Proverbs 25
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
Eyinom yɛ Salomo mmebusɛm nkekaho a Yudahene Hesekia afotufo kyerɛwee:
2 God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
Ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn anuonyamhyɛ sɛ wɔde asɛm sie; sɛ wɔpɛɛpɛɛ asɛm mu nso hyɛ ahemfo anuonyam.
3 Just as the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth can't be known, the king's thinking can't be known.
Sɛnea ɔsoro korɔn na asase mu dɔ no, saa ara na wɔrentumi nhwehwɛ ahemfo koma mu.
4 Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
Sɛ woyi dwetɛ ho fi a, na ato nea ɛkɔ dwetɛdwumfo nsam;
5 Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
Yi amumɔyɛfo fi ɔhene anim, na trenee bɛma nʼahengua atim.
6 Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
Mma wo ho so wɔ ɔhene anim, na mpere dibea wɔ atitiriw mu;
7 for it's better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be humiliated before a nobleman. Even though you've seen something with your own eyes,
Eye ma no sɛ ɔbɛka akyerɛ wo se, “Bra soro ha,” sen sɛ ɔbɛbrɛ wo ase wɔ otitiriw bi anim. Nea wode wʼani ahu no
8 don't rush to take legal action, for what are you going to do in the end when your neighbor shows you're wrong and humiliates you?
mpɛ ntɛm mfa nkɔ asennii, na sɛ awiei no wo yɔnko gu wʼanim ase a dɛn na wobɛyɛ?
9 Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
Sɛ wo ne wo yɔnko di asɛm a nna obi foforo ahintasɛm adi,
10 otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
anyɛ saa a, nea ɔbɛte no begu wʼanim ase na din bɔne a wubenya no rempepa da.
11 Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
Asɛm a wɔka no sɛnea ɛfata no te sɛ sika kɔkɔɔ a wɔabɔ sɛ aprɛ de atuatua dwetɛ nsiesiei mu.
12 Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
Sikakɔkɔɔ asokaa anaa sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa ahyehyɛde te sɛ onyansafo animka a ɔde ma nea ɔyɛ aso ma no.
13 Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
Sɛnea sukyerɛmma ma wim dwo wɔ otwabere mu no, saa ara na ɔsomafo nokwafo te ma wɔn a wɔsoma no no; na ɔma ne wuranom akomatɔyam.
14 Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
Omununkum ne mframa a ɛmfa osu mma no te sɛ onipa a ɔde akyɛde a ɔmmfa mma hoahoa ne ho.
15 If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
Ntoboase ma sodifo ti da, na tɛkrɛmabere tumi bu dompe mu.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
Sɛ wunya ɛwo a, nni ntra so, ne bebrebe bɛma woafe.
17 Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
Ntaa nkɔ wo yɔnko fi, wo ho fono no a, ɔbɛtan wo.
18 Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
Onipa a odi adansekurum tia ne yɔnko no te sɛ kontibaa, afoa anaa bɛmma a ano yɛ nnam.
19 Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
Ɛse a ɛyare ɔkekaw anaa nan a ɛyɛ apakye te sɛ nea wode wo ho to ɔtorofo so hiada mu.
20 Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.
Nea ɔto dwom kyerɛ ɔwerɛhowni no, te sɛ nea ɔpa ntama gu awɔwbere mu anaa te sɛ nsa nyinyanyinya a wohwie gu apirakuru so.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
Sɛ ɔkɔm de wo tamfo a, ma no aduan nni; sɛ osukɔm de no a, ma no nsu nnom.
22 This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
Sɛ woyɛ saa a, wobɛsosɔ nnyansramma agu nʼatifi, na Awurade bɛma wo akatua.
23 In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
Sɛnea atifi fam mframa de osu ba no, saa ara na tɛkrɛma a edi nseku de omuna ba.
24 It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
Eye sɛ wobɛtena suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
25 Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
Nsuonwini a ɔkra a atɔ beraw nya no te sɛ anigyesɛm a efi akyirikyiri.
26 Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
Asuti a afono anaa abura a ayɛ pɔtɔɔ te sɛ ɔtreneeni a ogyaa ne ho ma amumɔyɛfo.
27 It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
Enye sɛ wodi ɛwo ntraso, saa ara na ɛnyɛ anuonyam sɛ obi bɛhwehwɛ nsɛm a mu dɔ mu.
28 Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
Onipa a onni ahohyɛso no te sɛ kuropɔn a nʼafasu abubu agu fam.
