Proverbs 18
1 An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
Ɔhonankani yɛ pɛsɛmenkomenya; na ɔmfa atɛntenenee nyɛ hwee.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
Ɔkwasea nni nhunumu ho anigyeɛ na mmom deɛ ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto dwa.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
Sɛ amumuyɛsɛm ba a animtiabuo di so, na aniwuo nso di animguaseɛ akyi.
4 The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
Onipa anom nsɛm yɛ nsuo a emu dɔ, na nyansa asutire yɛ asuwa a ɛrepu ahuro.
5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔdi ma omumuyɛfoɔ anaasɛ wɔbu deɛ ɔdi bem atɛnkyea.
6 A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
Ɔkwasea ano de akasakasa ba na nʼano frɛfrɛ ɔhweɛ.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Ɔkwasea ano yɛ ɔno ara sɛeɛ na nʼanofafa yɛ ne kra afidie.
8 The words of a gossip are like tasty morsels, and they go down into a person's innermost parts.
Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
Deɛ ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no nuabarima ne deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsɛefoɔ.
10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.
Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefoɔ dwane kɔtoa na wɔnya banbɔ.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
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 proud, but before honor is humility.
Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no ɔnya ahomasoɔ akoma, na ahobrɛaseɛ di animuonyam anim.
13 He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Deɛ ɔntie asɛm ansa na wama mmuaeɛ no, ɛno ne ne gyimie ne nʼanimguaseɛ.
14 A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed 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 discerning gets knowledge. 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 who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
Ɛyɛ deɛ ɔbɔ ne nkuro kane no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kɔsi sɛ ɔfoforɔ bɛba abɛbisa no nsɛm no mu.
18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegyeɛ so, na ɛpata atamfoɔ.
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
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 stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
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; those who love it will eat its fruit.
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 Jehovah.
Deɛ wanya yere no anya adepa na ɔnya adom firi Awurade hɔ.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
Ohiani srɛ ahummɔborɔ, nanso ɔdefoɔ de kasaden bua no.
24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso bɛtumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asene onua.
