Mmebusɛm 26
1 Sɛnea sukyerɛmma te ahuhurubere anaasɛ osu wɔ otwabere no, saa ara na anuonyam mfata ɔkwasea.
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so kavod ·weighty glory· is not fitting for a fool.
2 Sɛnea apatuprɛw tu anaasɛ asomfena tu dannan ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Ɔkafo abaa wɔ hɔ ma ɔpɔnkɔ, nnareka wɔ hɔ ma afurum, na abaa wɔ hɔ ma nkwaseafo akyi.
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the 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.
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like 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.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7 Apakye nan a awu na ɛsensɛn hɔ no, yɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
Like the legs of the lame that 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 who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives kavod ·weighty glory· to a fool.
9 Nsɔe dua a ɔkɔwensani kita no te sɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
Like a thorn bush that goes 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 who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11 Sɛnea ɔkraman san kɔ ne fe ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
As a dog that makes teshuvah ·completely returns· to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Wuhu obi a ɔyɛ onyansafo wɔ nʼankasa ani so ana? Anidaso pii wɔ ɔkwasea mu sen no.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Ɔkwadwofo ka se, “Gyata wɔ ɔkwan no mu, gyatakeka nenam mmɔnten no so!”
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams 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 turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
15 Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back 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 eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
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.
Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Ɔbɔdamfo a ɔtotow atuo anaa agyanwerɛmfo no
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19 te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka se, “Na mede redi agoru!”
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
20 Nnyansin hi a ogya dum; nseku nni hɔ a ntɔkwaw to twa.
For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
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 kindling 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, they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Sɛnea ama kata asankagow ho no saa ara na tɛkrɛmadɛ kata amumɔyɛ koma so.
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ nea oye, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ ne koma ma.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil 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 speech is pleasant, don’t believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumɔyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ bagua mu.
His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Sɛ onipa tu amoa a, ɔbɛtɔ mu; sɛ onipa pirew ɔbo a, ɛbɛsan aba no so.
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 Atoro tɛkrɛma kyi wɔn a ogu wɔn ho fi, na adɛfɛdɛfɛ ano de ɔsɛe ba.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
