Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of 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 a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Ɔsomfo nyansafo bedi ɔba nimguasefo so, na obenya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapade no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
3 The fining-pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Kyɛmfɛre wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ koma hwɛ.
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips: [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Omumɔyɛfo tie nsusuwii bɔne; ɔtorofo yɛ aso ma adwene bɔne tɛkrɛma.
5 He that mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
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 the glory of children [is] their fathers.
Nananom yɛ mmasiriwa anuonyam, na awofo yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Anotew nye mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a edi atoro mfata ɔhene.
8 A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Nea ɔma adanmude no hu sɛ ɛyɛ suman; osusuw sɛ nkonimdi bɛba bere biara.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
Nea obu nʼani gu mfomso so no ma ɔdɔ kwan, na nea ɔkɔ so bɔ so no tetew nnamfonom ntam.
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Animka sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ani sen mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
11 An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Onipa bɔnefo ani wɔ atuatew nko ara so na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛni tirimuɔdenfo akɔ no so.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Eye sɛ wubehyia sisi a wɔawia ne mma sen ɔkwasea a ɔregyimi.
13 Whoever rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fi da.
14 The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.
Ntɔkwaw mfiase te sɛ nea wɔretue suka; enti gyae ma ɛnka na ankɔfa ɔham amma.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
Sɛ wobegyaa nea odi fɔ ne sɛ wobebu nea odi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
16 Why [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam so nni mfaso, efisɛ onni botae biara sɛ obehu nyansa.
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ bere nyinaa mu, wɔwo onuabarima ma ahokyere bere.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Obi a onni adwene no na ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu nam so de si awowa ma ne yɔnko.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Nea ɔpɛ ntɔkwaw no dɔ bɔne; nea osi ɔpon tenten no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛe.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Onipa a ɔwɔ porɔwee koma no nnya nkɔso; nea ɔwɔ nnaadaa tɛkrɛma no tɔ amane mu.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Nea ɔwo ɔbakwasea no di awerɛhow, ɔbakwasea agya nni anigye.
22 A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Koma mu anigye yɛ aduru, ɛsa ɔyare, nanso honhom a abotow no yoyow nnompe.
23 A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Omumɔyɛfo gye adanmude wɔ sum ase de kyea atɛntrenee.
24 Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in 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 grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
Ɔbakwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhow, na ɔma nea onyinsɛn no no di yaw.
26 Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
Enye sɛ wɔtwe nea odi bem aso, anaasɛ wotwa adwumayɛfo mmaa wɔ wɔn nokwaredi nti.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Onimdefo dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu no wɔ abodwo.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea yɛ dinn a wobu no sɛ onyansafo, na sɛ omua nʼano a wobu no sɛ ɔwɔ nhumu.
