Proverbs 17
1 Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house [full] of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.
Aduan sakoo a asomdwoe wɔ ho ye sen ofi a aponto ahyɛ no ma nanso basabasayɛ wɔ mu.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over foolish masters, and shall divide portions among brethren.
Ɔsomfo nyansafo bedi ɔba nimguasefo so, na obenya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapade no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
3 As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
Kyɛmfɛre wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ koma hwɛ.
4 A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
Omumɔyɛfo tie nsusuwii bɔne; ɔtorofo yɛ aso ma adwene bɔne tɛkrɛma.
5 He that laughs at the poor provokes him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
Nea odi ahiafo ho fɛw no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa; na nea ɔfoa amanehunu so no benya asotwe.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and their fathers are the glory of children. The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
Nananom yɛ mmasiriwa anuonyam, na awofo yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
7 Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
Anotew nye mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a edi atoro mfata ɔhene.
8 Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and wherever it may turn, it shall prosper.
Nea ɔma adanmude no hu sɛ ɛyɛ suman; osusuw sɛ nkonimdi bɛba bere biara.
9 He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide [them] separates friends and kindred.
Nea obu nʼani gu mfomso so no ma ɔdɔ kwan, na nea ɔkɔ so bɔ so no tetew nnamfonom ntam.
10 A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
Animka sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ani sen mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
11 Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
Onipa bɔnefo ani wɔ atuatew nko ara so na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛni tirimuɔdenfo akɔ no so.
12 Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
Eye sɛ wubehyia sisi a wɔawia ne mma sen ɔkwasea a ɔregyimi.
13 Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.
Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fi da.
14 Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
Ntɔkwaw mfiase te sɛ nea wɔretue suka; enti gyae ma ɛnka na ankɔfa ɔham amma.
15 He that pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
Sɛ wobegyaa nea odi fɔ ne sɛ wobebu nea odi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
16 Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.
Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam so nni mfaso, efisɛ onni botae biara sɛ obehu nyansa.
17 Have you a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ bere nyinaa mu, wɔwo onuabarima ma ahokyere bere.
18 A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, [as he] also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
Obi a onni adwene no na ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu nam so de si awowa ma ne yɔnko.
19 A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
Nea ɔpɛ ntɔkwaw no dɔ bɔne; nea osi ɔpon tenten no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛe.
20 and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
Onipa a ɔwɔ porɔwee koma no nnya nkɔso; nea ɔwɔ nnaadaa tɛkrɛma no tɔ amane mu.
21 and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
Nea ɔwo ɔbakwasea no di awerɛhow, ɔbakwasea agya nni anigye.
22 A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
Koma mu anigye yɛ aduru, ɛsa ɔyare, nanso honhom a abotow no yoyow nnompe.
23 The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in [his] bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
Omumɔyɛfo gye adanmude wɔ sum ase de kyea atɛntrenee.
24 The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool [go] to the ends of the earth.
Onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu no ani kɔ nyansa so, na ɔkwasea toto nʼani kosi asase ano.
25 A foolish son [is a cause of] anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
Ɔbakwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhow, na ɔma nea onyinsɛn no no di yaw.
26 [It is] not right to punish a righteous man, nor [is it] holy to plot against righteous princes.
Enye sɛ wɔtwe nea odi bem aso, anaasɛ wotwa adwumayɛfo mmaa wɔ wɔn nokwaredi nti.
27 He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
Onimdefo dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu no wɔ abodwo.
28 Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea yɛ dinn a wobu no sɛ onyansafo, na sɛ omua nʼano a wobu no sɛ ɔwɔ nhumu.
