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 with quietness, 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 servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
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 tests the hearts.
4 Omumɔyɛfo tie nsusuwii bɔne; ɔtorofo yɛ aso ma adwene bɔne tɛkrɛma.
An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Nea odi ahiafo ho fɛw no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa; na nea ɔfoa amanehunu so no benya asotwe.
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 Nananom yɛ mmasiriwa anuonyam, na awofo yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.
7 Anotew nye mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a edi atoro mfata ɔhene.
Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
8 Nea ɔma adanmude no hu sɛ ɛyɛ suman; osusuw sɛ nkonimdi bɛba bere biara.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 Nea obu nʼani gu mfomso so no ma ɔdɔ kwan, na nea ɔkɔ so bɔ so no tetew nnamfonom ntam.
He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
10 Animka sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ani sen mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
11 Onipa bɔnefo ani wɔ atuatew nko ara so na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛni tirimuɔdenfo akɔ no so.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore 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 cubs 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.
Whoever rewards 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 like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
15 Sɛ wobegyaa nea odi fɔ ne sɛ wobebu nea odi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam so nni mfaso, efisɛ onni botae biara sɛ obehu nyansa.
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
17 Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ bere nyinaa mu, wɔwo onuabarima ma ahokyere bere.
A friend loves 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 man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Nea ɔpɛ ntɔkwaw no dɔ bɔne; nea osi ɔpon tenten no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛe.
He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ porɔwee koma no nnya nkɔso; nea ɔwɔ nnaadaa tɛkrɛma no tɔ amane mu.
One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
21 Nea ɔwo ɔbakwasea no di awerɛhow, ɔbakwasea agya nni anigye.
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
22 Koma mu anigye yɛ aduru, ɛsa ɔyare, nanso honhom a abotow no yoyow nnompe.
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 Omumɔyɛfo gye adanmude wɔ sum ase de kyea atɛntrenee.
A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu no ani kɔ nyansa so, na ɔkwasea toto nʼani kosi asase ano.
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 Ɔbakwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhow, na ɔma nea onyinsɛn no no di yaw.
A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Enye sɛ wɔtwe nea odi bem aso, anaasɛ wotwa adwumayɛfo mmaa wɔ wɔn nokwaredi nti.
Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
27 Onimdefo dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu no wɔ abodwo.
He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered 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 keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
