Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
Aduan sakoo a asomdwoe wɔ ho ye sen ofi a aponto ahyɛ no ma nanso basabasayɛ wɔ mu.
2 A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
Ɔsomfo nyansafo bedi ɔba nimguasefo so, na obenya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapade no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
Kyɛmfɛre wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ koma hwɛ.
4 An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
Omumɔyɛfo tie nsusuwii bɔne; ɔtorofo yɛ aso ma adwene bɔne tɛkrɛma.
5 Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
Nea odi ahiafo ho fɛw no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa; na nea ɔfoa amanehunu so no benya asotwe.
6 Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
Nananom yɛ mmasiriwa anuonyam, na awofo yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
7 Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
Anotew nye mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a edi atoro mfata ɔhene.
8 A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Nea ɔma adanmude no hu sɛ ɛyɛ suman; osusuw sɛ nkonimdi bɛba bere biara.
9 Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
Nea obu nʼani gu mfomso so no ma ɔdɔ kwan, na nea ɔkɔ so bɔ so no tetew nnamfonom ntam.
10 Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
Animka sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ani sen mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
Onipa bɔnefo ani wɔ atuatew nko ara so na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛni tirimuɔdenfo akɔ no so.
12 The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.
Eye sɛ wubehyia sisi a wɔawia ne mma sen ɔkwasea a ɔregyimi.
13 Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fi da.
14 The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
Ntɔkwaw mfiase te sɛ nea wɔretue suka; enti gyae ma ɛnka na ankɔfa ɔham amma.
15 Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
Sɛ wobegyaa nea odi fɔ ne sɛ wobebu nea odi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
16 Why [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam so nni mfaso, efisɛ onni botae biara sɛ obehu nyansa.
17 At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ bere nyinaa mu, wɔwo onuabarima ma ahokyere bere.
18 A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before 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 Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
Nea ɔpɛ ntɔkwaw no dɔ bɔne; nea osi ɔpon tenten no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛe.
20 The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
Onipa a ɔwɔ porɔwee koma no nnya nkɔso; nea ɔwɔ nnaadaa tɛkrɛma no tɔ amane mu.
21 Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
Nea ɔwo ɔbakwasea no di awerɛhow, ɔbakwasea agya nni anigye.
22 A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
Koma mu anigye yɛ aduru, ɛsa ɔyare, nanso honhom a abotow no yoyow nnompe.
23 A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
Omumɔyɛfo gye adanmude wɔ sum ase de kyea atɛntrenee.
24 The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool — at the end of the earth.
Onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu no ani kɔ nyansa so, na ɔkwasea toto nʼani kosi asase ano.
25 A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
Ɔbakwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhow, na ɔma nea onyinsɛn no no di yaw.
26 Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
Enye sɛ wɔtwe nea odi bem aso, anaasɛ wotwa adwumayɛfo mmaa wɔ wɔn nokwaredi nti.
27 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
Onimdefo dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu no wɔ abodwo.
28 Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea yɛ dinn a wobu no sɛ onyansafo, na sɛ omua nʼano a wobu no sɛ ɔwɔ nhumu.
