Mmebusɛm 18
1 Ɔhonamkani yɛ pɛsɛmenkominya; na nea ɛmfa atɛntrenee mma no turuw ɔham.
An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
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 in revealing his own opinion.
3 Sɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ba a animtiaabu di so, na aniwu nso di animguase akyi.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes 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 like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5 Enye sɛ wodi ma omumɔyɛfo anaasɛ wobu nea odi bem ntɛnkyew.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 Nkwaseafo ano de akasakasa ba, na wɔn ano frɛfrɛ ɔhwe.
A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
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 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 tasty morsels, and they go down into a person's innermost parts.
9 Nea ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no yɛ ɔsɛefo nuabarima.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefo guan kɔtoa na wonya bammɔ.
The name of YHWH is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are 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, like an unscalable 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 proud, but 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, that is folly and shame to him.
14 Onipa honhom na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ ɔyare mu na honhom a abotow de, hena na ɔpɛ?
A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 Nhumu koma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafo aso nso hwehwɛ.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. 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 cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegye so, na ɛpata atamfo.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
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 more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 Onipa anom asɛm so aba ma ɔyafunu mee, nnɔbae a nʼanofafa twa no mee no.
A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is 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; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Nea wanya yere no anya ade pa na onya adom fi Awurade hɔ.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of YHWH.
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔbɔ, nanso ɔdefo de kasaden bua no.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer 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 be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
