Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely 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 doth 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 an ass, 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 Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
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 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 Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable 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 honour to a fool.
Ɛboɔ a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmoɔ so, te sɛ animuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
9 A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
Nkasɛɛ dua a ɛkura ɔkɔwensani no te sɛ abɛbusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
10 Great [is] the Former of all, 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 hath 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 Thou hast 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 hath 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 turneth round 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 hath 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 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 hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka sɛ, “Na mede redi agorɔ!”
20 Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
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 By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ deɛ ɔyɛ, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
25 When his voice is gracious trust not 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, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumuyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ badwa mu.
27 Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
Sɛ onipa tu amena a, ɔbɛto mu; sɛ onipa pire ɔboɔ a, ɛbɛsane aba ne so.
28 A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
Atorɔ tɛkrɛma kyiri wɔn a ɔgu wɔn ho fi, na nnaadaa ano de ɔsɛeɛ ba.
