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 becoming to a fool.
2 Sɛnea apatuprɛw tu anaasɛ asomfena tu dannan ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
As the sparrow wandereth, and the swallow flieth away, So the curse without cause 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 the fool.
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 become like to 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 cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage, Who sendeth a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Apakye nan a awu na ɛsensɛn hɔ no, yɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
The legs of a lame man hang loose; So is it with a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Ɔbo a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmo so te sɛ anuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
As he who 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 lifted up by 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.
As an archer who woundeth every one, So is he who hireth fools and hireth wayfarers.
11 Sɛnea ɔkraman san kɔ ne fe ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
As a dog returneth to that which he hath vomited, So a fool 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 slothful man saith, “There is a lion in the way; There is a lion 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 a 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 dippeth his hand into the dish; It grieveth 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 who 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.
As one that taketh a dog by the ears, So is he who, passing by, is enraged on account of the quarrel of another.
18 Ɔbɔdamfo a ɔtotow atuo anaa agyanwerɛmfo no
As a madman That casteth about darts, arrows, and death,
19 te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka se, “Na mede redi agoru!”
So is the man who deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, “Was I not in sport?”
20 Nnyansin hi a ogya dum; nseku nni hɔ a ntɔkwaw to twa.
Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out; So, where there is no talebearer, contention ceaseth.
21 Sɛnea gyabiriw dan nnyansramma na nnyina dan ogya no, saa ara na ɔtɔkwapɛfo hyɛ ntɔkwaw mu takramugya.
As coal is for heat, and as wood for fire, So is a contentious man for kindling strife.
22 Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a talebearer are like dainties; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.
23 Sɛnea ama kata asankagow ho no saa ara na tɛkrɛmadɛ kata amumɔyɛ koma so.
As drossy silver spread over an earthen vessel, So are warm lips and an evil heart.
24 Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ nea oye, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ ne koma ma.
The hater dissembleth with his lips, And 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.
His hatred is covered by deceit; His wickedness shall be revealed in the great assembly.
27 Sɛ onipa tu amoa a, ɔbɛtɔ mu; sɛ onipa pirew ɔbo a, ɛbɛsan aba no so.
He that 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 woundeth, And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
