Mmebusɛm 17
1 Aduan sakoo a asomdwoe wɔ ho ye sen ofi a aponto ahyɛ no ma nanso basabasayɛ wɔ mu.
Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
2 Ɔsomfo nyansafo bedi ɔba nimguasefo so, na obenya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapade no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
3 Kyɛmfɛre wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ koma hwɛ.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
4 Omumɔyɛfo tie nsusuwii bɔne; ɔtorofo yɛ aso ma adwene bɔne tɛkrɛma.
An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
5 Nea odi ahiafo ho fɛw no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa; na nea ɔfoa amanehunu so no benya asotwe.
Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
6 Nananom yɛ mmasiriwa anuonyam, na awofo yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
7 Anotew nye mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a edi atoro mfata ɔhene.
High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
8 Nea ɔma adanmude no hu sɛ ɛyɛ suman; osusuw sɛ nkonimdi bɛba bere biara.
As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: 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 a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
10 Animka sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ani sen mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Onipa bɔnefo ani wɔ atuatew nko ara so na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛni tirimuɔdenfo akɔ no so.
Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
12 Eye sɛ wubehyia sisi a wɔawia ne mma sen ɔkwasea a ɔregyimi.
A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
13 Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fi da.
Whoso bestoweth evil in return 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.
As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
15 Sɛ wobegyaa nea odi fɔ ne sɛ wobebu nea odi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
16 Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam so nni mfaso, efisɛ onni botae biara sɛ obehu nyansa.
Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ bere nyinaa mu, wɔwo onuabarima ma ahokyere bere.
A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] 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 man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
19 Nea ɔpɛ ntɔkwaw no dɔ bɔne; nea osi ɔpon tenten no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛe.
He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ porɔwee koma no nnya nkɔso; nea ɔwɔ nnaadaa tɛkrɛma no tɔ amane mu.
He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
21 Nea ɔwo ɔbakwasea no di awerɛhow, ɔbakwasea agya nni anigye.
He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
22 Koma mu anigye yɛ aduru, ɛsa ɔyare, nanso honhom a abotow no yoyow nnompe.
A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Omumɔyɛfo gye adanmude wɔ sum ase de kyea atɛntrenee.
A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
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 at the ends of the earth.
25 Ɔbakwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhow, na ɔma nea onyinsɛn no no di yaw.
A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
26 Enye sɛ wɔtwe nea odi bem aso, anaasɛ wotwa adwumayɛfo mmaa wɔ wɔn nokwaredi nti.
To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
27 Onimdefo dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu no wɔ abodwo.
He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
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 keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
