Proverbs 18
1 A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
Ɔhonamkani yɛ pɛsɛmenkominya; na nea ɛmfa atɛntrenee mma no turuw ɔham.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
Ɔkwasea nni nhumu ho anigye, na mmom nea ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto gua.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
Sɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ba a animtiaabu di so, na aniwu nso di animguase 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 nsu a emu dɔ, na nyansa asuti yɛ asuwa a ɛrefi ahuru.
5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
Enye sɛ wodi ma omumɔyɛfo anaasɛ wobu nea odi bem ntɛnkyew.
6 A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
Nkwaseafo ano de akasakasa ba, na wɔn ano frɛfrɛ ɔhwe.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Nkwaseafo ano yɛ wɔn ara wɔn sɛe, na wɔn anofafa yɛ wɔn ara wɔn kra afiri.
8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
Nea ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no yɛ ɔsɛefo nuabarima.
10 Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefo guan kɔtoa na wonya bammɔ.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
Adefo ahonyade ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasu tenten a wontumi mforo.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no onya ahomaso koma, na ahobrɛase di anuonyam anim.
13 He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Nea ontie asɛm ansa na wama mmuae no, ɛno ne ne gyimi ne nʼanimguase.
14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
Onipa honhom na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ ɔyare mu na honhom a abotow de, hena na ɔpɛ?
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Nhumu koma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafo aso nso hwehwɛ.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Akyɛde bue kwan ma nea ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitiriw anim.
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
Ɛyɛ nea ɔbɔ ne nkuro kan no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kosi sɛ ɔfoforo bɛba abebisa no nsɛm no mu.
18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegye so, na ɛpata atamfo.
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
Onua a wɔafom no no asɛm yɛ den sen kuropɔn a ɛwɔ bammɔ, akyinnyegye te sɛ abankɛse apon a wɔabram akyi.
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, nnɔbae 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 owu tumi, na wɔn a wɔdɔ no no bedi nʼaba.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
Nea wanya yere no anya ade pa na onya adom fi Awurade hɔ.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
Ohiani srɛ ahummɔbɔ, nanso ɔdefo 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 betumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asen onua.
