Mmɛbusɛm 18
1 Ɔhonankani yɛ pɛsɛmenkomenya; na ɔmfa atɛntenenee nyɛ hwee.
A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses; but at all times he will be liable to reproach.
2 Ɔkwasea nni nhunumu ho anigyeɛ na mmom deɛ ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto dwa.
A senseless man feels no need of wisdom, for he is rather led by folly.
3 Sɛ amumuyɛsɛm ba a animtiabuo di so, na aniwuo nso di animguaseɛ akyi.
When an ungodly man comes into a depth of evils, he despises [them]; but dishonour and reproach come upon him.
4 Onipa anom nsɛm yɛ nsuo a emu dɔ, na nyansa asutire yɛ asuwa a ɛrepu ahuro.
A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.
5 Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔdi ma omumuyɛfoɔ anaasɛ wɔbu deɛ ɔdi bem atɛnkyea.
[It is] not good to accept the person of the ungodly, nor [is it] holy to pervert justice in judgement.
6 Ɔkwasea ano de akasakasa ba na nʼano frɛfrɛ ɔhweɛ.
The lips of a fool bring [him] into troubles, and his bold mouth calls for death.
7 Ɔkwasea ano yɛ ɔno ara sɛeɛ na nʼanofafa yɛ ne kra afidie.
A fool's mouth is ruin to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
Fear casts down the slothful; and the souls of the effeminate shall hunger.
9 Deɛ ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no nuabarima ne deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsɛefoɔ.
A man who helps not himself by his labour is brother of him that ruins himself.
10 Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefoɔ dwane kɔtoa na wɔnya banbɔ.
The name of the Lord is of great strength; and the righteous running to it are exalted.
11 Adefoɔ ahonyadeɛ ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasuo tenten a wɔntumi mforo.
The wealth of a rich man is a strong city; and its glory casts a broad shadow.
12 Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no ɔnya ahomasoɔ akoma, na ahobrɛaseɛ di animuonyam anim.
Before ruin a man's heart is exalted, and before honour it is humble.
13 Deɛ ɔntie asɛm ansa na wama mmuaeɛ no, ɛno ne ne gyimie ne nʼanimguaseɛ.
Whoso answers a word before he hears [a cause], it is folly and reproach to him.
14 Onipa sunsum na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ yadeɛ mu na honhom a apɛkyɛ deɛ, hwan na ɔpɛ?
A wise servant calms a man's anger; but who can endure a faint-hearted man?
15 Nhunumu akoma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafoɔ aso nso hwehwɛ.
The heart of the sensible [man] purchases discretion; and the ears of the wise seek understanding.
16 Akyɛdeɛ bue ɛkwan ma deɛ ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitire anim.
A man's gift enlarges him, and seats him amongst princes.
17 Ɛyɛ deɛ ɔbɔ ne nkuro kane no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kɔsi sɛ ɔfoforɔ bɛba abɛbisa no nsɛm no mu.
A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegyeɛ so, na ɛpata atamfoɔ.
A silent [man] quells strifes, and determines between great powers.
19 Onua a wɔafom noɔ no asɛm yɛ dene sene kuropɔn a ɛwɔ banbɔ, akyinnyegyeɛ te sɛ abankɛsewa apono a wɔabram akyire.
A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city; and is [as] strong as a [well]-founded palace.
20 Onipa anom asɛm so aba ma ɔyafunu mee, nnɔbaeɛ a nʼanofafa twa no mee no.
A man fills his belly with the fruits of his mouth; and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.
21 Tɛkrɛma kura nkwa ne owuo tumi, na wɔn a wɔdɔ no no bɛdi nʼaba.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue; and they that rule it shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 Deɛ wanya yere no anya adepa na ɔnya adom firi Awurade hɔ.
He that has found a good wife has found favours, and has received gladness from God. [He that puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.]
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔborɔ, nanso ɔdefoɔ de kasaden bua no.
24 Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso bɛtumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asene onua.
