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 morsell, if peace be with it, then an house full of sacrifices with strife.
2 Ɔsomfo nyansafo bedi ɔba nimguasefo so, na obenya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapade no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
A discrete seruant shall haue rule ouer a lewde sonne, and hee shall deuide the heritage among the brethren.
3 Kyɛmfɛre wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ koma hwɛ.
As is the fining pot for siluer, and the fornace for golde, so the Lord trieth the heartes.
4 Omumɔyɛfo tie nsusuwii bɔne; ɔtorofo yɛ aso ma adwene bɔne tɛkrɛma.
The wicked giueth heed to false lippes, and a lyer hearkeneth to the naughtie tongue.
5 Nea odi ahiafo ho fɛw no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa; na nea ɔfoa amanehunu so no benya asotwe.
Hee that mocketh the poore, reprocheth him, that made him: and he that reioyceth at destruction, shall not be vnpunished.
6 Nananom yɛ mmasiriwa anuonyam, na awofo yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
Childres children are the crowne of the elders: and the glory of ye children are their fathers.
7 Anotew nye mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a edi atoro mfata ɔhene.
Hie talke becommeth not a foole, much lesse a lying talke a prince.
8 Nea ɔma adanmude no hu sɛ ɛyɛ suman; osusuw sɛ nkonimdi bɛba bere biara.
A rewarde is as a stone pleasant in the eyes of them that haue it: it prospereth, whithersoeuer it turneth.
9 Nea obu nʼani gu mfomso so no ma ɔdɔ kwan, na nea ɔkɔ so bɔ so no tetew nnamfonom ntam.
Hee that couereth a transgression, seeketh loue: but hee that repeateth a matter, separateth the prince.
10 Animka sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ani sen mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
A reproofe entereth more into him that hath vnderstanding, then an hundreth stripes into a foole.
11 Onipa bɔnefo ani wɔ atuatew nko ara so na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛni tirimuɔdenfo akɔ no so.
A sedicious person seeketh onely euill, and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Eye sɛ wubehyia sisi a wɔawia ne mma sen ɔkwasea a ɔregyimi.
It is better for a man to meete a beare robbed of her whelpes, then a foole in his follie.
13 Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fi da.
He that rewardeth euil for good, euil 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 strife is as one that openeth the waters: therefore or the contention be medled with, leaue off.
15 Sɛ wobegyaa nea odi fɔ ne sɛ wobebu nea odi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
He that iustifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the iust, euen they both are abomination to the Lord.
16 Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam so nni mfaso, efisɛ onni botae biara sɛ obehu nyansa.
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?
17 Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ bere nyinaa mu, wɔwo onuabarima ma ahokyere bere.
A friende loueth at all times: and a brother is borne for aduersitie.
18 Obi a onni adwene no na ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu nam so de si awowa ma ne yɔnko.
A man destitute of vnderstanding, toucheth the hande, and becommeth suretie for his neighbour.
19 Nea ɔpɛ ntɔkwaw no dɔ bɔne; nea osi ɔpon tenten no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛe.
He loueth transgression, that loueth strife: and he that exalteth his gate, seeketh destruction.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ porɔwee koma no nnya nkɔso; nea ɔwɔ nnaadaa tɛkrɛma no tɔ amane mu.
The froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a naughtie tongue, shall fall into euill.
21 Nea ɔwo ɔbakwasea no di awerɛhow, ɔbakwasea agya nni anigye.
He that begetteth a foole, getteth himselfe sorow, and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.
22 Koma mu anigye yɛ aduru, ɛsa ɔyare, nanso honhom a abotow no yoyow nnompe.
A ioyfull heart causeth good health: but a sorowfull minde dryeth the bones.
23 Omumɔyɛfo gye adanmude wɔ sum ase de kyea atɛntrenee.
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosome to wrest the wayes of iudgement.
24 Onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu no ani kɔ nyansa so, na ɔkwasea toto nʼani kosi asase ano.
Wisdome is in the face of him that hath vnderstanding: but the eyes of a foole are in the corners of the world.
25 Ɔbakwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhow, na ɔma nea onyinsɛn no no di yaw.
A foolish sonne is a griefe vnto his father, and a heauines to her that bare him.
26 Enye sɛ wɔtwe nea odi bem aso, anaasɛ wotwa adwumayɛfo mmaa wɔ wɔn nokwaredi nti.
Surely it is not good to condemne the iust, nor that ye princes should smite such for equitie.
27 Onimdefo dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu no wɔ abodwo.
Hee that hath knowledge, spareth his wordes, and a man of vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea yɛ dinn a wobu no sɛ onyansafo, na sɛ omua nʼano a wobu no sɛ ɔwɔ nhumu.
Euen a foole (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and hee that stoppeth his lips, prudent.
