Proverbs 18
1 Ènìyàn tí kò ba ni rẹ́ a máa lépa ìmọ̀ ara rẹ̀; ó kọjú ìjà sí gbogbo ìdájọ́ òdodo.
He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
2 Aláìgbọ́n kò rí inú dídùn sí òye ṣùgbọ́n ó ní inú dídùn sí sísọ èrò tirẹ̀.
A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
3 Nígbà ti ènìyàn búburú dé ni ẹ̀gàn dé, nígbà ti ẹ̀gàn dé ni ìtìjú dé.
With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
4 Ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnu ènìyàn jẹ́ omi jíjìn, ṣùgbọ́n orísun ọgbọ́n jẹ́ odò tí ń sàn.
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 Kò dára kí ènìyàn ṣe ojúsàájú fún ènìyàn búburú tàbí kí a fi ìdájọ́ òdodo du aláìṣẹ̀.
Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6 Ètè aláìgbọ́n dá ìjà sílẹ̀ ẹnu rẹ̀ sì ń ṣokùnfà ẹgba.
A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 Ẹnu aláìgbọ́n ni ó ba tirẹ̀ jẹ́, ètè rẹ̀ sì jẹ́ ìdẹ̀kùn fún ọkàn rẹ̀.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Ọ̀rọ̀ olófòófó dàbí oúnjẹ àdídùn; wọ́n a sì wọ ìsàlẹ̀ inú lọ.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
9 Ẹni tí kò ṣe déédé nínú iṣẹ́ rẹ̀ arákùnrin ló jẹ́ fún apanirun.
Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
10 Orúkọ Olúwa, ilé ìṣọ́ agbára ni; olódodo sá wọ inú rẹ̀, ó sì rí ìgbàlà.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 Ọ̀rọ̀ olówó ni ìlú olódi wọn; wọ́n rò ó bí i wí pé odi tí kò ṣe é gùn ni.
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12 Ṣáájú ìṣubú ọkàn ènìyàn a kọ́kọ́ máa gbéraga, ṣùgbọ́n ìrẹ̀lẹ̀ ni ó máa ń ṣáájú ọlá.
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 Ẹni tí ó ń fèsì kí ó tó gbọ́, èyí ni ìwà òmùgọ̀ àti ìtìjú rẹ̀.
He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
14 Ọkàn ènìyàn a máa gbé e ró nígbà àìsàn, ṣùgbọ́n ta ni ó le forí ti ọkàn tí ó rẹ̀wẹ̀sì.
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15 Ọkàn olóye ní i gba ìmọ̀; etí ọlọ́gbọ́n ní í ṣe àwárí rẹ̀.
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
16 Ẹ̀bùn máa ń ṣí ọ̀nà fún ẹni tí ń fún ni lẹ́bùn a sì mú un wọlé sí ọ̀dọ̀ àwọn olókìkí.
A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Ẹni tí ó kọ́kọ́ rọjọ́ máa ń dàbí i pé ó jàre, títí ẹlòmíràn yóò fi bọ́ síwájú kí ó sì tú àṣírí gbogbo.
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18 Ìbò dídì máa ń parí ìjà a sì mú kí àwọn alátakò méjì jìnnà sí ara wọn.
Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
19 Arákùnrin tí a ṣẹ̀ sí ṣòro yípadà ju ìlú olódi lọ, ìjà wọ sì dàbí ọ̀pá ìdábùú ààfin.
An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20 Láti inú èso ẹnu rẹ̀ ikùn ènìyàn a yó; láti inú ìkórè ẹnu rẹ̀ ni ó ti jẹ yó.
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 Ikú àti ìyè ń bẹ nípa ahọ́n wọn, àwọn tí ó sì fẹ́ràn rẹ̀ yóò jẹ ẹ́.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Ẹni tí ó rí aya fẹ́, rí ohun rere, o sì gba ojúrere lọ́dọ̀ Olúwa.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
23 Tálákà ń bẹ̀bẹ̀ fún àánú, ṣùgbọ́n ọlọ́rọ̀ a dáhùn pẹ̀lú ìkanra.
The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24 Ènìyàn tí ó ní ọ̀rẹ́ púpọ̀ le è parun, ṣùgbọ́n ọ̀rẹ́ kan wà tí ó súnmọ́ ni tímọ́tímọ́ ju arákùnrin.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
