Proverbs 26
1 As snow is in summer, and as rain in harvest: so is honor not seemly to a fool.
Sɛdeɛ sukyerɛmma te ahuhuro berɛ anaasɛ osutɔ te wɔ otwa berɛ no saa ara na animuonyam mfata ɔkwasea.
2 As the bird [cometh] to flit away, as the swallow, to fly off: so will an undeserved curse not come [to fulfillment].
Sɛdeɛ apatuprɛ tuo anaasɛ asomfena tu danedane ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
3 A whip is 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 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest thou also become equal 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 eyes.
Gyina ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so ma no mmuaeɛ anyɛ saa a ɛbɛyɛ no sɛ ɔnim nyansa.
6 He choppeth off the feet, and drinketh vexation, that sendeth important messages by the hand of a fool.
Sɛ wode nkra bi soma ɔkwasea a, ɛte sɛ woatwa wʼankasa nan anaasɛ woafrɛ basabasayɛ.
7 Too feebly hang down the thighs on a lame man: 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 is the one that bindeth a stone fast in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool.
Ɛboɔ a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmoɔ so, te sɛ animuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
9 [As] a thorn that is come 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 A master injureth all things when he hireth a fool or hireth mere rovers.
Deɛ ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantoni a ɔpira nnipa kwa.
11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so doth a fool repeat to act in his folly.
Sɛdeɛ ɔkraman sane kɔ ne feɛ ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
12 When thou seest a man wise in his own eyes, then is there more hope for a fool than for him.
Woahunu obi a ɔyɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ nʼankasa ani so? Anidasoɔ pii wɔ ɔkwasea mu sene no.
13 The slothful saith, There is a leopard in the way: a lion is between the streets.
Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata wɔ ɛkwan no mu, gyata nenam mmɔntene no so!”
14 As a door turneth upon its 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 Hath the slothful hidden his hand in the dish, it wearieth him to bring it back again to his mouth.
Ɔkwadwofoɔ de ne nsa si aduane mu, na ɛyɛ no aniha sɛ ɔbɛyi akɔ nʼano.
16 The slothful is wiser in his own eyes, than seven men that can give wise answers.
Ɔkwadwofoɔ yɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ ɔno ankasa ani so sene nnipa baason a wɔdwene asɛm ho na wɔabua.
17 As is one that taketh hold of a dog by the ears, so is he that passing by becometh excited about a dispute which concerneth him not.
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 one fatigueth himself shooting off firebrands, arrows, and death:
Ɔbɔdamfoɔ a ɔtoto atuo anaa agyan kɔdiawuo no
19 So is the man that hath cheated his neighbor, and saith, Behold, I am only jesting.
te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka sɛ, “Na mede redi agorɔ!”
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out: so where there is no whisperer, strife is silenced.
Yensin hi a, ogya dum; nsekuro nni hɔ a ntɔkwa toɔ twa.
21 As charcoals are added to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man fitted to enkindle a dispute.
Sɛdeɛ gyabidie dane gyasramma na anyina dane ogya no, saa ara na ntɔkwapɛfoɔ hyɛ ntɔkwa mu kutupa.
22 The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the body.
Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
23 Like silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips with a bad heart.
Sɛdeɛ wɔde dwetɛ fi adura asankago ho no saa ara na anoɔdɛ kata amumuyɛ akoma so.
24 With his lips dissembleth he that hateth, and within himself layeth he up deceit:
Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ deɛ ɔyɛ, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
25 Though he make his voice sound ever so graciously, 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 If one's hatred be covered by deception, then shall be laid bare his wickedness before a [whole] assembly.
Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumuyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ badwa mu.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit will fall therein; and upon him that rolleth a stone, will it return.
Sɛ onipa tu amena a, ɔbɛto mu; sɛ onipa pire ɔboɔ a, ɛbɛsane aba ne so.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth prepareth [others'] downfall.
Atorɔ tɛkrɛma kyiri wɔn a ɔgu wɔn ho fi, na nnaadaa ano de ɔsɛeɛ ba.
