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 honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 Sɛdeɛ apatuprɛ tuo anaasɛ asomfena tu danedane ne ho no, saa ara na nnuabɔ hunu nsi hwee.
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless 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 fool's back.
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 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 conceit.
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 the feet, [and] drinketh damage.
7 Apakye nan a awu na ɛsensɛn hɔ no, yɛ abɛbusɛm a ɛda ɔkwasea ano.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Ɛboɔ a wɔakyekyere afam ahwimmoɔ so, te sɛ animuonyam a wɔde ama ɔkwasea.
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honor 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 parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Deɛ ɔbɔ ɔkwasea anaa obi hunu paa no te sɛ agyantoni a ɔpira nnipa kwa.
The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 Sɛdeɛ ɔkraman sane kɔ ne feɛ ho no, saa ara na ɔkwasea ti nʼagyimisɛm mu.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.
12 Woahunu obi a ɔyɛ onyansafoɔ wɔ nʼankasa ani so? Anidasoɔ pii wɔ ɔkwasea mu sene no.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [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 slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in 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 [doth] the slothful upon his bed.
15 Ɔkwadwofoɔ de ne nsa si aduane mu, na ɛyɛ no aniha sɛ ɔbɛyi akɔ nʼano.
The slothful hideth [his] hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth 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.
The sluggard [is] wiser in his own conceit than seven 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] meddleth 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 mad [man] who casteth fire-brands, arrows, and death,
19 te sɛ obi a, ɔdaadaa ne yɔnko na ɔka sɛ, “Na mede redi agorɔ!”
So [is] the man [that] deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Yensin hi a, ogya dum; nsekuro nni hɔ a ntɔkwa toɔ twa.
Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 Sɛdeɛ gyabidie dane gyasramma na anyina dane ogya no, saa ara na ntɔkwapɛfoɔ hyɛ ntɔkwa mu kutupa.
[As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 Osekuni anom asɛm te sɛ mfremfremadeɛ; ɛwurawura kɔ onipa akwaa mu nyinaa.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as wounds, 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.
Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 Onipa bɔne kasa te sɛ deɛ ɔyɛ, nanso nnaadaa ahyɛ nʼakoma ma.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and 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 he speaketh fair, believe him not: for [there are] seven abominations in his heart.
26 Ebia nnaadaa bɛkata nʼadwemmɔne so, nanso nʼamumuyɛsɛm bɛda adi wɔ badwa mu.
[Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the [whole] congregation.
27 Sɛ onipa tu amena a, ɔbɛto mu; sɛ onipa pire ɔboɔ a, ɛbɛsane aba ne so.
Whoever diggeth a pit shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it will 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] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
