Mmebusɛm 18
1 Ɔhonamkani yɛ pɛsɛmenkominya; na nea ɛmfa atɛntrenee mma no turuw ɔham.
He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
2 Ɔkwasea nni nhumu ho anigye, na mmom nea ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto gua.
A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
3 Sɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ba a animtiaabu di so, na aniwu nso di animguase akyi.
With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
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 fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 Enye sɛ wodi ma omumɔyɛfo anaasɛ wobu nea odi bem ntɛnkyew.
Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6 Nkwaseafo ano de akasakasa ba, na wɔn ano frɛfrɛ ɔhwe.
A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 Nkwaseafo ano yɛ wɔn ara wɔn sɛe, na wɔn anofafa yɛ wɔn ara wɔn kra afiri.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
9 Nea ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no yɛ ɔsɛefo nuabarima.
Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
10 Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefo guan kɔtoa na wonya bammɔ.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 Adefo ahonyade ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasu tenten a wontumi mforo.
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12 Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no onya ahomaso koma, na ahobrɛase di anuonyam anim.
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 Nea ontie asɛm ansa na wama mmuae no, ɛno ne ne gyimi ne nʼanimguase.
He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace 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 can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15 Nhumu koma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafo aso nso hwehwɛ.
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
16 Akyɛde bue kwan ma nea ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitiriw anim.
A man’s gift opens doors 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.
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegye so, na ɛpata atamfo.
Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
19 Onua a wɔafom no no asɛm yɛ den sen kuropɔn a ɛwɔ bammɔ, akyinnyegye te sɛ abankɛse apon a wɔabram akyi.
An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20 Onipa anom asɛm so aba ma ɔyafunu mee, nnɔbae a nʼanofafa twa no mee no.
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 Tɛkrɛma kura nkwa ne owu tumi, na wɔn a wɔdɔ no no bedi nʼaba.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
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 the LORD.
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔbɔ, nanso ɔdefo de kasaden bua no.
The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24 Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso betumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asen onua.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
