< Proverbs 18 >

1 Ènìyàn tí kò ba ni rẹ́ a máa lépa ìmọ̀ ara rẹ̀; ó kọjú ìjà sí gbogbo ìdájọ́ òdodo.
He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense.
2 Aláìgbọ́n kò rí inú dídùn sí òye ṣùgbọ́n ó ní inú dídùn sí sísọ èrò tirẹ̀.
A foolish man has no pleasure in good sense, but only to let what is in his heart come to light.
3 Nígbà ti ènìyàn búburú dé ni ẹ̀gàn dé, nígbà ti ẹ̀gàn dé ni ìtìjú dé.
When the evil-doer comes, a low opinion comes with him, and with the loss of honour comes shame.
4 Ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnu ènìyàn jẹ́ omi jíjìn, ṣùgbọ́n orísun ọgbọ́n jẹ́ odò tí ń sàn.
The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters: the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.
5 Kò dára kí ènìyàn ṣe ojúsàájú fún ènìyàn búburú tàbí kí a fi ìdájọ́ òdodo du aláìṣẹ̀.
To have respect for the person of the evil-doer is not good, or to give a wrong decision against the upright.
6 Ètè aláìgbọ́n dá ìjà sílẹ̀ ẹnu rẹ̀ sì ń ṣokùnfà ẹgba.
A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his mouth makes him open to blows.
7 Ẹnu aláìgbọ́n ni ó ba tirẹ̀ jẹ́, ètè rẹ̀ sì jẹ́ ìdẹ̀kùn fún ọkàn rẹ̀.
The mouth of a foolish man is his destruction, and his lips are a net for his soul.
8 Ọ̀rọ̀ olófòófó dàbí oúnjẹ àdídùn; wọ́n a sì wọ ìsàlẹ̀ inú lọ.
The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach.
9 Ẹni tí kò ṣe déédé nínú iṣẹ́ rẹ̀ arákùnrin ló jẹ́ fún apanirun.
He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to him who makes destruction.
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 upright man running into it is safe.
11 Ọ̀rọ̀ olówó ni ìlú olódi wọn; wọ́n rò ó bí i wí pé odi tí kò ṣe é gùn ni.
The property of a man of wealth is his strong town, and it is as a high wall in the thoughts of his heart.
12 Ṣáájú ìṣubú ọkàn ènìyàn a kọ́kọ́ máa gbéraga, ṣùgbọ́n ìrẹ̀lẹ̀ ni ó máa ń ṣáájú ọlá.
Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride, and before honour goes a gentle spirit.
13 Ẹni tí ó ń fèsì kí ó tó gbọ́, èyí ni ìwà òmùgọ̀ àti ìtìjú rẹ̀.
To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame.
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 will be his support when he is ill; but how may a broken spirit be lifted up?
15 Ọkàn olóye ní i gba ìmọ̀; etí ọlọ́gbọ́n ní í ṣe àwárí rẹ̀.
The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge.
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 offering makes room for him, letting him come 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 man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light.
18 Ìbò dídì máa ń parí ìjà a sì mú kí àwọn alátakò méjì jìnnà sí ara wọn.
The decision of chance puts an end to argument, parting the strong.
19 Arákùnrin tí a ṣẹ̀ sí ṣòro yípadà ju ìlú olódi lọ, ìjà wọ sì dàbí ọ̀pá ìdábùú ààfin.
A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent acts are like a locked tower.
20 Láti inú èso ẹnu rẹ̀ ikùn ènìyàn a yó; láti inú ìkórè ẹnu rẹ̀ ni ó ti jẹ yó.
With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure.
21 Ikú àti ìyè ń bẹ nípa ahọ́n wọn, àwọn tí ó sì fẹ́ràn rẹ̀ yóò jẹ ẹ́.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.
22 Ẹni tí ó rí aya fẹ́, rí ohun rere, o sì gba ojúrere lọ́dọ̀ Olúwa.
Whoever gets a wife gets a good thing, and has the approval of the Lord.
23 Tálákà ń bẹ̀bẹ̀ fún àánú, ṣùgbọ́n ọlọ́rọ̀ a dáhùn pẹ̀lú ìkanra.
The poor man makes requests for grace, but the man of wealth gives a rough answer.
24 Ènìyàn tí ó ní ọ̀rẹ́ púpọ̀ le è parun, ṣùgbọ́n ọ̀rẹ́ kan wà tí ó súnmọ́ ni tímọ́tímọ́ ju arákùnrin.
There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother.

< Proverbs 18 >