Mmebusɛm 25
1 Eyinom yɛ Salomo mmebusɛm nkekaho a Yudahene Hesekia afotufo kyerɛwee:
These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 Ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn anuonyamhyɛ sɛ wɔde asɛm sie; sɛ wɔpɛɛpɛɛ asɛm mu nso hyɛ ahemfo anuonyam.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
3 Sɛnea ɔsoro korɔn na asase mu dɔ no, saa ara na wɔrentumi nhwehwɛ ahemfo koma mu.
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
4 Sɛ woyi dwetɛ ho fi a, na ato nea ɛkɔ dwetɛdwumfo nsam;
Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
5 Yi amumɔyɛfo fi ɔhene anim, na trenee bɛma nʼahengua atim.
Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Mma wo ho so wɔ ɔhene anim, na mpere dibea wɔ atitiriw mu;
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
7 Eye ma no sɛ ɔbɛka akyerɛ wo se, “Bra soro ha,” sen sɛ ɔbɛbrɛ wo ase wɔ otitiriw bi anim. Nea wode wʼani ahu no
for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,
8 mpɛ ntɛm mfa nkɔ asennii, na sɛ awiei no wo yɔnko gu wʼanim ase a dɛn na wobɛyɛ?
do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Sɛ wo ne wo yɔnko di asɛm a nna obi foforo ahintasɛm adi,
Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
10 anyɛ saa a, nea ɔbɛte no begu wʼanim ase na din bɔne a wubenya no rempepa da.
lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.
11 Asɛm a wɔka no sɛnea ɛfata no te sɛ sika kɔkɔɔ a wɔabɔ sɛ aprɛ de atuatua dwetɛ nsiesiei mu.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 Sikakɔkɔɔ asokaa anaa sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa ahyehyɛde te sɛ onyansafo animka a ɔde ma nea ɔyɛ aso ma no.
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
13 Sɛnea sukyerɛmma ma wim dwo wɔ otwabere mu no, saa ara na ɔsomafo nokwafo te ma wɔn a wɔsoma no no; na ɔma ne wuranom akomatɔyam.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Omununkum ne mframa a ɛmfa osu mma no te sɛ onipa a ɔde akyɛde a ɔmmfa mma hoahoa ne ho.
Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
15 Ntoboase ma sodifo ti da, na tɛkrɛmabere tumi bu dompe mu.
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 Sɛ wunya ɛwo a, nni ntra so, ne bebrebe bɛma woafe.
If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
17 Ntaa nkɔ wo yɔnko fi, wo ho fono no a, ɔbɛtan wo.
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
18 Onipa a odi adansekurum tia ne yɔnko no te sɛ kontibaa, afoa anaa bɛmma a ano yɛ nnam.
Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 Ɛse a ɛyare ɔkekaw anaa nan a ɛyɛ apakye te sɛ nea wode wo ho to ɔtorofo so hiada mu.
Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
20 Nea ɔto dwom kyerɛ ɔwerɛhowni no, te sɛ nea ɔpa ntama gu awɔwbere mu anaa te sɛ nsa nyinyanyinya a wohwie gu apirakuru so.
Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 Sɛ ɔkɔm de wo tamfo a, ma no aduan nni; sɛ osukɔm de no a, ma no nsu nnom.
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 Sɛ woyɛ saa a, wobɛsosɔ nnyansramma agu nʼatifi, na Awurade bɛma wo akatua.
For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 Sɛnea atifi fam mframa de osu ba no, saa ara na tɛkrɛma a edi nseku de omuna ba.
As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
24 Eye sɛ wobɛtena suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Nsuonwini a ɔkra a atɔ beraw nya no te sɛ anigyesɛm a efi akyirikyiri.
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26 Asuti a afono anaa abura a ayɛ pɔtɔɔ te sɛ ɔtreneeni a ogyaa ne ho ma amumɔyɛfo.
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
27 Enye sɛ wodi ɛwo ntraso, saa ara na ɛnyɛ anuonyam sɛ obi bɛhwehwɛ nsɛm a mu dɔ mu.
It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
28 Onipa a onni ahohyɛso no te sɛ kuropɔn a nʼafasu abubu agu fam.
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
