Mmɛbusɛm 18
1 Ɔhonankani yɛ pɛsɛmenkomenya; na ɔmfa atɛntenenee nyɛ hwee.
He who separateth himself seeketh his own desire; Against all sound discretion he rusheth on.
2 Ɔkwasea nni nhunumu ho anigyeɛ na mmom deɛ ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto dwa.
The fool hath no delight in understanding, But rather in revealing his own mind.
3 Sɛ amumuyɛsɛm ba a animtiabuo di so, na aniwuo nso di animguaseɛ akyi.
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt; And with baseness, shame.
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 wellspring of wisdom is an overflowing brook.
5 Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔdi ma omumuyɛfoɔ anaasɛ wɔbu deɛ ɔdi bem atɛnkyea.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked, So as to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 Ɔkwasea ano de akasakasa ba na nʼano frɛfrɛ ɔhweɛ.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calleth for blows.
7 Ɔkwasea ano yɛ ɔno ara sɛeɛ na nʼanofafa yɛ ne kra afidie.
A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are a snare for his life.
8 Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a talebearer are like sweet morsels; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.
9 Deɛ ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no nuabarima ne deɛ ɔyɛ ɔsɛefoɔ.
Moreover, he that is slothful in his work Is brother to him that is a great waster.
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 to 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 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 honor is humility.
13 Deɛ ɔntie asɛm ansa na wama mmuaeɛ no, ɛno ne ne gyimie ne nʼanimguaseɛ.
He who answereth a matter before he hath heard it, 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 wounded spirit who can bear?
15 Nhunumu akoma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafoɔ aso nso hwehwɛ.
The heart of the intelligent will acquire knowledge, And the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.
16 Akyɛdeɛ bue ɛkwan ma deɛ ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitire anim.
A gift maketh room for a man, And bringeth him into the presence of the great.
17 Ɛyɛ deɛ ɔbɔ ne nkuro kane no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kɔsi sɛ ɔfoforɔ bɛba abɛbisa no nsɛm no mu.
He that first pleadeth his cause appeareth just; But his opponent cometh, and searcheth him through.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegyeɛ so, na ɛpata atamfoɔ.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth asunder 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; Yea, 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.
With the fruit of a man's mouth shall his stomach be filled; He shall be filled with the produce of his lips.
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 its fruit.
22 Deɛ wanya yere no anya adepa na ɔnya adom firi Awurade hɔ.
He that findeth a wife findeth a blessing, And obtaineth favor from the LORD.
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔborɔ, nanso ɔdefoɔ de kasaden bua no.
The poor useth entreaties; 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 show himself false; Yet there is a friend who sticketh closer than a brother.
