Mmɛbusɛm 26
1 Sɛdeɛ sukyerɛmma te ahuhuro berɛ anaasɛ osutɔ te wɔ otwa berɛ no saa ara na animuonyam mfata ɔkwasea.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
2 Sɛdeɛ apatuprɛ tuo anaasɛ asomfena tu danedane ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
3 Ɔkafoɔ abaa wɔ hɔ ma ɔpɔnkɔ, nnareka wɔ hɔ ma afunumu, na abaa wɔ hɔ ma nkwaseafoɔ akyi.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Nhwɛ ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so mma no mmuaeɛ, anyɛ saa a wo nso bɛyɛ sɛ ɔno.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Gyina ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so ma no mmuaeɛ anyɛ saa a ɛbɛyɛ no sɛ ɔnim 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 woatwa wʼankasa nan anaasɛ woafrɛ basabasayɛ.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
7 Apakye nan a awu na ɛsensɛn hɔ no, yɛ abɛbusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Ɛboɔ a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmoɔ so, te sɛ animuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Nkasɛɛ dua a ɛkura ɔkɔwensani no te sɛ abɛbusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Deɛ ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantoni a ɔpira nnipa kwa.
A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
11 Sɛdeɛ ɔkraman sane kɔ ne feɛ ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Woahunu obi a ɔyɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ nʼankasa ani so? Anidasoɔ pii wɔ ɔkwasea mu sene no.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata wɔ ɛkwan no mu, gyata nenam mmɔntene no so!”
The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
14 Sɛdeɛ ɛpono di akɔneaba wɔ ne mponterɛ so no, saa ara na ɔkwadwofoɔ twa ne ho wɔ ne mpa so.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
15 Ɔkwadwofoɔ de ne nsa si aduane mu, na ɛyɛ no aniha sɛ ɔbɛyi akɔ nʼano.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Ɔkwadwofoɔ yɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ ɔno ankasa ani so sene nnipa baason a wɔdwene asɛm ho na wɔabua.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
17 Obi a ɔsɔ ɔkraman aso twe noɔ no te sɛ obi a ɔretwam na ɔde ne ho kɔfra ntɔkwa a ɛmfa ne ho mu.
He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Ɔbɔdamfoɔ a ɔtoto atuo anaa agyan kɔdiawuo no
As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka sɛ, “Na mede redi agorɔ!”
so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
20 Yensin hi a, ogya dum; nsekuro nni hɔ a ntɔkwa toɔ twa.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
21 Sɛdeɛ gyabidie dane gyasramma na anyina dane ogya no, saa ara na ntɔkwapɛfoɔ hyɛ ntɔkwa mu kutupa.
[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Sɛdeɛ wɔde dwetɛ fi adura asankago ho no saa ara na anoɔdɛ kata amumuyɛ akoma so.
Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ deɛ ɔyɛ, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
25 Ɛwom sɛ ne kasa yɛ dɛ deɛ, nanso ɛnnye no nni, ɛfiri sɛ akyiwadeɛ nson ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumuyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ badwa mu.
Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
27 Sɛ onipa tu amena a, ɔbɛto mu; sɛ onipa pire ɔboɔ a, ɛbɛsane aba ne so.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 Atorɔ tɛkrɛma kyiri wɔn a ɔgu wɔn ho fi, na nnaadaa ano de ɔsɛeɛ ba.
A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
