Mmɛbusɛm 18
1 Ɔhonankani yɛ pɛsɛmenkomenya; na ɔmfa atɛntenenee nyɛ hwee.
He that separateth himself seeketh [his] pleasure, he is vehement against all sound wisdom.
2 Ɔkwasea nni nhunumu ho anigyeɛ na mmom deɛ ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto dwa.
A fool hath 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 the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy 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, [and] the fountain of wisdom is a gushing brook.
5 Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔdi ma omumuyɛfoɔ anaasɛ wɔbu deɛ ɔdi bem atɛnkyea.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to wrong the righteous in judgment.
6 Ɔkwasea ano de akasakasa ba na nʼano frɛfrɛ ɔhweɛ.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for stripes.
7 Ɔkwasea ano yɛ ɔno ara sɛeɛ na nʼanofafa yɛ ne kra afidie.
A fool's mouth is destruction to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9 Deɛ ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no nuabarima ne deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsɛefoɔ.
He also who is indolent in his work is brother of the destroyer.
10 Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefoɔ dwane kɔtoa na wɔnya banbɔ.
The name of Jehovah is a strong tower: the righteous runneth 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 honour [goeth] humility.
13 Deɛ ɔntie asɛm ansa na wama mmuaeɛ no, ɛno ne ne gyimie ne nʼanimguaseɛ.
He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.
14 Onipa sunsum na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ yadeɛ mu na honhom a apɛkyɛ deɛ, hwan na ɔpɛ?
The spirit of a man sustaineth his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 Nhunumu akoma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafoɔ aso nso hwehwɛ.
The heart of an intelligent [man] getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 Akyɛdeɛ bue ɛkwan ma deɛ ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitire anim.
A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth 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 that is first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegyeɛ so, na ɛpata atamfoɔ.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth 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 contentions are as the bars of a palace.
20 Onipa anom asɛm so aba ma ɔyafunu mee, nnɔbaeɛ a nʼanofafa twa no mee no.
A man's belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips is he 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 they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 Deɛ wanya yere no anya adepa na ɔnya adom firi Awurade hɔ.
Whoso hath found a wife hath found a good thing, and hath obtained favour from Jehovah.
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔborɔ, nanso ɔdefoɔ de kasaden bua no.
He that is poor speaketh with supplications, but the rich answereth roughly.
24 Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso bɛtumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asene onua.
A man of [many] friends will come to ruin but there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
