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 flesh-banquets with strife.
2 Ɔsomfo nyansafo bedi ɔba nimguasefo so, na obenya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapade no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
3 Kyɛmfɛre wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ koma hwɛ.
The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth hearts.
4 Omumɔyɛfo tie nsusuwii bɔne; ɔtorofo yɛ aso ma adwene bɔne tɛkrɛma.
An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Nea odi ahiafo ho fɛw no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa; na nea ɔfoa amanehunu so no benya asotwe.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
6 Nananom yɛ mmasiriwa anuonyam, na awofo yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
Children's children are the crown of the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
7 Anotew nye mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a edi atoro mfata ɔhene.
Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the 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 him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
9 Nea obu nʼani gu mfomso so no ma ɔdɔ kwan, na nea ɔkɔ so bɔ so no tetew nnamfonom ntam.
He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
10 Animka sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ani sen mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
A reproof will penetrate deeper 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.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.
12 Eye sɛ wubehyia sisi a wɔawia ne mma sen ɔkwasea a ɔregyimi.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fi da.
Whoso returneth 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 strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.
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 just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam so nni mfaso, efisɛ onni botae biara sɛ obehu nyansa.
Why should a price be 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.
A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.
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 who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Nea ɔpɛ ntɔkwaw no dɔ bɔne; nea osi ɔpon tenten no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛe.
He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ porɔwee koma no nnya nkɔso; nea ɔwɔ nnaadaa tɛkrɛma no tɔ amane mu.
He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
21 Nea ɔwo ɔbakwasea no di awerɛhow, ɔbakwasea agya nni anigye.
Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
22 Koma mu anigye yɛ aduru, ɛsa ɔyare, nanso honhom a abotow no yoyow nnompe.
A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Omumɔyɛfo gye adanmude wɔ sum ase de kyea atɛntrenee.
The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu no ani kɔ nyansa so, na ɔkwasea toto nʼani kosi asase ano.
Wisdom is before the face of 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.
Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
27 Onimdefo dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu no wɔ abodwo.
He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool 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 is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.
