Mmɛbusɛm 26
1 Sɛdeɛ sukyerɛmma te ahuhuro berɛ anaasɛ osutɔ te wɔ otwa berɛ no saa ara na animuonyam mfata ɔkwasea.
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Sɛdeɛ apatuprɛ tuo anaasɛ asomfena tu danedane ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn't come to rest.
3 Ɔkafoɔ abaa wɔ hɔ ma ɔpɔnkɔ, nnareka wɔ hɔ ma afunumu, na abaa wɔ hɔ ma nkwaseafoɔ 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 mmuaeɛ, anyɛ saa a wo nso bɛyɛ sɛ ɔno.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like 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.
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 abɛbusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Ɛboɔ a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmoɔ so, te sɛ animuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Nkasɛɛ dua a ɛkura ɔkɔwensani no te sɛ abɛbusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
Like a thornbush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Deɛ ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantoni a ɔpira nnipa kwa.
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11 Sɛdeɛ ɔkraman sane kɔ ne feɛ ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Woahunu obi a ɔyɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ nʼankasa ani so? Anidasoɔ pii wɔ ɔkwasea mu sene no.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Ɔkwadwofoɔ ka sɛ, “Gyata wɔ ɛkwan no mu, gyata nenam mmɔntene no so!”
The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road. A fierce lion roams 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 turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
15 Ɔkwadwofoɔ de ne nsa si aduane mu, na ɛyɛ no aniha sɛ ɔbɛyi akɔ nʼano.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back 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 own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
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.
Like one who grabs a dog's ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Ɔbɔdamfoɔ a ɔtoto atuo anaa agyan kɔdiawuo no
Like a madman who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka sɛ, “Na mede redi agorɔ!”
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "Am I not joking?"
20 Yensin hi a, ogya dum; nsekuro nni hɔ a ntɔkwa toɔ twa.
Without wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, contention ceases.
21 Sɛdeɛ gyabidie dane gyasramma na anyina dane ogya no, saa ara na ntɔkwapɛfoɔ hyɛ ntɔkwa mu kutupa.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22 Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a gossip are as tasty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Sɛdeɛ wɔde dwetɛ fi adura asankago ho no saa ara na anoɔdɛ kata amumuyɛ akoma 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 deɛ ɔyɛ, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
25 Ɛwom sɛ ne kasa yɛ dɛ deɛ, nanso ɛnnye no nni, ɛfiri sɛ akyiwadeɛ nson ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
When his speech is charming, do not believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumuyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ badwa mu.
His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Sɛ onipa tu amena a, ɔbɛto mu; sɛ onipa pire ɔboɔ a, ɛbɛsane aba ne so.
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 Atorɔ tɛkrɛma kyiri wɔn a ɔgu wɔn ho fi, na nnaadaa ano de ɔsɛeɛ ba.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
