< Mmebusɛm 17 >
1 Aduan sakoo a asomdwoe wɔ ho ye sen ofi a aponto ahyɛ no ma nanso basabasayɛ wɔ mu.
A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict.
2 Ɔsomfo nyansafo bedi ɔba nimguasefo so, na obenya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapade no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and he will divide the inheritance among brothers.
3 Kyɛmfɛre wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ koma hwɛ.
Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.
4 Omumɔyɛfo tie nsusuwii bɔne; ɔtorofo yɛ aso ma adwene bɔne tɛkrɛma.
The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.
5 Nea odi ahiafo ho fɛw no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa; na nea ɔfoa amanehunu so no benya asotwe.
Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.
6 Nananom yɛ mmasiriwa anuonyam, na awofo yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 Anotew nye mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a edi atoro mfata ɔhene.
Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.
8 Nea ɔma adanmude no hu sɛ ɛyɛ suman; osusuw sɛ nkonimdi bɛba bere biara.
The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.
9 Nea obu nʼani gu mfomso so no ma ɔdɔ kwan, na nea ɔkɔ so bɔ so no tetew nnamfonom ntam.
Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.
10 Animka sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ani sen mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
A correction benefits more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 Onipa bɔnefo ani wɔ atuatew nko ara so na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛni tirimuɔdenfo akɔ no so.
The evil one continually seeks conflicts. But a cruel Angel shall be sent against him.
12 Eye sɛ wubehyia sisi a wɔawia ne mma sen ɔkwasea a ɔregyimi.
It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly.
13 Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fi da.
Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.
14 Ntɔkwaw mfiase te sɛ nea wɔretue suka; enti gyae ma ɛnka na ankɔfa ɔham amma.
Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.
15 Sɛ wobegyaa nea odi fɔ ne sɛ wobebu nea odi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.
16 Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam so nni mfaso, efisɛ onni botae biara sɛ obehu nyansa.
What does it profit the foolish to have riches, when he is not able to buy wisdom? Whoever makes his house high seeks ruin. And whoever shuns learning shall fall into evils.
17 Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ bere nyinaa mu, wɔwo onuabarima ma ahokyere bere.
Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.
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 will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.
19 Nea ɔpɛ ntɔkwaw no dɔ bɔne; nea osi ɔpon tenten no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛe.
Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ porɔwee koma no nnya nkɔso; nea ɔwɔ nnaadaa tɛkrɛma no tɔ amane mu.
Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns his tongue shall fall into evil.
21 Nea ɔwo ɔbakwasea no di awerɛhow, ɔbakwasea agya nni anigye.
A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.
22 Koma mu anigye yɛ aduru, ɛsa ɔyare, nanso honhom a abotow no yoyow nnompe.
A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.
23 Omumɔyɛfo gye adanmude wɔ sum ase de kyea atɛntrenee.
The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 Onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu no ani kɔ nyansa so, na ɔkwasea toto nʼani kosi asase ano.
Prudence shines from the face of the wise. The eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 Ɔbakwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhow, na ɔma nea onyinsɛn no no di yaw.
A foolish son is the anger of the father and the grief of the mother who conceived him.
26 Enye sɛ wɔtwe nea odi bem aso, anaasɛ wotwa adwumayɛfo mmaa wɔ wɔn nokwaredi nti.
It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.
27 Onimdefo dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu no wɔ abodwo.
Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has a precious spirit.
28 Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea yɛ dinn a wobu no sɛ onyansafo, na sɛ omua nʼano a wobu no sɛ ɔwɔ nhumu.
If he would remain silent, even the foolish would be considered wise, and if he closes his lips, intelligent.