< Mmebusɛm 18 >
1 Ɔhonamkani yɛ pɛsɛmenkominya; na nea ɛmfa atɛntrenee mma no turuw ɔham.
One who isolates himself seeks his own desire and he quarrels with all sound judgment.
2 Ɔkwasea nni nhumu ho anigye, na mmom nea ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto gua.
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but only in revealing what is in his own heart.
3 Sɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ba a animtiaabu di so, na aniwu nso di animguase akyi.
When a wicked person comes, contempt comes with him— along with shame and 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 fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream.
5 Enye sɛ wodi ma omumɔyɛfo anaasɛ wobu nea odi bem ntɛnkyew.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked person, nor to deny justice to the righteous person.
6 Nkwaseafo ano de akasakasa ba, na wɔn ano frɛfrɛ ɔhwe.
A fool's lips bring him conflict 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 he ensnares himself with his lips.
8 Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels and they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9 Nea ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no yɛ ɔsɛefo nuabarima.
Also, one who is slack in his work is a brother to the one who destroys the most.
10 Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefo guan kɔtoa na wonya bammɔ.
The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous person 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 wealth of the rich is his fortified city and in his imagination it is like a high wall.
12 Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no onya ahomaso koma, na ahobrɛase di anuonyam anim.
Before his downfall a person's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 Nea ontie asɛm ansa na wama mmuae no, ɛno ne ne gyimi ne nʼanimguase.
One who answers before listening— it is his folly and shame.
14 Onipa honhom na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ ɔyare mu na honhom a abotow de, hena na ɔpɛ?
A person's spirit will survive sickness, but a broken spirit who can bear it?
15 Nhumu koma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafo aso nso hwehwɛ.
The heart of the intelligent acquires knowledge and the hearing of the wise seeks it out.
16 Akyɛde bue kwan ma nea ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitiriw anim.
A man's gift may open the way and bring him before an important person.
17 Ɛyɛ nea ɔbɔ ne nkuro kan no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kosi sɛ ɔfoforo bɛba abebisa no nsɛm no mu.
The first to plead his case seems right until his opponent comes and questions him.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegye so, na ɛpata atamfo.
Casting the lot settles disputes 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 be won than a strong city, and quarreling is 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 one's stomach is filled; 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 controlled by the tongue, and those who love the tongue 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 receives favor from Yahweh.
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔbɔ, nanso ɔdefo de kasaden bua no.
A poor person pleads for mercy, but a rich person answers harshly.
24 Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso betumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asen onua.
The one who claims many friends is brought to ruin by them, but there is a friend who comes closer than a brother.