Ɔsɛnkafo 10
1 Sɛnea nwansena funu ma aduhuam yi nka bɔne no, saa ara na nkwaseasɛm kakraa bi boro nimdeɛ ne anuonyam so no.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 Onyansafo koma sian kɔ nifa, nanso ɔkwasea koma kɔ benkum.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea nam ɔkwan so a, wohu sɛ onnim nyansa na ɔma obiara hu sɛ wagyimi.
Yea also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 Sɛ sodifo bo fuw wo a, nnyaw wʼadwuma nto hɔ; na ntoboase dwudwo mfomso kɛse ano.
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, leave not thy place, for deference allays great offenses.
5 Bɔne bi wɔ hɔ a mahu wɔ owia yi ase ɛyɛ mfomso bi a efi sodifo:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceeds from the ruler:
6 Wɔma nkwaseafo dibea a ɛkorɔn, na asikafo nya nea ɛwɔ fam.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 Mahu nkoa sɛ wɔtete apɔnkɔ so, na mmapɔmma nam fam sɛ nkoa.
I have seen servants upon horses, and rulers walking like servants upon the earth.
8 Obiara a otu amoa no betumi atɔ mu; na nea obubu ɔfasu no, ɔwɔ betumi aka no.
He who digs a pit shall fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Obiara a ɔpae abo no, abo no betumi apira no; na nea ɔpae nnua no betumi anya mu akwanhyia.
He who hews out stones shall be hurt therewith, and he who splits wood is endangered thereby.
10 Sɛ abonnua ano kum na wɔansew ano a ebehia ahoɔden bebree, nanso adwumayɛ ho nimdeɛ de nkonimdi bɛba.
If the iron be blunt, and he does not whet the edge, then he must increase strength. But wisdom is advantageous to make right.
11 Sɛ ɔwɔ ka obi ansa na wɔadwudwo no a nea odwudwo ɔwɔ no rennya so mfaso biara.
If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
12 Onyansafo anom nsɛm yɛ nyam, nanso ɔkwasea ano fafa de no kɔ ɔsɛe mu.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will swallow himself up.
13 Mfiase no, wɔn nsɛm yɛ nkwaseasɛm; awiei no, ɛyɛ adammɔ atirimɔdensɛm,
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 na ɔkwasea woro nsɛm. Obiara nnim nea ɛreba, hena na obetumi aka nea ebesi wɔ obi akyi akyerɛ no?
A fool also multiplies words; yet man knows not what shall be, and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Ɔkwasea adwumayɛ ma ɔbrɛ; na ɛmma onhu ɔkwan a ɛkɔ kurom.
The labor of fools wearies every one of them, for he knows not how to go to the city.
16 Nnome nka wo, asase a na wo hene yɛ ɔsomfo na wo mmapɔmma to pon anɔpa.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy rulers feast in the morning!
17 Nhyira nka wo, asase a wo hene yɛ ɔdehye na wo mmapɔmma didi bere a ɛfata de pɛ ahoɔden na ɛnyɛ nsabow.
Happy are thou, O land, when thy king is the son of noble men, and thy rulers feast in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Sɛ obi yɛ akwadworɔ a ne mpuran yɛ mmerɛw; sɛ ne nsa nka hwee a ne fi nwini.
By slothfulness the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 Wɔto pon ma serew, na nsa ma onipa ahosɛpɛw, nanso sika na ɛyɛ biribiara safe.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes glad the life, and money answers all things.
20 Wʼadwene mu mpo nkasa ntia ɔhene, na wo pia mu nso nnome ɔdefo, efisɛ anomaa a ɔnam wim de wʼasɛm bɛkɔ, na anomaa a otu bɛkɔ akɔka.
Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought, and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber. For a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.
