Mmɛbusɛm 26
1 Sɛdeɛ sukyerɛmma te ahuhuro berɛ anaasɛ osutɔ te wɔ otwa berɛ no saa ara na animuonyam mfata ɔkwasea.
As the snowe in the sommer, and as the raine in the haruest are not meete, so is honour vnseemely for a foole.
2 Sɛdeɛ apatuprɛ tuo anaasɛ asomfena tu danedane ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
As the sparowe by flying, and the swallow by flying escape, so the curse that is causeles, shall not come.
3 Ɔkafoɔ abaa wɔ hɔ ma ɔpɔnkɔ, nnareka wɔ hɔ ma afunumu, na abaa wɔ hɔ ma nkwaseafoɔ akyi.
Vnto the horse belongeth a whip, to the asse a bridle, and a rod to the fooles backe.
4 Nhwɛ ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so mma no mmuaeɛ, anyɛ saa a wo nso bɛyɛ sɛ ɔno.
Answer not a foole according to his foolishnes, least thou also be like him.
5 Gyina ɔkwasea agyimisɛm so ma no mmuaeɛ anyɛ saa a ɛbɛyɛ no sɛ ɔnim nyansa.
Answere a foole according to his foolishnes, least he be wise in his owne conceite.
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 foole, is as he that cutteth off the feete, and drinketh iniquitie.
7 Apakye nan a awu na ɛsensɛn hɔ no, yɛ abɛbusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
As they that lift vp the legs of the lame, so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
8 Ɛboɔ a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmoɔ so, te sɛ animuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
As the closing vp of a precious stone in an heape of stones, so is he that giueth glory to a foole.
9 Nkasɛɛ dua a ɛkura ɔkɔwensani no te sɛ abɛbusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
As a thorne standing vp in the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fooles.
10 Deɛ ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantoni a ɔpira nnipa kwa.
The excellent that formed all things, both rewardeth the foole and rewardeth the transgressers.
11 Sɛdeɛ ɔkraman sane kɔ ne feɛ ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
As a dog turneth againe to his owne vomit, so a foole turneth to his foolishnes.
12 Woahunu obi a ɔyɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ nʼankasa ani so? Anidasoɔ pii wɔ ɔkwasea mu sene no.
Seest thou a man wise in his owne conceite? more hope is of a foole then of him.
13 Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata wɔ ɛkwan no mu, gyata nenam mmɔntene no so!”
The slouthfull man sayth, A lyon is in the way: a lyon is in the streetes.
14 Sɛdeɛ ɛpono di akɔneaba wɔ ne mponterɛ so no, saa ara na ɔkwadwofoɔ twa ne ho wɔ ne mpa so.
As the doore turneth vpon his hinges, so doeth the slouthfull man vpon his bed.
15 Ɔkwadwofoɔ de ne nsa si aduane mu, na ɛyɛ no aniha sɛ ɔbɛyi akɔ nʼano.
The slouthfull hideth his hand in his bosome, and it grieueth him to put it againe to his mouth.
16 Ɔkwadwofoɔ yɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ ɔno ankasa ani so sene nnipa baason a wɔdwene asɛm ho na wɔabua.
The sluggard is wiser in his owne conceite, then seuen men that can render a reason.
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 passeth by and medleth with the strife that belongeth not vnto him, is as one that taketh a dog by the eares.
18 Ɔbɔdamfoɔ a ɔtoto atuo anaa agyan kɔdiawuo no
As he that faineth himselfe mad, casteth fire brands, arrowes, and mortall things,
19 te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka sɛ, “Na mede redi agorɔ!”
So dealeth the deceitfull man with his friend and sayth, Am not I in sport?
20 Yensin hi a, ogya dum; nsekuro nni hɔ a ntɔkwa toɔ twa.
Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth.
21 Sɛdeɛ gyabidie dane gyasramma na anyina dane ogya no, saa ara na ntɔkwapɛfoɔ hyɛ ntɔkwa mu kutupa.
As ye cole maketh burning coles, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife.
22 Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The wordes of a tale bearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly.
23 Sɛdeɛ wɔde dwetɛ fi adura asankago ho no saa ara na anoɔdɛ kata amumuyɛ akoma so.
As siluer drosse ouerlayde vpon a potsheard, so are burning lips, and an euill heart.
24 Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ deɛ ɔyɛ, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
He that hateth, will counterfaite with his lips, but in his heart he layeth vp deceite.
25 Ɛwom sɛ ne kasa yɛ dɛ deɛ, nanso ɛnnye no nni, ɛfiri sɛ akyiwadeɛ nson ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
Though he speake fauourably, beleeue him not: for there are seuen abominations in his heart.
26 Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumuyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ badwa mu.
Hatred may be couered by deceite: but the malice thereof shall be discouered in the congregation.
27 Sɛ onipa tu amena a, ɔbɛto mu; sɛ onipa pire ɔboɔ a, ɛbɛsane aba ne so.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that rolleth a stone, it shall returne vnto him.
28 Atorɔ tɛkrɛma kyiri wɔn a ɔgu wɔn ho fi, na nnaadaa ano de ɔsɛeɛ ba.
A false tongue hateth the afflicted, and a flattering mouth causeth ruine.
