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 honour beseemeth not a fool.
2 Sɛnea apatuprɛw tu anaasɛ asomfena tu dannan ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
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 eyes.
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 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 proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Ɔbo a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmo so te sɛ anuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Nsɔe dua a ɔkɔwensani kita no te sɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Nea ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantowni a opira nnipa kwa.
A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
11 Sɛnea ɔkraman san kɔ ne fe ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Wuhu obi a ɔyɛ onyansafo wɔ nʼankasa ani so ana? Anidaso pii wɔ ɔkwasea mu sen no.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? 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 fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of 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 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.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
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 passing by 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 a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
20 Nnyansin hi a ogya dum; nseku nni hɔ a ntɔkwaw to twa.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
21 Sɛnea gyabiriw dan nnyansramma na nnyina dan ogya no, saa ara na ɔtɔkwapɛfo hyɛ ntɔkwaw mu takramugya.
[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for 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 talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Sɛnea ama kata asankagow ho no saa ara na tɛkrɛmadɛ kata amumɔyɛ koma so.
Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] 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 his voice is gracious, 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 is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
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 that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
