Proverbs 18
1 For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
Ɔhonankani yɛ pɛsɛmenkomenya; na ɔmfa atɛntenenee nyɛ hwee.
2 A fool delighteth not in understanding, But — in uncovering his heart.
Ɔkwasea nni nhunumu ho anigyeɛ na mmom deɛ ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto dwa.
3 With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame — reproach.
Sɛ amumuyɛsɛm ba a animtiabuo di so, na aniwuo nso di animguaseɛ akyi.
4 Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
Onipa anom nsɛm yɛ nsuo a emu dɔ, na nyansa asutire yɛ asuwa a ɛrepu ahuro.
5 Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔdi ma omumuyɛfoɔ anaasɛ wɔbu deɛ ɔdi bem atɛnkyea.
6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
Ɔkwasea ano de akasakasa ba na nʼano frɛfrɛ ɔhweɛ.
7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
Ɔkwasea ano yɛ ɔno ara sɛeɛ na nʼanofafa yɛ ne kra afidie.
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 anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
9 He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
Deɛ ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no nuabarima ne deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsɛefoɔ.
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; ahotefoɔ dwane kɔtoa na wɔnya banbɔ.
11 The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
Adefoɔ ahonyadeɛ ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasuo tenten a wɔntumi mforo.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.
Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no ɔnya ahomasoɔ akoma, na ahobrɛaseɛ di animuonyam anim.
13 Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
Deɛ ɔntie asɛm ansa na wama mmuaeɛ no, ɛno ne ne gyimie ne nʼanimguaseɛ.
14 The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
Onipa sunsum na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ yadeɛ mu na honhom a apɛkyɛ deɛ, hwan na ɔpɛ?
15 The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Nhunumu akoma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafoɔ aso nso hwehwɛ.
16 The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
Akyɛdeɛ bue ɛkwan ma deɛ ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitire anim.
17 Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
Ɛyɛ deɛ ɔbɔ ne nkuro kane no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kɔsi sɛ ɔfoforɔ bɛba abɛbisa no nsɛm no mu.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegyeɛ so, na ɛpata atamfoɔ.
19 A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
Onua a wɔafom noɔ no asɛm yɛ dene sene kuropɔn a ɛwɔ banbɔ, akyinnyegyeɛ te sɛ abankɛsewa apono a wɔabram akyire.
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, nnɔbaeɛ 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 owuo tumi, na wɔn a wɔdɔ no no bɛdi nʼaba.
22 [Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
Deɛ wanya yere no anya adepa na ɔnya adom firi Awurade hɔ.
23 [With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
Ohiani srɛ ahummɔborɔ, nanso ɔdefoɔ 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 bɛtumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asene onua.
