Proverbs 26
1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honor is not [seemly] for a fool.
Sɛnea sukyerɛmma te ahuhurubere anaasɛ osu wɔ otwabere no, saa ara na anuonyam mfata ɔkwasea.
2 As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
Sɛnea apatuprɛw tu anaasɛ asomfena tu dannan ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
3 As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
Ɔkafo abaa wɔ hɔ ma ɔpɔnkɔ, nnareka wɔ hɔ ma afurum, na abaa wɔ hɔ ma nkwaseafo akyi.
4 Answer not a fool 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 Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
Gyina ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so ma no mmuae, anyɛ saa a ɛbɛyɛ no sɛ onim nyansa.
6 He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
Sɛ wode nkra bi soma ɔkwasea a, ɛte sɛ wutwitwa wʼankasa wʼanan anaasɛ wonom awuduru.
7 [As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
Apakye nan a awu na ɛsensɛn hɔ no, yɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
8 He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
Ɔbo a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmo so te sɛ anuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
9 Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
Nsɔe dua a ɔkɔwensani kita no te sɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
10 All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
Nea ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantowni a opira nnipa kwa.
11 As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
Sɛnea ɔkraman san kɔ ne fe ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
12 I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
Wuhu obi a ɔyɛ onyansafo wɔ nʼankasa ani so ana? Anidaso pii wɔ ɔkwasea mu sen no.
13 A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata wɔ ɔkwan no mu, gyatakeka nenam mmɔnten no so!”
14 As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
Sɛnea ɔpon di akɔneaba wɔ ne mpontare so no, saa ara na ɔkwadwofo twa ne ho wɔ ne mpa so.
15 A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
16 A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
Ɔkwadwofo yɛ onyansafo wɔ ɔno ankasa ani so sen nnipa baason a wodwen asɛm ho na wɔabua.
17 As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
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 As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
Ɔbɔdamfo a ɔtotow atuo anaa agyanwerɛmfo no
19 so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka se, “Na mede redi agoru!”
20 With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
Nnyansin hi a ogya dum; nseku nni hɔ a ntɔkwaw to twa.
21 A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
Sɛnea gyabiriw dan nnyansramma na nnyina dan ogya no, saa ara na ɔtɔkwapɛfo hyɛ ntɔkwaw mu takramugya.
22 The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
23 Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
Sɛnea ama kata asankagow ho no saa ara na tɛkrɛmadɛ kata amumɔyɛ koma so.
24 A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ nea oye, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ ne koma ma.
25 Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ne kasa yɛ dɛ de, nanso nnye no nni, efisɛ abususɛm ason ahyɛ ne koma ma.
26 He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumɔyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ bagua mu.
27 He that digs a pit for his neighbor shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
Sɛ onipa tu amoa a, ɔbɛtɔ mu; sɛ onipa pirew ɔbo a, ɛbɛsan aba no so.
28 A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
Atoro tɛkrɛma kyi wɔn a ogu wɔn ho fi, na adɛfɛdɛfɛ ano de ɔsɛe ba.
