Mmebusɛm 18
1 Ɔhonamkani yɛ pɛsɛmenkominya; na nea ɛmfa atɛntrenee mma no turuw ɔham.
A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses; but at all times he will be liable to reproach.
2 Ɔkwasea nni nhumu ho anigye, na mmom nea ɔpɛ ara ne sɛ ɔde nʼadwene bɛto gua.
A senseless man feels no need of wisdom, for he is rather led by folly.
3 Sɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ba a animtiaabu di so, na aniwu nso di animguase akyi.
When an ungodly man comes into a depth of evils, he despises [them]; but dishonor and reproach come upon him.
4 Onipa anom nsɛm yɛ nsu a emu dɔ, na nyansa asuti yɛ asuwa a ɛrefi ahuru.
A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.
5 Enye sɛ wodi ma omumɔyɛfo anaasɛ wobu nea odi bem ntɛnkyew.
[It is] not good to accept the person of the ungodly, nor [is it] holy to pervert justice in judgment.
6 Nkwaseafo ano de akasakasa ba, na wɔn ano frɛfrɛ ɔhwe.
The lips of a fool bring [him] into troubles, and his bold mouth calls for death.
7 Nkwaseafo ano yɛ wɔn ara wɔn sɛe, na wɔn anofafa yɛ wɔn ara wɔn kra afiri.
A fool's mouth is ruin to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
Fear casts down the slothful; and the souls of the effeminate shall hunger.
9 Nea ɔtoto nʼadwuma ase no yɛ ɔsɛefo nuabarima.
A man who helps not himself by his labor is brother of him that ruins himself.
10 Awurade din yɛ abantenten a ɛyɛ den; ahotefo guan kɔtoa na wonya bammɔ.
The name of the Lord is of great strength; and the righteous running to it are exalted.
11 Adefo ahonyade ne wɔn kuropɔn a wɔabɔ ho ban wɔfa no sɛ ɔfasu tenten a wontumi mforo.
The wealth of a rich man is a strong city; and its glory casts a broad shadow.
12 Ansa na onipa bɛhwe ase no onya ahomaso koma, na ahobrɛase di anuonyam anim.
Before ruin a man's heart is exalted, and before honor it is humble.
13 Nea ontie asɛm ansa na wama mmuae no, ɛno ne ne gyimi ne nʼanimguase.
Whoso answers a word before he hears [a cause], it is folly and reproach to him.
14 Onipa honhom na ɛhyɛ no den wɔ ɔyare mu na honhom a abotow de, hena na ɔpɛ?
A wise servant calms a man's anger; but who can endure a faint-hearted man?
15 Nhumu koma nya nimdeɛ; na anyansafo aso nso hwehwɛ.
The heart of the sensible [man] purchases discretion; and the ears of the wise seek understanding.
16 Akyɛde bue kwan ma nea ɔde ma na ɛde no ba atitiriw anim.
A man's gift enlarges him, and seats him among princes.
17 Ɛyɛ nea ɔbɔ ne nkuro kan no sɛ nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ, kosi sɛ ɔfoforo bɛba abebisa no nsɛm no mu.
A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.
18 Ntontobɔ twa akyinnyegye so, na ɛpata atamfo.
A silent [man] quells strifes, and determines between great powers.
19 Onua a wɔafom no no asɛm yɛ den sen kuropɔn a ɛwɔ bammɔ, akyinnyegye te sɛ abankɛse apon a wɔabram akyi.
A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city; and is [as] strong as a [well]-founded palace.
20 Onipa anom asɛm so aba ma ɔyafunu mee, nnɔbae a nʼanofafa twa no mee no.
A man fills his belly with the fruits of his mouth; and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.
21 Tɛkrɛma kura nkwa ne owu tumi, na wɔn a wɔdɔ no no bedi nʼaba.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue; and they that rule it shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 Nea wanya yere no anya ade pa na onya adom fi Awurade hɔ.
He that has found a good wife has found favours, and has received gladness from God. [He that puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.]
23 Ohiani srɛ ahummɔbɔ, nanso ɔdefo de kasaden bua no.
24 Ɔbarima a ne nnamfonom dɔɔso betumi ahwe ase, nanso adamfo bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfam ne ho asen onua.
