Mmebusɛm 25
1 Eyinom yɛ Salomo mmebusɛm nkekaho a Yudahene Hesekia afotufo kyerɛwee:
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
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 thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Sɛnea ɔsoro korɔn na asase mu dɔ no, saa ara na wɔrentumi nhwehwɛ ahemfo koma mu.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Sɛ woyi dwetɛ ho fi a, na ato nea ɛkɔ dwetɛdwumfo nsam;
Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner.
5 Yi amumɔyɛfo fi ɔhene anim, na trenee bɛma nʼahengua atim.
Take away 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;
Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place amongst 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 it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.
8 mpɛ ntɛm mfa nkɔ asennii, na sɛ awiei no wo yɔnko gu wʼanim ase a dɛn na wobɛyɛ?
Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbour shames you?
9 Sɛ wo ne wo yɔnko di asɛm a nna obi foforo ahintasɛm adi,
Debate your case with your neighbour, and don’t betray the confidence of another,
10 anyɛ saa a, nea ɔbɛte no begu wʼanim ase na din bɔne a wubenya no rempepa da.
lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
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.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient 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.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for 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.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
15 Ntoboase ma sodifo ti da, na tɛkrɛmabere tumi bu dompe mu.
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Sɛ wunya ɛwo a, nni ntra so, ne bebrebe bɛma woafe.
Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
17 Ntaa nkɔ wo yɔnko fi, wo ho fono no a, ɔbɛtan wo.
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbour’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
18 Onipa a odi adansekurum tia ne yɔnko no te sɛ kontibaa, afoa anaa bɛmma a ano yɛ nnam.
A man who gives false testimony against his neighbour is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Ɛse a ɛyare ɔkekaw anaa nan a ɛyɛ apakye te sɛ nea wode wo ho to ɔtorofo so hiada mu.
Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
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.
As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so 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. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 Sɛ woyɛ saa a, wobɛsosɔ nnyansramma agu nʼatifi, na Awurade bɛma wo akatua.
for you will heap coals of fire 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.
The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
24 Eye sɛ wobɛtena suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
25 Nsuonwini a ɔkra a atɔ beraw nya no te sɛ anigyesɛm a efi akyirikyiri.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Asuti a afono anaa abura a ayɛ pɔtɔɔ te sɛ ɔtreneeni a ogyaa ne ho ma amumɔyɛfo.
Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before 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 much honey, nor is it honourable to seek one’s own honour.
28 Onipa a onni ahohyɛso no te sɛ kuropɔn a nʼafasu abubu agu fam.
Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
