Proverbs 18
1 For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
Ɔhonamkani yɛ pɛsɛmenkominya; na nea ɛmfa atɛntrenee mma no turuw ɔham.
2 A fool delighteth not in understanding, But — in uncovering his heart.
Ɔkwasea nni nhumu ho anigye, na mmom nea ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto gua.
3 With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame — reproach.
Sɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ba a animtiaabu di so, na aniwu nso di animguase akyi.
4 Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
Onipa anom nsɛm yɛ nsu a emu dɔ, na nyansa asuti yɛ asuwa a ɛrefi ahuru.
5 Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
Enye sɛ wodi ma omumɔyɛfo anaasɛ wobu nea odi bem ntɛnkyew.
6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
Nkwaseafo ano de akasakasa ba, na wɔn ano frɛfrɛ ɔhwe.
7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
Nkwaseafo ano yɛ wɔn ara wɔn sɛe, na wɔn anofafa yɛ wɔn ara wɔn kra afiri.
8 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
9 He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
Nea ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no yɛ ɔsɛefo nuabarima.
10 A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefo guan kɔtoa na wonya bammɔ.
11 The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high 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 high, And before honour [is] humility.
Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no onya ahomaso koma, na ahobrɛase di anuonyam anim.
13 Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
Nea ontie asɛm ansa na wama mmuae no, ɛno ne ne gyimi ne nʼanimguase.
14 The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
Onipa honhom na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ ɔyare mu na honhom a abotow de, hena na ɔpɛ?
15 The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Nhumu koma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafo aso nso hwehwɛ.
16 The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
Akyɛde bue kwan ma nea ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitiriw anim.
17 Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
Ɛyɛ nea ɔbɔ ne nkuro kan no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kosi sɛ ɔfoforo bɛba abebisa no nsɛm no mu.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegye so, na ɛpata atamfo.
19 A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
Onua a wɔafom no no asɛm yɛ den sen kuropɔn a ɛwɔ bammɔ, akyinnyegye te sɛ abankɛse apon a wɔabram akyi.
20 From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase 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, And those loving it eat its fruit.
Tɛkrɛma kura nkwa ne owu tumi, na wɔn a wɔdɔ no no bedi nʼaba.
22 [Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
Nea wanya yere no anya ade pa na onya adom fi Awurade hɔ.
23 [With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
Ohiani srɛ ahummɔbɔ, nanso ɔdefo de kasaden bua no.
24 A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso betumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asen onua.
