Mmɛbusɛm 18
1 Ɔhonankani yɛ pɛsɛmenkomenya; na ɔmfa atɛntenenee nyɛ hwee.
He who desires to separate himself seeks excuses, and rages against all sound wisdom.
2 Ɔkwasea nni nhunumu ho anigyeɛ na mmom deɛ ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto dwa.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
3 Sɛ amumuyɛsɛm ba a animtiabuo di so, na aniwuo nso di animguaseɛ akyi.
When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, and with disgrace, reproach.
4 Onipa anom nsɛm yɛ nsuo a emu dɔ, na nyansa asutire yɛ asuwa a ɛrepu ahuro.
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters. The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔdi ma omumuyɛfoɔ anaasɛ wɔbu deɛ ɔdi bem atɛnkyea.
To respect the person of a wicked man is not good, nor to turn aside a righteous man in judgment.
6 Ɔkwasea ano de akasakasa ba na nʼano frɛfrɛ ɔhweɛ.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for stripes.
7 Ɔkwasea ano yɛ ɔno ara sɛeɛ na nʼanofafa yɛ ne kra afidie.
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
9 Deɛ ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no nuabarima ne deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsɛefoɔ.
He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
10 Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefoɔ dwane kɔtoa na wɔnya banbɔ.
The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. A righteous man runs into it, and is safe.
11 Adefoɔ ahonyadeɛ ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasuo tenten a wɔntumi mforo.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no ɔnya ahomasoɔ akoma, na ahobrɛaseɛ di animuonyam anim.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
13 Deɛ ɔntie asɛm ansa na wama mmuaeɛ no, ɛno ne ne gyimie ne nʼanimguaseɛ.
He who gives answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.
14 Onipa sunsum na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ yadeɛ mu na honhom a apɛkyɛ deɛ, hwan na ɔpɛ?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 Nhunumu akoma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafoɔ aso nso hwehwɛ.
The heart of a prudent man gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Akyɛdeɛ bue ɛkwan ma deɛ ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitire anim.
A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Ɛyɛ deɛ ɔbɔ ne nkuro kane no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kɔsi sɛ ɔfoforɔ bɛba abɛbisa no nsɛm no mu.
He who pleads his case first seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegyeɛ so, na ɛpata atamfoɔ.
The lot causes contentions to cease, and decides between the mighty.
19 Onua a wɔafom noɔ no asɛm yɛ dene sene kuropɔn a ɛwɔ banbɔ, akyinnyegyeɛ te sɛ abankɛsewa apono a wɔabram akyire.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 Onipa anom asɛm so aba ma ɔyafunu mee, nnɔbaeɛ a nʼanofafa twa no mee no.
A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the increase of his lips he shall be satisfied.
21 Tɛkrɛma kura nkwa ne owuo tumi, na wɔn a wɔdɔ no no bɛdi nʼaba.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it.
22 Deɛ wanya yere no anya adepa na ɔnya adom firi Awurade hɔ.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from Jehovah.
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔborɔ, nanso ɔdefoɔ de kasaden bua no.
A poor man uses entreaties, but a rich man answers roughly.
24 Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso bɛtumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asene onua.
He who makes many friends does it to his own destruction, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
