Mmebusɛm 18
1 Ɔhonamkani yɛ pɛsɛmenkominya; na nea ɛmfa atɛntrenee mma no turuw ɔham.
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom.
2 Ɔkwasea nni nhumu ho anigye, na mmom nea ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto gua.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
3 Sɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ba a animtiaabu di so, na aniwu nso di animguase akyi.
When the wicked cometh, [then] cometh also contempt, and with ignominy 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 as] deep waters, [and] the wellspring of wisdom [as] a flowing brook.
5 Enye sɛ wodi ma omumɔyɛfo anaasɛ wobu nea odi bem ntɛnkyew.
[It is] not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 Nkwaseafo ano de akasakasa ba, na wɔn ano frɛfrɛ ɔhwe.
A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
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 talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9 Nea ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no yɛ ɔsɛefo nuabarima.
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
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 runneth 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 an high wall in his own conceit.
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 honour [is] humility.
13 Nea ontie asɛm ansa na wama mmuae no, ɛno ne ne gyimi ne nʼanimguase.
He that answereth a matter before he heareth [it], it [is] folly and shame unto 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 wounded spirit who can bear?
15 Nhumu koma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafo aso nso hwehwɛ.
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 Akyɛde bue kwan ma nea ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitiriw anim.
A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth 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 that is] first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegye so, na ɛpata atamfo.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth 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 [their] 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 satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; [and] with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
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 they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 Nea wanya yere no anya ade pa na onya adom fi Awurade hɔ.
[Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔbɔ, nanso ɔdefo de kasaden bua no.
The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
24 Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso betumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asen onua.
A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
