Mmebusɛm 17
1 Aduan sakoo a asomdwoe wɔ ho ye sen ofi a aponto ahyɛ no ma nanso basabasayɛ wɔ mu.
Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house [full] of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.
2 Ɔsomfo nyansafo bedi ɔba nimguasefo so, na obenya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapade no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
A wise servant shall have rule over foolish masters, and shall divide portions amongst brethren.
3 Kyɛmfɛre wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ koma hwɛ.
As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
4 Omumɔyɛfo tie nsusuwii bɔne; ɔtorofo yɛ aso ma adwene bɔne tɛkrɛma.
A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
5 Nea odi ahiafo ho fɛw no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa; na nea ɔfoa amanehunu so no benya asotwe.
He that laughs at the poor provokes him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
6 Nananom yɛ mmasiriwa anuonyam, na awofo yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and their fathers are the glory of children. The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
7 Anotew nye mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a edi atoro mfata ɔhene.
Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
8 Nea ɔma adanmude no hu sɛ ɛyɛ suman; osusuw sɛ nkonimdi bɛba bere biara.
Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and wherever it may turn, it shall prosper.
9 Nea obu nʼani gu mfomso so no ma ɔdɔ kwan, na nea ɔkɔ so bɔ so no tetew nnamfonom ntam.
He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide [them] separates friends and kindred.
10 Animka sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ani sen mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
11 Onipa bɔnefo ani wɔ atuatew nko ara so na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛni tirimuɔdenfo akɔ no so.
Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
12 Eye sɛ wubehyia sisi a wɔawia ne mma sen ɔkwasea a ɔregyimi.
Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
13 Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fi da.
Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.
14 Ntɔkwaw mfiase te sɛ nea wɔretue suka; enti gyae ma ɛnka na ankɔfa ɔham amma.
Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
15 Sɛ wobegyaa nea odi fɔ ne sɛ wobebu nea odi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
He that pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
16 Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam so nni mfaso, efisɛ onni botae biara sɛ obehu nyansa.
Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.
17 Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ bere nyinaa mu, wɔwo onuabarima ma ahokyere bere.
Have you a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
18 Obi a onni adwene no na ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu nam so de si awowa ma ne yɔnko.
A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, [as he] also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
19 Nea ɔpɛ ntɔkwaw no dɔ bɔne; nea osi ɔpon tenten no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛe.
A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ porɔwee koma no nnya nkɔso; nea ɔwɔ nnaadaa tɛkrɛma no tɔ amane mu.
and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
21 Nea ɔwo ɔbakwasea no di awerɛhow, ɔbakwasea agya nni anigye.
and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
22 Koma mu anigye yɛ aduru, ɛsa ɔyare, nanso honhom a abotow no yoyow nnompe.
A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
23 Omumɔyɛfo gye adanmude wɔ sum ase de kyea atɛntrenee.
The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in [his] bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
24 Onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu no ani kɔ nyansa so, na ɔkwasea toto nʼani kosi asase ano.
The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool [go] to the ends of the earth.
25 Ɔbakwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhow, na ɔma nea onyinsɛn no no di yaw.
A foolish son [is a cause of] anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
26 Enye sɛ wɔtwe nea odi bem aso, anaasɛ wotwa adwumayɛfo mmaa wɔ wɔn nokwaredi nti.
[It is] not right to punish a righteous man, nor [is it] holy to plot against righteous princes.
27 Onimdefo dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu no wɔ abodwo.
He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
28 Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea yɛ dinn a wobu no sɛ onyansafo, na sɛ omua nʼano a wobu no sɛ ɔwɔ nhumu.
Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
