1It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace and quiet
than to eat a big dinner in a house full of fighting.
2A wise servant will rule over a shameful child.
He will be given part of the property as if he were a family member.
3Fire tests silver, and heat tests gold.
But the Lord tests our hearts.
4Evil people listen to lies.
Lying people listen to evil.
5Anyone who laughs at those who are poor makes fun of their Maker.
Anyone who is happy when others suffer will be punished.
6Grandchildren are like a crown to older people.
And children are proud of their parents.
7Fancy words don’t belong in the mouths of ungodly fools.
And lies certainly don’t belong in the mouths of rulers!
8Those who give money think it will buy them favors.
They think that no matter where they turn, they will succeed.
9Whoever wants to show love forgives a wrong.
But those who talk about it separate close friends.
10A person who understands what is right learns more from just a warning
than a foolish person learns from 100 strokes with a whip.
11An evil person tries to keep others from obeying God.
The messenger of death will be sent against them.
12It is better to meet a bear whose cubs have been stolen
than to meet a foolish person who is acting foolishly.
13Evil will never leave the house
of anyone who pays back evil for good.
14Starting to argue is like making a crack in a dam.
So drop the matter before a fight breaks out.
15The Lord hates two things.
He hates it when the guilty are set free.
He also hates it when those who aren’t guilty are punished.
16Why should a foolish person try to buy wisdom?
They are not even able to understand it.
17A friend loves at all times.
They are there to help when trouble comes.
18A person who has no sense agrees to pay what other people owe.
It isn’t wise to promise to pay other people’s bills.
19The one who loves to argue loves to sin.
The one who builds a high gate is just asking to be destroyed.
20If your heart is twisted, you won’t succeed.
If your tongue tells lies, you will get into trouble.
21It is sad to have a foolish child.
The parents of a godless fool have no joy.
22A cheerful heart makes you healthy.
But a broken spirit dries you up.
23Anyone who does wrong accepts favors in secret.
Then they turn what is right into what is wrong.
24Anyone who understands what is right keeps wisdom in view.
But the eyes of a foolish person look everywhere else.
25A foolish child makes his father sad
and his mother sorry.
26It isn’t good to fine those who aren’t guilty.
So it certainly isn’t good to whip officials just because they are honest.
27Anyone who has knowledge controls their words.
Anyone who has understanding is not easily upset.
28We think even foolish people are wise if they keep silent.
We think they understand what is right if they control their tongues.
1Aduan sakoo a asomdwoe wɔ ho
ye sen ofi a aponto ahyɛ no ma nanso basabasayɛ wɔ mu.
2Ɔsomfo nyansafo bedi ɔba nimguasefo so,
na obenya ne kyɛfa wɔ agyapade no mu sɛ anuanom no mu baako.
3Kyɛmfɛre wɔ hɔ ma dwetɛ na fononoo wɔ hɔ ma sikakɔkɔɔ
nanso Awurade na ɔsɔ koma hwɛ.
4Omumɔyɛfo tie nsusuwii bɔne;
ɔtorofo yɛ aso ma adwene bɔne tɛkrɛma.
5Nea odi ahiafo ho fɛw no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa;
na nea ɔfoa amanehunu so no benya asotwe.
6Nananom yɛ mmasiriwa anuonyam,
na awofo yɛ wɔn mma ahohoahoa.
7Anotew nye mma ɔkwasea,
saa ara na ano a edi atoro mfata ɔhene.
8Nea ɔma adanmude no hu sɛ ɛyɛ suman;
osusuw sɛ nkonimdi bɛba bere biara.
9Nea obu nʼani gu mfomso so no ma ɔdɔ kwan,
na nea ɔkɔ so bɔ so no tetew nnamfonom ntam.
10Animka sɔ onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu ani
sen mmaa ɔha a wɔbɔ ɔkwasea.
11Onipa bɔnefo ani wɔ atuatew nko ara so
na wɔbɛsoma odwumayɛni tirimuɔdenfo akɔ no so.
12Eye sɛ wubehyia sisi a wɔawia ne mma
sen ɔkwasea a ɔregyimi.
13Sɛ obi de bɔne tua papa so ka a,
bɔne rempa ne fi da.
14Ntɔkwaw mfiase te sɛ nea wɔretue suka;
enti gyae ma ɛnka na ankɔfa ɔham amma.
15Sɛ wobegyaa nea odi fɔ ne sɛ wobebu nea odi bem kumfɔ no,
Awurade kyi nʼabien no nyinaa.
16Sika a ɛwɔ ɔkwasea nsam so nni mfaso,
efisɛ onni botae biara sɛ obehu nyansa.
17Adamfo kyerɛ ɔdɔ bere nyinaa mu,
wɔwo onuabarima ma ahokyere bere.
18Obi a onni adwene no na ɔde ne nsa hyɛ krataa ase di akagyinamu
nam so de si awowa ma ne yɔnko.
19Nea ɔpɛ ntɔkwaw no dɔ bɔne;
nea osi ɔpon tenten no frɛfrɛ ɔsɛe.
20Onipa a ɔwɔ porɔwee koma no nnya nkɔso;
nea ɔwɔ nnaadaa tɛkrɛma no tɔ amane mu.
21Nea ɔwo ɔbakwasea no di awerɛhow,
ɔbakwasea agya nni anigye.
22Koma mu anigye yɛ aduru, ɛsa ɔyare,
nanso honhom a abotow no yoyow nnompe.
23Omumɔyɛfo gye adanmude wɔ sum ase
de kyea atɛntrenee.
24Onipa a ɔwɔ nhumu no ani kɔ nyansa so,
na ɔkwasea toto nʼani kosi asase ano.
25Ɔbakwasea hyɛ nʼagya awerɛhow,
na ɔma nea onyinsɛn no no di yaw.
26Enye sɛ wɔtwe nea odi bem aso,
anaasɛ wotwa adwumayɛfo mmaa wɔ wɔn nokwaredi nti.
27Onimdefo dwene nʼanom kasa ho,
na nea ɔwɔ nhumu no wɔ abodwo.
28Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea yɛ dinn a wobu no sɛ onyansafo,
na sɛ omua nʼano a wobu no sɛ ɔwɔ nhumu.
