Mmebusɛm 26
1 Sɛnea sukyerɛmma te ahuhurubere anaasɛ osu wɔ otwabere no, saa ara na anuonyam mfata ɔkwasea.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 Sɛnea apatuprɛw tu anaasɛ asomfena tu dannan ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.
3 Ɔkafo abaa wɔ hɔ ma ɔpɔnkɔ, nnareka wɔ hɔ ma afurum, na abaa wɔ hɔ ma nkwaseafo akyi.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Nhwɛ ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so mma no mmuae, anyɛ saa a wo nso bɛyɛ sɛ ɔno.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Gyina ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so ma no mmuae, anyɛ saa a ɛbɛyɛ no sɛ onim nyansa.
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 Sɛ wode nkra bi soma ɔkwasea a, ɛte sɛ wutwitwa wʼankasa wʼanan anaasɛ wonom awuduru.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.
7 Apakye nan a awu na ɛsensɛn hɔ no, yɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
The legs of the lame hang loose; So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Ɔbo a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmo so te sɛ anuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 Nsɔe dua a ɔkɔwensani kita no te sɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
[As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Nea ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantowni a opira nnipa kwa.
[As] an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
11 Sɛnea ɔkraman san kɔ ne fe ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [So is] a fool that repeateth his folly.
12 Wuhu obi a ɔyɛ onyansafo wɔ nʼankasa ani so ana? Anidaso pii wɔ ɔkwasea mu sen no.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata wɔ ɔkwan no mu, gyatakeka nenam mmɔnten no so!”
The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.
14 Sɛnea ɔpon di akɔneaba wɔ ne mpontare so no, saa ara na ɔkwadwofo twa ne ho wɔ ne mpa so.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
15 Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Ɔkwadwofo yɛ onyansafo wɔ ɔno ankasa ani so sen nnipa baason a wodwen asɛm ho na wɔabua.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.
17 Obi a oso ɔkraman aso twe no no te sɛ obi a ɔretwa mu na ɔde ne ho kɔfra ntɔkwaw a ɛmfa ne ho mu.
He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Ɔbɔdamfo a ɔtotow atuo anaa agyanwerɛmfo no
As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,
19 te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka se, “Na mede redi agoru!”
So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Nnyansin hi a ogya dum; nseku nni hɔ a ntɔkwaw to twa.
For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
21 Sɛnea gyabiriw dan nnyansramma na nnyina dan ogya no, saa ara na ɔtɔkwapɛfo hyɛ ntɔkwaw mu takramugya.
[As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Sɛnea ama kata asankagow ho no saa ara na tɛkrɛmadɛ kata amumɔyɛ koma so.
Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ nea oye, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ ne koma ma.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:
25 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ne kasa yɛ dɛ de, nanso nnye no nni, efisɛ abususɛm ason ahyɛ ne koma ma.
When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart:
26 Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumɔyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ bagua mu.
Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.
27 Sɛ onipa tu amoa a, ɔbɛtɔ mu; sɛ onipa pirew ɔbo a, ɛbɛsan aba no so.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 Atoro tɛkrɛma kyi wɔn a ogu wɔn ho fi, na adɛfɛdɛfɛ ano de ɔsɛe ba.
A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
