Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
Sɛdeɛ sukyerɛmma te ahuhuro berɛ anaasɛ osutɔ te wɔ otwa berɛ no saa ara na animuonyam mfata ɔkwasea.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
Sɛdeɛ apatuprɛ tuo anaasɛ asomfena tu danedane ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
Ɔkafoɔ abaa wɔ hɔ ma ɔpɔnkɔ, nnareka wɔ hɔ ma afunumu, na abaa wɔ hɔ ma nkwaseafoɔ akyi.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Nhwɛ ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so mma no mmuaeɛ, anyɛ saa a wo nso bɛyɛ sɛ ɔno.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Gyina ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so ma no mmuaeɛ anyɛ saa a ɛbɛyɛ no sɛ ɔnim nyansa.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh damage.
Sɛ wode nkra bi soma ɔkwasea a, ɛte sɛ woatwa wʼankasa nan anaasɛ woafrɛ basabasayɛ.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.
Apakye nan a awu na ɛsensɛn hɔ no, yɛ abɛbusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honour to a fool.
Ɛboɔ a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmoɔ so, te sɛ animuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.
Nkasɛɛ dua a ɛkura ɔkɔwensani no te sɛ abɛbusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
10 The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
Deɛ ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantoni a ɔpira nnipa kwa.
11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.
Sɛdeɛ ɔkraman sane kɔ ne feɛ ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.
Woahunu obi a ɔyɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ nʼankasa ani so? Anidasoɔ pii wɔ ɔkwasea mu sene no.
13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets.
Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata wɔ ɛkwan no mu, gyata nenam mmɔntene no so!”
14 [As] the door turneth upon his hinges, so [doth] the slothful upon his bed.
Sɛdeɛ ɛpono di akɔneaba wɔ ne mponterɛ so no, saa ara na ɔkwadwofoɔ twa ne ho wɔ ne mpa so.
15 The slothful hideth his hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
Ɔkwadwofoɔ de ne nsa si aduane mu, na ɛyɛ no aniha sɛ ɔbɛyi akɔ nʼano.
16 The sluggard [is] wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
Ɔkwadwofoɔ yɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ ɔno ankasa ani so sene nnipa baason a wɔdwene asɛm ho na wɔabua.
17 He that passeth by, [and] meddleth with strife [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Obi a ɔsɔ ɔkraman aso twe noɔ no te sɛ obi a ɔretwam na ɔde ne ho kɔfra ntɔkwa a ɛmfa ne ho mu.
18 As a mad [man] who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Ɔbɔdamfoɔ a ɔtoto atuo anaa agyan kɔdiawuo no
19 So [is] the man [that] deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka sɛ, “Na mede redi agorɔ!”
20 Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
Yensin hi a, ogya dum; nsekuro nni hɔ a ntɔkwa toɔ twa.
21 [As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.
Sɛdeɛ gyabidie dane gyasramma na anyina dane ogya no, saa ara na ntɔkwapɛfoɔ hyɛ ntɔkwa mu kutupa.
22 The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Sɛdeɛ wɔde dwetɛ fi adura asankago ho no saa ara na anoɔdɛ kata amumuyɛ akoma so.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ deɛ ɔyɛ, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for [there are] seven abominations in his heart.
Ɛwom sɛ ne kasa yɛ dɛ deɛ, nanso ɛnnye no nni, ɛfiri sɛ akyiwadeɛ nson ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
26 [Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the [whole] congregation.
Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumuyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ badwa mu.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
Sɛ onipa tu amena a, ɔbɛto mu; sɛ onipa pire ɔboɔ a, ɛbɛsane aba ne so.
28 A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Atorɔ tɛkrɛma kyiri wɔn a ɔgu wɔn ho fi, na nnaadaa ano de ɔsɛeɛ ba.
