< Mmebusɛm 17 >
1 Aduan sakoo a asomdwoe wɔ ho ye sen ofi a aponto ahyɛ no ma nanso basabasayɛ wɔ mu.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting [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 rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Kyɛmfɛre wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ koma hwɛ.
The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.
4 Omumɔyɛfo tie nsusuwii bɔne; ɔtorofo yɛ aso ma adwene bɔne tɛkrɛma.
The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Nea odi ahiafo ho fɛw no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa; na nea ɔfoa amanehunu so no benya asotwe.
Whoso mocketh a poor [man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.
6 Nananom yɛ mmasiriwa anuonyam, na awofo yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Anotew nye mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a edi atoro mfata ɔhene.
Excellent speech becometh not a vile [man]; how much less do lying lips a noble!
8 Nea ɔma adanmude no hu sɛ ɛyɛ suman; osusuw sɛ nkonimdi bɛba bere biara.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.
9 Nea obu nʼani gu mfomso so no ma ɔdɔ kwan, na nea ɔkɔ so bɔ so no tetew nnamfonom ntam.
He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.
10 Animka sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ani sen mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Onipa bɔnefo ani wɔ atuatew nko ara so na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛni tirimuɔdenfo akɔ no so.
An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Eye sɛ wubehyia sisi a wɔawia ne mma sen ɔkwasea a ɔregyimi.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fi da.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Ntɔkwaw mfiase te sɛ nea wɔretue suka; enti gyae ma ɛnka na ankɔfa ɔham amma.
The beginning of contention is [as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.
15 Sɛ wobegyaa nea odi fɔ ne sɛ wobebu nea odi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.
16 Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam so nni mfaso, efisɛ onni botae biara sɛ obehu nyansa.
To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?
17 Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ bere nyinaa mu, wɔwo onuabarima ma ahokyere bere.
The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 Obi a onni adwene no na ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu nam so de si awowa ma ne yɔnko.
A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.
19 Nea ɔpɛ ntɔkwaw no dɔ bɔne; nea osi ɔpon tenten no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛe.
He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ porɔwee koma no nnya nkɔso; nea ɔwɔ nnaadaa tɛkrɛma no tɔ amane mu.
He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.
21 Nea ɔwo ɔbakwasea no di awerɛhow, ɔbakwasea agya nni anigye.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy.
22 Koma mu anigye yɛ aduru, ɛsa ɔyare, nanso honhom a abotow no yoyow nnompe.
A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Omumɔyɛfo gye adanmude wɔ sum ase de kyea atɛntrenee.
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.
24 Onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu no ani kɔ nyansa so, na ɔkwasea toto nʼani kosi asase ano.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 Ɔbakwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhow, na ɔma nea onyinsɛn no no di yaw.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Enye sɛ wɔtwe nea odi bem aso, anaasɛ wotwa adwumayɛfo mmaa wɔ wɔn nokwaredi nti.
To punish a righteous [man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [their] uprightness.
27 Onimdefo dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu no wɔ abodwo.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.
28 Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea yɛ dinn a wobu no sɛ onyansafo, na sɛ omua nʼano a wobu no sɛ ɔwɔ nhumu.
Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.