛe, na wɔn anofafa yɛ wɔn ara wɔn kra afiri.
8 Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
9 Laziness and destruction are brothers.
Nea ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no yɛ ɔsɛefo nuabarima.
10 The Lord is a protective tower that good people can run to and be safe.
Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefo guan kɔtoa na wonya bammɔ.
11 Rich people see their wealth as a fortified town—it's like a high wall in their imagination.
Adefo ahonyade ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasu tenten a wontumi mforo.
12 Pride leads to destruction; humility goes before honor.
Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no onya ahomaso koma, na ahobrɛase di anuonyam anim.
13 Replying before hearing is stupidity and shame.
Nea ontie asɛm ansa na wama mmuae no, ɛno ne ne gyimi ne nʼanimguase.
14 With a brave spirit you can put up with sickness, but if it's crushed, you can't bear it.
Onipa honhom na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ ɔyare mu na honhom a abotow de, hena na ɔpɛ?
15 An intelligent mind acquires knowledge; the wise are ready to hear knowledge.
Nhumu koma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafo aso nso hwehwɛ.
16 A gift opens doors for you, and gets you into the presence of important people.
Akyɛde bue kwan ma nea ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitiriw anim.
17 The first person to plead a case sounds right until someone comes to cross-examine them.
Ɛyɛ nea ɔbɔ ne nkuro kan no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kosi sɛ ɔfoforo bɛba abebisa no nsɛm no mu.
18 Casting lots can end disputes and decide between powerful people.
Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegye so, na ɛpata atamfo.
19 A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.
Onua a wɔafom no no asɛm yɛ den sen kuropɔn a ɛwɔ bammɔ, akyinnyegye te sɛ abankɛse apon a wɔabram akyi.
20 Make sure you're satisfied with what you say—you have to live with your words.
Onipa anom asɛm so aba ma ɔyafunu mee, nnɔbae a nʼanofafa twa no mee no.
21 What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.
Tɛkrɛma kura nkwa ne owu tumi, na wɔn a wɔdɔ no no bedi nʼaba.
22 If you find a wife, that's great, and you'll be blessed by the Lord.
Nea wanya yere no anya ade pa na onya adom fi Awurade hɔ.
23 The poor beg for mercy, but the rich reply harshly.
Ohiani srɛ ahummɔbɔ, nanso ɔdefo de kasaden bua no.
24 Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you than a brother.
Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso betumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asen onua.
