Mmɛbusɛm 18
1 Ɔhonankani yɛ pɛsɛmenkomenya; na ɔmfa atɛntenenee nyɛ hwee.
He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
2 Ɔkwasea nni nhunumu ho anigyeɛ na mmom deɛ ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto dwa.
A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
3 Sɛ amumuyɛsɛm ba a animtiabuo di so, na aniwuo nso di animguaseɛ akyi.
The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
4 Onipa anom nsɛm yɛ nsuo a emu dɔ, na nyansa asutire yɛ asuwa a ɛrepu ahuro.
Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
5 Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔdi ma omumuyɛfoɔ anaasɛ wɔbu deɛ ɔdi bem atɛnkyea.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.
6 Ɔkwasea ano de akasakasa ba na nʼano frɛfrɛ ɔhweɛ.
The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
7 Ɔkwasea ano yɛ ɔno ara sɛeɛ na nʼanofafa yɛ ne kra afidie.
The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.
8 Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
9 Deɛ ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no nuabarima ne deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsɛefoɔ.
He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
10 Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefoɔ dwane kɔtoa na wɔnya banbɔ.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
11 Adefoɔ ahonyadeɛ ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasuo tenten a wɔntumi mforo.
The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
12 Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no ɔnya ahomasoɔ akoma, na ahobrɛaseɛ di animuonyam anim.
Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
13 Deɛ ɔntie asɛm ansa na wama mmuaeɛ no, ɛno ne ne gyimie ne nʼanimguaseɛ.
He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
14 Onipa sunsum na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ yadeɛ mu na honhom a apɛkyɛ deɛ, hwan na ɔpɛ?
The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
15 Nhunumu akoma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafoɔ aso nso hwehwɛ.
A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
16 Akyɛdeɛ bue ɛkwan ma deɛ ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitire anim.
A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
17 Ɛyɛ deɛ ɔbɔ ne nkuro kane no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kɔsi sɛ ɔfoforɔ bɛba abɛbisa no nsɛm no mu.
The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegyeɛ so, na ɛpata atamfoɔ.
The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even 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 that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 Onipa anom asɛm so aba ma ɔyafunu mee, nnɔbaeɛ a nʼanofafa twa no mee no.
Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
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: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 Deɛ wanya yere no anya adepa na ɔnya adom firi Awurade hɔ.
He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔborɔ, nanso ɔdefoɔ de kasaden bua no.
The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
24 Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso bɛtumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asene onua.
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
