Proverbs 25
1 Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
Yeinom yɛ Salomo mmɛbusɛm nkekaho a Yudahene Hesekia afotufoɔ twerɛeɛ:
2 It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
Ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn animuonyamhyɛ sɛ wɔde asɛm sie; sɛ wɔpɛɛpɛɛ asɛm mu nso hyɛ ahemfo animuonyam.
3 As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
Sɛdeɛ ɔsoro korɔn na asase mu dɔ no, saa ara na wɔrentumi nhwehwɛ ahemfo akoma mu.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
Sɛ wɔyi dwetɛ ho a, dwetɛdwumfoɔ tumi de yɛ adeɛ a ɛho wɔ mfasoɔ;
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
Yi amumuyɛfoɔ firi ɔhene anim, na tenenee bɛma nʼahennwa atim.
6 Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men;
Mma wo ho so wɔ ɔhene anim, na mpere diberɛ wɔ atitire mu;
7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] seen.
Ɛyɛ ma no sɛ ɔbɛka akyerɛ wo sɛ, “Bra soro ha,” sene sɛ ɔbɛbrɛ wo ase wɔ otitire bi anim. Deɛ wode wʼani ahunu no
8 Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
mpɛ ntɛm mfa nkɔ asɛnniiɛ, na sɛ awieeɛ no wo yɔnko gu wʼanim ase a ɛdeɛn na wobɛyɛ?
9 Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
Sɛ wo ne wo yɔnko di asɛm a nna obi foforɔ ahintasɛm adi,
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
anyɛ saa a, deɛ ɔbɛte no bɛgu wʼanim ase na edin bɔne a wobɛnya no rempepa da.
11 Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
Asɛm a wɔka no sɛdeɛ ɛfata no te sɛ sika kɔkɔɔ a wɔabɔ sɛ aprɛ de atuatua dwetɛ nsiesieɛ mu.
12 As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
Sikakɔkɔɔ asomuadeɛ anaa sikakɔkɔɔ amapa ahyehyɛdeɛ te sɛ onyansafoɔ animka a ɔde ma deɛ ɔyɛ aso ma no.
13 As the cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
Sɛdeɛ sukyerɛmma ma ewiem dwoɔ wɔ otwa berɛ mu no saa ara na ɔsomafoɔ nokwafoɔ teɛ ma wɔn a wɔsoma no; na ɔma ne wuranom akomatɔyam.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
Omununkum ne mframa a ɛmfa osutɔ mma no te sɛ onipa a ɔde akyɛdeɛ a ɔmmfa mma hoahoa ne ho.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
Ntoboaseɛ ma sodifoɔ ti da, na tɛkrɛmabereɛ tumi bu dompe mu.
16 Hast thou found honey: eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
Sɛ wonya ɛwoɔ a, enni ntra so, ne bebrebe bɛma woafe.
17 Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
Ntaa nkɔ wo yɔnko fie, wo ho fono no a, ɔbɛtan wo.
18 A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
Onipa a ɔdi adansekurumu tia ne yɔnko no te sɛ aporibaa, afena anaa bɛmma a ano yɛ nnam.
19 Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
Ɛse a ɛyare kaka anaa ɛnan a ɛyɛ apakye te sɛ deɛ wode wo ho to ɔtorofoɔ so hiada mu.
20 [As] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy heart.
Deɛ ɔto dwom kyere ɔwerɛhoni no te sɛ deɛ ɔpa ntoma gu awɔberɛ mu anaa te sɛ nsã nyinyanyinya a wɔhwie gu afransa soɔ.
21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
Sɛ ɛkɔm de wo ɔtamfoɔ a, ma no aduane nni; sɛ osukɔm de no a, ma no nsuo nnom.
22 For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
Sɛ woyɛ saa a, wobɛsoso gyasramma agu nʼatifi, na Awurade bɛma wo akatua.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
Sɛdeɛ atifi fam mframa de osutɔ ba no, saa ara na tɛkrɛma a ɛdi nsekuro de omuna ba.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
Ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛtena suhyɛ ase mantweaa bi, sene sɛ wo ne ɔyere ntɔkwapɛfoɔ bɛtena efie.
25 As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
Nsuonwunu a ɔkra a ato baha nya no te sɛ asɛmmɔdɛ a ɛfiri akyirikyiri.
26 Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
Asutire a ahono anaa abura a ayɛ pɔtɔɔ, te sɛ ɔteneneeni a ɔgyaa ne ho ma amumuyɛfoɔ.
27 To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔdi ɛwoɔ ntrasoɔ, na ɛnyɛ fɛ nso sɛ obi pɛ animuonyam ma ne ho.
28 Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
Onipa a ɔnni ahohyɛsoɔ no te sɛ kuropɔn a nʼafasuo abubu agu fam.
