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 with it, than a house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
2 Ɔsomfoɔ nyansafoɔ bɛdi ɔba nimguasefoɔ so, na ɔbɛnya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapadeɛ no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Kyɛmferɛ wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ akoma hwɛ.
The fining-pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 Omumuyɛfoɔ tie nsusuiɛ bɔne; ɔtorofoɔ yɛ aso ma adwen bɔne tɛkrɛma.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips: [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Deɛ ɔdi ahiafoɔ ho fɛ no bu wɔn Yɛfoɔ animtiaa; na deɛ ɔfoa amanehunu soɔ no bɛnya asotwe.
He that mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Mmanananom yɛ mmasiriwa animuonyam, na awofoɔ yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
Children's children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [is] their fathers.
7 Anokrokro nyɛ mma ɔkwasea, saa ara na ano a ɛdi torɔ mfata ɔhene.
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 Kɛtɛasehyɛ daadaa deɛ ɔma; ɔgye sɛ ɛbɛma no nkonim.
A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Deɛ ɔbu nʼani gu mfomsoɔ so no ma ɔdɔ ɛkwan, na deɛ ɔbɔ soɔ no tete nnamfonom ntam.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
10 Nkaanim sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhunumu ani sene mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
A reproof entereth more 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 a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛhyia sisire a wɔawia ne mma sene ɔkwasea a ɔregyimie.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a, bɔne rempa ne fie da.
Whoever rewardeth 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 withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.
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, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
16 Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam ho nni mfasoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ ɔnni botaeɛ biara sɛ ɔbɛhunu nyansa.
Why [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
17 Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ ɛberɛ nyinaa mu, wɔwo onua barima ma ahokyere berɛ.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
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 void of 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 loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ akoma kontonkyi no nnya nkɔsoɔ; deɛ ne tɛkrɛma daadaa no tɔ amaneɛ mu.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 Deɛ ɔwo ɔba kwasea no di awerɛhoɔ; ɔba kwasea agya nni anigyeɛ.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 Akoma mu anigyeɛ yɛ aduro ɛsa yadeɛ, nanso honhom a apɛkyɛ no wewe nnompe.
A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 Omumuyɛfoɔ gye adanmudeɛ wɔ esum ase de kyea atɛntenenee.
A 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 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.
Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
27 Ɔnimdefoɔ dwene nʼanom kasa ho, na deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu no wɔ abodwoɔ.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
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 holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
