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 fitting for a fool.
2 Sɛnea apatuprɛw tu anaasɛ asomfena tu dannan ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause does not come.
3 Ɔkafo abaa wɔ hɔ ma ɔpɔnkɔ, nnareka wɔ hɔ ma afurum, na abaa wɔ hɔ ma nkwaseafo akyi.
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Nhwɛ ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so mma no mmuae, anyɛ saa a wo nso bɛyɛ sɛ ɔno.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you are like to him—even you.
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 is wise in his own eyes.
6 Sɛ wode nkra bi soma ɔkwasea a, ɛte sɛ wutwitwa wʼankasa wʼanan anaasɛ wonom awuduru.
He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 Apakye nan a awu na ɛsensɛn hɔ no, yɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
The two legs of the lame have been weak, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
8 Ɔbo a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmo so te sɛ anuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honor to a fool.
9 Nsɔe dua a ɔkɔwensani kita no te sɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
10 Nea ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantowni a opira nnipa kwa.
The Former of all [is] great, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 Sɛnea ɔkraman san kɔ ne fe ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
As a dog has returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 Wuhu obi a ɔyɛ onyansafo wɔ nʼankasa ani so ana? Anidaso pii wɔ ɔkwasea mu sen no.
You have seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata wɔ ɔkwan no mu, gyatakeka nenam mmɔnten no so!”
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.”
14 Sɛnea ɔpon di akɔneaba wɔ ne mpontare so no, saa ara na ɔkwadwofo twa ne ho wɔ ne mpa so.
The door turns around on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
The slothful has hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 Ɔkwadwofo yɛ onyansafo wɔ ɔno ankasa ani so sen nnipa baason a wodwen asɛm ho na wɔabua.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning 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.
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife [that is] not his own.
18 Ɔbɔdamfo a ɔtotow atuo anaa agyanwerɛmfo no
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka se, “Na mede redi agoru!”
So has a man deceived his neighbor, And has said, “Am I not playing?”
20 Nnyansin hi a ogya dum; nseku nni hɔ a ntɔkwaw to twa.
Fire is going out without wood, And contention ceases without a tale-bearer,
21 Sɛnea gyabiriw dan nnyansramma na nnyina dan ogya no, saa ara na ɔtɔkwapɛfo hyɛ ntɔkwaw mu takramugya.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22 Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Sɛnea ama kata asankagow ho no saa ara na tɛkrɛmadɛ kata amumɔyɛ koma so.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ nea oye, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ ne koma ma.
A hater pretends by his lips, And he places deceit in his heart,
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 do not trust in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumɔyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ bagua mu.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.
27 Sɛ onipa tu amoa a, ɔbɛtɔ mu; sɛ onipa pirew ɔbo a, ɛbɛsan aba no so.
Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And the roller of a stone, it turns to him.
28 Atoro tɛkrɛma kyi wɔn a ogu wɔn ho fi, na adɛfɛdɛfɛ ano de ɔsɛe ba.
A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!
