Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor [is] not fitting for a fool.
Sɛdeɛ sukyerɛmma te ahuhuro berɛ anaasɛ osutɔ te wɔ otwa berɛ no saa ara na animuonyam mfata ɔkwasea.
2 As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause does not come.
Sɛdeɛ apatuprɛ tuo anaasɛ asomfena tu danedane ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
3 A whip is for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.
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 you are like to him—even you.
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 is wise in his own eyes.
Gyina ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so ma no mmuaeɛ anyɛ saa a ɛbɛyɛ no sɛ ɔnim nyansa.
6 He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
Sɛ wode nkra bi soma ɔkwasea a, ɛte sɛ woatwa wʼankasa nan anaasɛ woafrɛ basabasayɛ.
7 The two legs of the lame have been weak, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
Apakye nan a awu na ɛsensɛn hɔ no, yɛ abɛbusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
8 As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honor to a fool.
Ɛboɔ a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmoɔ so, te sɛ animuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
9 A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
Nkasɛɛ dua a ɛkura ɔkɔwensani no te sɛ abɛbusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
10 The Former of all [is] great, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
Deɛ ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantoni a ɔpira nnipa kwa.
11 As a dog has returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
Sɛdeɛ ɔkraman sane kɔ ne feɛ ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
12 You have seen a man wise in his own eyes, 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 has said, “A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.”
Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata wɔ ɛkwan no mu, gyata nenam mmɔntene no so!”
14 The door turns around on its hinge, And the slothful on 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 has hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
Ɔkwadwofoɔ de ne nsa si aduane mu, na ɛyɛ no aniha sɛ ɔbɛyi akɔ nʼano.
16 Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
Ɔkwadwofoɔ yɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ ɔno ankasa ani so sene nnipa baason a wɔdwene asɛm ho na wɔabua.
17 Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife [that is] not his own.
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] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
Ɔbɔdamfoɔ a ɔtoto atuo anaa agyan kɔdiawuo no
19 So has a man deceived his neighbor, And has said, “Am I not playing?”
te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka sɛ, “Na mede redi agorɔ!”
20 Fire is going out without wood, And contention ceases without a tale-bearer,
Yensin hi a, ogya dum; nsekuro nni hɔ a ntɔkwa toɔ twa.
21 Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions 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 tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
23 Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
Sɛdeɛ wɔde dwetɛ fi adura asankago ho no saa ara na anoɔdɛ kata amumuyɛ akoma so.
24 A hater pretends by his lips, And he places deceit in his heart,
Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ deɛ ɔyɛ, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
25 When his voice is gracious do not trust in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
Ɛwom sɛ ne kasa yɛ dɛ deɛ, nanso ɛnnye no nni, ɛfiri sɛ akyiwadeɛ nson ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
26 Hatred is covered by deceit, Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.
Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumuyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ badwa mu.
27 Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And the roller of a stone, it turns to him.
Sɛ onipa tu amena a, ɔbɛto mu; sɛ onipa pire ɔboɔ a, ɛbɛsane aba ne so.
28 A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!
Atorɔ tɛkrɛma kyiri wɔn a ɔgu wɔn ho fi, na nnaadaa ano de ɔsɛeɛ ba.
