Mmebusɛm 18
1 Ɔhonamkani yɛ pɛsɛmenkominya; na nea ɛmfa atɛntrenee mma no turuw ɔham.
He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
2 Ɔkwasea nni nhumu ho anigye, na mmom nea ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto gua.
A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
3 Sɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ba a animtiaabu di so, na aniwu nso di animguase akyi.
The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
4 Onipa anom nsɛm yɛ nsu a emu dɔ, na nyansa asuti yɛ asuwa a ɛrefi ahuru.
Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
5 Enye sɛ wodi ma omumɔyɛfo anaasɛ wobu nea odi bem ntɛnkyew.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.
6 Nkwaseafo ano de akasakasa ba, na wɔn ano frɛfrɛ ɔhwe.
The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
7 Nkwaseafo ano yɛ wɔn ara wɔn sɛe, na wɔn anofafa yɛ wɔn ara wɔn kra afiri.
The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.
8 Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
9 Nea ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no yɛ ɔsɛefo nuabarima.
He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
10 Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefo guan kɔtoa na wonya bammɔ.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
11 Adefo ahonyade ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasu tenten a wontumi mforo.
The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
12 Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no onya ahomaso koma, na ahobrɛase di anuonyam anim.
Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
13 Nea ontie asɛm ansa na wama mmuae no, ɛno ne ne gyimi ne nʼanimguase.
He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
14 Onipa honhom na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ ɔyare mu na honhom a abotow de, hena na ɔpɛ?
The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
15 Nhumu koma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafo aso nso hwehwɛ.
A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
16 Akyɛde bue kwan ma nea ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitiriw anim.
A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
17 Ɛyɛ nea ɔbɔ ne nkuro kan no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kosi sɛ ɔfoforo bɛba abebisa no nsɛm no mu.
The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegye so, na ɛpata atamfo.
The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even 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 that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 Onipa anom asɛm so aba ma ɔyafunu mee, nnɔbae a nʼanofafa twa no mee no.
Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
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: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 Nea wanya yere no anya ade pa na onya adom fi Awurade hɔ.
He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔbɔ, nanso ɔdefo de kasaden bua no.
The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
24 Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso betumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asen onua.
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
