Proverbs 26
1 In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
Sɛnea sukyerɛmma te ahuhurubere anaasɛ osu wɔ otwabere no, saa ara na anuonyam mfata ɔkwasea.
2 Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.
Sɛnea apatuprɛw tu anaasɛ asomfena tu dannan ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
3 A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
Ɔkafo abaa wɔ hɔ ma ɔpɔnkɔ, nnareka wɔ hɔ ma afurum, na abaa wɔ hɔ ma nkwaseafo akyi.
4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
Nhwɛ ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so mma no mmuae, anyɛ saa a wo nso bɛyɛ sɛ ɔno.
5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
Gyina ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so ma no mmuae, anyɛ saa a ɛbɛyɛ no sɛ onim nyansa.
6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
Sɛ wode nkra bi soma ɔkwasea a, ɛte sɛ wutwitwa wʼankasa wʼanan anaasɛ wonom awuduru.
7 In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.
Apakye nan a awu na ɛsensɛn hɔ no, yɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
8 Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
Ɔbo a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmo so te sɛ anuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
9 In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
Nsɔe dua a ɔkɔwensani kita no te sɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
Nea ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantowni a opira nnipa kwa.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
Sɛnea ɔkraman san kɔ ne fe ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
12 Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
Wuhu obi a ɔyɛ onyansafo wɔ nʼankasa ani so ana? Anidaso pii wɔ ɔkwasea mu sen no.
13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata wɔ ɔkwan no mu, gyatakeka nenam mmɔnten no so!”
14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
Sɛnea ɔpon di akɔneaba wɔ ne mpontare so no, saa ara na ɔkwadwofo twa ne ho wɔ ne mpa so.
15 The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
Ɔkwadwofo yɛ onyansafo wɔ ɔno ankasa ani so sen nnipa baason a wodwen asɛm ho na wɔabua.
17 Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.
Obi a oso ɔkraman aso twe no no te sɛ obi a ɔretwa mu na ɔde ne ho kɔfra ntɔkwaw a ɛmfa ne ho mu.
18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
Ɔbɔdamfo a ɔtotow atuo anaa agyanwerɛmfo no
19 so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka se, “Na mede redi agoru!”
20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
Nnyansin hi a ogya dum; nseku nni hɔ a ntɔkwaw to twa.
21 Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
Sɛnea gyabiriw dan nnyansramma na nnyina dan ogya no, saa ara na ɔtɔkwapɛfo hyɛ ntɔkwaw mu takramugya.
22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
Sɛnea ama kata asankagow ho no saa ara na tɛkrɛmadɛ kata amumɔyɛ koma so.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ nea oye, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ ne koma ma.
25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ne kasa yɛ dɛ de, nanso nnye no nni, efisɛ abususɛm ason ahyɛ ne koma ma.
26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumɔyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ bagua mu.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
Sɛ onipa tu amoa a, ɔbɛtɔ mu; sɛ onipa pirew ɔbo a, ɛbɛsan aba no so.
28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
Atoro tɛkrɛma kyi wɔn a ogu wɔn ho fi, na adɛfɛdɛfɛ ano de ɔsɛe ba.
