Mmɛbusɛm 17
1 Aduane mmɔwe a asomdwoeɛ wɔ ho yɛ sene efie a apontoɔ ahyɛ no ma a nso basabasayɛ wɔ mu.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of flesh-banquets with strife.
2 Ɔsomfoɔ nyansafoɔ bɛdi ɔba nimguasefoɔ so, na ɔbɛnya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapadeɛ no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
3 Kyɛmferɛ wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ akoma hwɛ.
The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth hearts.
4 Omumuyɛfoɔ tie nsusuiɛ bɔne; ɔtorofoɔ yɛ aso ma adwen bɔne tɛkrɛma.
An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Deɛ ɔdi ahiafoɔ ho fɛ no bu wɔn Yɛfoɔ animtiaa; na deɛ ɔfoa amanehunu soɔ no bɛnya asotwe.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
6 Mmanananom yɛ mmasiriwa animuonyam, na awofoɔ yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
Children's children are the crown of the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
7 Anokrokro nyɛ mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a ɛdi torɔ mfata ɔhene.
Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the noble!
8 Kɛtɛasehyɛ daadaa deɛ ɔma; ɔgye sɛ ɛbɛma no nkonim.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
9 Deɛ ɔbu nʼani gu mfomsoɔ so no ma ɔdɔ ɛkwan, na deɛ ɔbɔ soɔ no tete nnamfonom ntam.
He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
10 Nkaanim sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu ani sene mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
A reproof will penetrate deeper into a wise man Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Onipa bɔnefoɔ ani wɔ atuateɛ nko ara so na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛfoɔ tirimuɔdenfoɔ akɔ ne so.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.
12 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛhyia sisire a wɔawia ne mma sene ɔkwasea a ɔregyimie.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fie da.
Whoso returneth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Ntɔkwa ahyɛaseɛ te sɛ deɛ wɔretue suka; enti gyae ma ɛnka na ankɔfa ɔham amma.
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.
15 Sɛ wɔbɛgyaa deɛ ɔdi fɔ ne sɛ wɔbɛbu deɛ ɔdi bem kumfɔ no, Awurade kyiri ne mmienu.
He that justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam ho nni mfasoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ ɔnni botaeɛ biara sɛ ɔbɛhunu nyansa.
Why should a price be in the hand of a fool To get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ ɛberɛ nyinaa mu, wɔwo onua barima ma ahokyere berɛ.
A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.
18 Obi a ɔnni adwene no na ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu nam so de si awowa ma ne yɔnko.
A man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Deɛ ɔpɛ ntɔkwa no dɔ bɔne; deɛ ɔsi ɛpono tentene no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛeɛ.
He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ akoma kontonkyi no nnya nkɔsoɔ; deɛ ne tɛkrɛma daadaa no tɔ amaneɛ mu.
He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
21 Deɛ ɔwo ɔba kwasea no di awerɛhoɔ; ɔba kwasea agya nni anigyeɛ.
Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
22 Akoma mu anigyeɛ yɛ aduro ɛsa yadeɛ, nanso honhom a apɛkyɛ no wewe nnompe.
A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Omumuyɛfoɔ gye adanmudeɛ wɔ esum ase de kyea atɛntenenee.
The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu no ani kɔ nyansa so, na ɔkwasea toto nʼani kɔsi asase ano.
Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 Ɔba kwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhoɔ, na ɔma deɛ ɔnyinsɛnee no no di yea.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔtwe deɛ ɔdi bem aso, anaasɛ wɔtwa adwumayɛfoɔ mmaa wɔ wɔn nokorɛdie enti.
Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
27 Ɔnimdefoɔ dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu no wɔ abodwoɔ.
He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea yɛ dinn a wɔbu no sɛ ɔnyansafoɔ, na sɛ ɔmua nʼano a wɔbu no sɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu.
Even a fool, when he is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.
