< Proverbs 17 >
1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
Aduan sakoo a asomdwoe wɔ ho ye sen ofi a aponto ahyɛ no ma nanso basabasayɛ wɔ mu.
2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
Ɔsomfo nyansafo bedi ɔba nimguasefo so, na obenya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapade no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts.
Kyɛmfɛre wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ koma hwɛ.
4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Omumɔyɛfo tie nsusuwii bɔne; ɔtorofo yɛ aso ma adwene bɔne tɛkrɛma.
5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity 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; the glory of children is their parents.
Nananom yɛ mmasiriwa anuonyam, na awofo yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
7 Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
Anotew nye mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a edi atoro mfata ɔhene.
8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
Nea ɔma adanmude no hu sɛ ɛyɛ suman; osusuw sɛ nkonimdi bɛba bere biara.
9 He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
Nea obu nʼani gu mfomso so no ma ɔdɔ kwan, na nea ɔkɔ so bɔ so no tetew nnamfonom ntam.
10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
Animka sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ani sen mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
11 An evil man seeks 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 cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Eye sɛ wubehyia sisi a wɔawia ne mma sen ɔkwasea a ɔregyimi.
13 Whoever rewards 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 like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
Ntɔkwaw mfiase te sɛ nea wɔretue suka; enti gyae ma ɛnka na ankɔfa ɔham amma.
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
Sɛ wobegyaa nea odi fɔ ne sɛ wobebu nea odi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam so nni mfaso, efisɛ onni botae biara sɛ obehu nyansa.
17 A friend loves 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 strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
Obi a onni adwene no na ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu nam so de si awowa ma ne yɔnko.
19 He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
Nea ɔpɛ ntɔkwaw no dɔ bɔne; nea osi ɔpon tenten no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛe.
20 One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
Onipa a ɔwɔ porɔwee koma no nnya nkɔso; nea ɔwɔ nnaadaa tɛkrɛma no tɔ amane mu.
21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
Nea ɔwo ɔbakwasea no di awerɛhow, ɔbakwasea agya nni anigye.
22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Koma mu anigye yɛ aduru, ɛsa ɔyare, nanso honhom a abotow no yoyow nnompe.
23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
Omumɔyɛfo gye adanmude wɔ sum ase de kyea atɛntrenee.
24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander 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 brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
Ɔbakwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhow, na ɔma nea onyinsɛn no no di yaw.
26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
Enye sɛ wɔtwe nea odi bem aso, anaasɛ wotwa adwumayɛfo mmaa wɔ wɔn nokwaredi nti.
27 He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
Onimdefo dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu no wɔ abodwo.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea yɛ dinn a wobu no sɛ onyansafo, na sɛ omua nʼano a wobu no sɛ ɔwɔ nhumu.