Mmebusɛm 26
1 Sɛnea sukyerɛmma te ahuhurubere anaasɛ osu wɔ otwabere no, saa ara na anuonyam mfata ɔkwasea.
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
2 Sɛnea apatuprɛw tu anaasɛ asomfena tu dannan ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.
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 is for the donkey and a rod is 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, or you will become like him.
5 Gyina ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so ma no mmuae, anyɛ saa a ɛbɛyɛ no sɛ onim nyansa.
Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.
6 Sɛ wode nkra bi soma ɔkwasea a, ɛte sɛ wutwitwa wʼankasa wʼanan anaasɛ wonom awuduru.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Apakye nan a awu na ɛsensɛn hɔ no, yɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Ɔbo a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmo so te sɛ anuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool.
9 Nsɔe dua a ɔkɔwensani kita no te sɛ mmebusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Nea ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantowni a opira nnipa kwa.
Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
11 Sɛnea ɔkraman san kɔ ne fe ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
As a dog returns to his own 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 someone who is 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 lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
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 is the lazy person upon his bed.
15 Ɔkwadwofo de ne nsa si aduan mu, na ɛyɛ no anihaw sɛ obeyi akɔ nʼano.
The lazy person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.
16 Ɔkwadwofo yɛ onyansafo wɔ ɔno ankasa ani so sen nnipa baason a wodwen asɛm ho na wɔabua.
The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
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 takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.
18 Ɔbɔdamfo a ɔtotow atuo anaa agyanwerɛmfo no
Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
19 te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka se, “Na mede redi agoru!”
is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
20 Nnyansin hi a ogya dum; nseku nni hɔ a ntɔkwaw to twa.
For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
21 Sɛnea gyabiriw dan nnyansramma na nnyina dan ogya no, saa ara na ɔtɔkwapɛfo hyɛ ntɔkwaw mu takramugya.
As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 Osekuni ano asɛm te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ dɛ; ɛhyɛnhyɛn onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 Sɛnea ama kata asankagow ho no saa ara na tɛkrɛmadɛ kata amumɔyɛ koma so.
Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
24 Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ nea oye, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ ne koma ma.
One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
25 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ne kasa yɛ dɛ de, nanso nnye no nni, efisɛ abususɛm ason ahyɛ ne koma ma.
He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, 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 with deception, 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 will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
28 Atoro tɛkrɛma kyi wɔn a ogu wɔn ho fi, na adɛfɛdɛfɛ ano de ɔsɛe ba.
A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
