< Mmebusɛm 18 >

1 Ɔhonamkani yɛ pɛsɛmenkominya; na nea ɛmfa atɛntrenee mma no turuw ɔham.
He who desires to separate himself seeks excuses, and rages against all sound wisdom.
2 Ɔkwasea nni nhumu ho anigye, na mmom nea ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto gua.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
3 Sɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ba a animtiaabu di so, na aniwu nso di animguase akyi.
When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, and with disgrace, reproach.
4 Onipa anom nsɛm yɛ nsu a emu dɔ, na nyansa asuti yɛ asuwa a ɛrefi ahuru.
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters. The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 Enye sɛ wodi ma omumɔyɛfo anaasɛ wobu nea odi bem ntɛnkyew.
To respect the person of a wicked man is not good, nor to turn aside a righteous man in judgment.
6 Nkwaseafo ano de akasakasa ba, na wɔn ano frɛfrɛ ɔhwe.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for stripes.
7 Nkwaseafo ano yɛ wɔn ara wɔn sɛe, na wɔn anofafa yɛ wɔn ara wɔn kra afiri.
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
9 Nea ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no yɛ ɔsɛefo nuabarima.
He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
10 Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefo guan kɔtoa na wonya bammɔ.
The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. A righteous man runs into it, and is safe.
11 Adefo ahonyade ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasu tenten a wontumi mforo.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no onya ahomaso koma, na ahobrɛase di anuonyam anim.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
13 Nea ontie asɛm ansa na wama mmuae no, ɛno ne ne gyimi ne nʼanimguase.
He who gives answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.
14 Onipa honhom na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ ɔyare mu na honhom a abotow de, hena na ɔpɛ?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 Nhumu koma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafo aso nso hwehwɛ.
The heart of a prudent man gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Akyɛde bue kwan ma nea ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitiriw anim.
A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Ɛyɛ nea ɔbɔ ne nkuro kan no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kosi sɛ ɔfoforo bɛba abebisa no nsɛm no mu.
He who pleads his case first seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegye so, na ɛpata atamfo.
The lot causes contentions to cease, and decides between the mighty.
19 Onua a wɔafom no no asɛm yɛ den sen kuropɔn a ɛwɔ bammɔ, akyinnyegye te sɛ abankɛse apon a wɔabram akyi.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 Onipa anom asɛm so aba ma ɔyafunu mee, nnɔbae a nʼanofafa twa no mee no.
A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the increase of his lips he shall be satisfied.
21 Tɛkrɛma kura nkwa ne owu tumi, na wɔn a wɔdɔ no no bedi nʼaba.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it.
22 Nea wanya yere no anya ade pa na onya adom fi Awurade hɔ.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from Jehovah.
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔbɔ, nanso ɔdefo de kasaden bua no.
A poor man uses entreaties, but a rich man answers roughly.
24 Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso betumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asen onua.
He who makes many friends does it to his own destruction, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

< Mmebusɛm 18 >