Ɔsɛnkafoɔ 10
1 Sɛdeɛ nwansena funu ma aduhwam yi nka bɔne no, saa ara na nkwaseasɛm kakra boro nimdeɛ ne animuonyam so.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 Onyansafoɔ akoma kom kɔ nifa, nanso ɔkwasea akoma kɔ benkum.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea nam ɛkwan so a wɔhunu sɛ ɔnnim nyansa na ɔma obiara hunu sɛ wagyimi.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 Sɛ sodifoɔ bo fu wo a, nnya wʼadwuma nto hɔ; na ntoboaseɛ dwodwo mfomsoɔ kɛseɛ ano.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Bɔne bi wɔ hɔ a mahunu wɔ owia yi ase. Ɛyɛ mfomsoɔ bi a ɛfiri sodifoɔ:
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Wɔma nkwaseafoɔ diberɛ a ɛkorɔn, na asikafoɔ nya deɛ ɛwɔ fam.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 Mahunu nkoa sɛ wɔtete apɔnkɔ so, na mmapɔmma nam fam sɛ nkoa.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 Obiara a ɔtu amena no bɛtumi atɔ mu; na deɛ ɔbubu ɔfasuo no, ɔwɔ bɛtumi aka no.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Obiara a ɔpae aboɔ no, aboɔ no bɛtumi apira no; na deɛ ɔpae nnua no bɛtumi anya mu akwanhyia.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 Sɛ abonnua ano akum na wɔanse ano a, ɛbɛhia ahoɔden bebree nanso adwumayɛ ho nimdeɛ de nkonimdie bɛba.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 Sɛ ɔwɔ ka obi ansa na wɔadwodwo no a deɛ ɔdwodwo ɔwɔ no rennya ho mfasoɔ biara.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 Onyansafoɔ anom nsɛm yɛ nyam, nanso ɔkwasea ano fafa de no kɔ asɛeɛ mu.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 Ahyɛaseɛ no, ne nsɛm yɛ nkwaseasɛm; na ɛkɔwie abɔdamsɛm bɔne,
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 na ɔkwasea woro nsɛm. Obiara nnim deɛ ɛreba, hwan na ɔbɛtumi aka deɛ ɛbɛsi nʼakyi akyerɛ no?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 Ɔkwasea adwumayɛ ma ɔbrɛ; na ɛmma ɔnhunu ɛkwan a ɛkɔ kurom.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Nnome nka wo, asase a na wo ɔhene yɛ akwa na wo mmapɔmma to ɛpono anɔpa.
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Nhyira nka wo, asase a wo ɔhene yɛ ɔdehyeɛ na wo mmapɔmma didi ɛberɛ a ɛfata de pɛ ahoɔden, na ɛnyɛ nsãborɔ.
Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 Sɛ obi yɛ akwadworɔ a, ne mpunan yɛ mmerɛ; sɛ ne nsa nka hwee a, ne fie nwunu.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 Wɔto ɛpono ma sereɛ, na nsã ma onipa ahosɛpɛ, nanso sika na ɛyɛ biribiara safoa.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Wʼadwene mu mpo, nkasa ntia ɔhene, na wowɔ piam nso a, nnome osikani, ɛfiri sɛ anomaa a ɔnam ewiem de wʼasɛm bɛkɔ, na anomaa a otuo bɛkɔ akɔka.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
