Proverbs 18
1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeks and intermeddles with all wisdom.
Ɔhonankani yɛ pɛsɛmenkomenya; na ɔmfa atɛntenenee nyɛ hwee.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
Ɔkwasea nni nhunumu ho anigyeɛ na mmom deɛ ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto dwa.
3 When the wicked comes, then comes also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
Sɛ amumuyɛsɛm ba a animtiabuo di so, na aniwuo nso di animguaseɛ akyi.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
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 overthrow the righteous in judgment.
Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔdi ma omumuyɛfoɔ anaasɛ wɔbu deɛ ɔdi bem atɛnkyea.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for strokes.
Ɔkwasea ano de akasakasa ba na nʼano frɛfrɛ ɔhweɛ.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Ɔkwasea ano yɛ ɔno ara sɛeɛ na nʼanofafa yɛ ne kra afidie.
8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Deɛ ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no nuabarima ne deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsɛefoɔ.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is safe.
Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefoɔ dwane kɔtoa na wɔnya banbɔ.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Adefoɔ ahonyadeɛ ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasuo tenten a wɔntumi mforo.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no ɔnya ahomasoɔ akoma, na ahobrɛaseɛ di animuonyam anim.
13 He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.
Deɛ ɔntie asɛm ansa na wama mmuaeɛ no, ɛno ne ne gyimie ne nʼanimguaseɛ.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Onipa sunsum na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ yadeɛ mu na honhom a apɛkyɛ deɛ, hwan na ɔpɛ?
15 The heart of the prudent gets knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Nhunumu akoma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafoɔ aso nso hwehwɛ.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Akyɛdeɛ bue ɛkwan ma deɛ ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitire anim.
17 He that is first in his own cause seems just; but his neighbor comes and searches him.
Ɛyɛ deɛ ɔbɔ ne nkuro kane no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kɔsi sɛ ɔfoforɔ bɛba abɛbisa no nsɛm no mu.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease, and parts between the mighty.
Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegyeɛ so, na ɛpata atamfoɔ.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Onua a wɔafom noɔ no asɛm yɛ dene sene kuropɔn a ɛwɔ banbɔ, akyinnyegyeɛ te sɛ abankɛsewa apono a wɔabram akyire.
20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
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: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Tɛkrɛma kura nkwa ne owuo tumi, na wɔn a wɔdɔ no no bɛdi nʼaba.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.
Deɛ wanya yere no anya adepa na ɔnya adom firi Awurade hɔ.
23 The poor uses entreaties; but the rich answers roughly.
Ohiani srɛ ahummɔborɔ, nanso ɔdefoɔ de kasaden bua no.
24 A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso bɛtumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asene onua.
