Mmɛbusɛm 18
1 Ɔhonankani yɛ pɛsɛmenkomenya; na ɔmfa atɛntenenee nyɛ hwee.
He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire, and snarlest 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 lay itself bare.
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 as deep waters; a flowing brook, a fountain of wisdom.
5 Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔdi ma omumuyɛfoɔ anaasɛ wɔbu deɛ ɔdi bem atɛnkyea.
It is not good to respect the person of the wicked, so as to turn aside 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 strokes.
7 Ɔkwasea ano yɛ ɔno ara sɛeɛ na nʼanofafa yɛ ne kra afidie.
A fool's mouth is his ruin, 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 of the belly.
9 Deɛ ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no nuabarima ne deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsɛefoɔ.
Even one 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 the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is set up on high.
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 conceit.
12 Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no ɔnya ahomasoɔ akoma, na ahobrɛaseɛ di animuonyam anim.
Before destruction the heart of a 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 confusion 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 will sustain his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 Nhunumu akoma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafoɔ aso nso hwehwɛ.
The heart of the prudent 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 pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegyeɛ so, na ɛpata atamfoɔ.
The lot causeth strife to cease, and parteth asunder the contentious.
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 their 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 shall he 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 they that indulge it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 Deɛ wanya yere no anya adepa na ɔnya adom firi Awurade hɔ.
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a great good, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔborɔ, nanso ɔdefoɔ de kasaden bua no.
The poor useth entreaties; but the rich answereth impudently.
24 Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso bɛtumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asene onua.
There are friends that one hath to his own hurt; but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
