Proverbs 18
1 Ènìyàn tí kò ba ni rẹ́ a máa lépa ìmọ̀ ara rẹ̀; ó kọjú ìjà sí gbogbo ìdájọ́ òdodo.
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgement.
2 Aláìgbọ́n kò rí inú dídùn sí òye ṣùgbọ́n ó ní inú dídùn sí sísọ èrò tirẹ̀.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 Nígbà ti ènìyàn búburú dé ni ẹ̀gàn dé, nígbà ti ẹ̀gàn dé ni ìtìjú dé.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
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 brook.
5 Kò dára kí ènìyàn ṣe ojúsàájú fún ènìyàn búburú tàbí kí a fi ìdájọ́ òdodo du aláìṣẹ̀.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 Ètè aláìgbọ́n dá ìjà sílẹ̀ ẹnu rẹ̀ sì ń ṣokùnfà ẹgba.
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7 Ẹnu aláìgbọ́n ni ó ba tirẹ̀ jẹ́, ètè rẹ̀ sì jẹ́ ìdẹ̀kùn fún ọkàn rẹ̀.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, 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 dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 Ẹni tí kò ṣe déédé nínú iṣẹ́ rẹ̀ arákùnrin ló jẹ́ fún apanirun.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 Orúkọ Olúwa, ilé ìṣọ́ agbára ni; olódodo sá wọ inú rẹ̀, ó sì rí ìgbàlà.
The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11 Ọ̀rọ̀ olówó ni ìlú olódi wọn; wọ́n rò ó bí i wí pé odi tí kò ṣe é gùn ni.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12 Ṣáájú ìṣubú ọkàn ènìyàn a kọ́kọ́ máa gbéraga, ṣùgbọ́n ìrẹ̀lẹ̀ ni ó máa ń ṣáájú ọlá.
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honour is humility.
13 Ẹni tí ó ń fèsì kí ó tó gbọ́, èyí ni ìwà òmùgọ̀ àti ìtìjú rẹ̀.
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14 Ọkàn ènìyàn a máa gbé e ró nígbà àìsàn, ṣùgbọ́n ta ni ó le forí ti ọkàn tí ó rẹ̀wẹ̀sì.
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 Ọkàn olóye ní i gba ìmọ̀; etí ọlọ́gbọ́n ní í ṣe àwárí rẹ̀.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks 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 gift makes room 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.
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18 Ìbò dídì máa ń parí ìjà a sì mú kí àwọn alátakò méjì jìnnà sí ara wọn.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
19 Arákùnrin tí a ṣẹ̀ sí ṣòro yípadà ju ìlú olódi lọ, ìjà wọ sì dàbí ọ̀pá ìdábùú ààfin.
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 Láti inú èso ẹnu rẹ̀ ikùn ènìyàn a yó; láti inú ìkórè ẹnu rẹ̀ ni ó ti jẹ yó.
A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
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; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Ẹni tí ó rí aya fẹ́, rí ohun rere, o sì gba ojúrere lọ́dọ̀ Olúwa.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.
23 Tálákà ń bẹ̀bẹ̀ fún àánú, ṣùgbọ́n ọlọ́rọ̀ a dáhùn pẹ̀lú ìkanra.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer 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 be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
