Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
Sɛnea nwansena funu ma aduhuam yi nka bɔne no, saa ara na nkwaseasɛm kakraa bi boro nimdeɛ ne anuonyam so no.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
Onyansafo koma sian kɔ nifa, nanso ɔkwasea koma kɔ benkum.
3 Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea nam ɔkwan so a, wohu sɛ onnim nyansa na ɔma obiara hu sɛ wagyimi.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
Sɛ sodifo bo fuw wo a, nnyaw wʼadwuma nto hɔ; na ntoboase dwudwo mfomso kɛse ano.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
Bɔne bi wɔ hɔ a mahu wɔ owia yi ase ɛyɛ mfomso bi a efi sodifo:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
Wɔma nkwaseafo dibea a ɛkorɔn, na asikafo nya nea ɛwɔ fam.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
Mahu nkoa sɛ wɔtete apɔnkɔ so, na mmapɔmma nam fam sɛ nkoa.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Obiara a otu amoa no betumi atɔ mu; na nea obubu ɔfasu no, ɔwɔ betumi aka no.
9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
Obiara a ɔpae abo no, abo no betumi apira no; na nea ɔpae nnua no betumi anya mu akwanhyia.
10 If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
Sɛ abonnua ano kum na wɔansew ano a ebehia ahoɔden bebree, nanso adwumayɛ ho nimdeɛ de nkonimdi bɛba.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
Sɛ ɔwɔ ka obi ansa na wɔadwudwo no a nea odwudwo ɔwɔ no rennya so mfaso biara.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
Onyansafo anom nsɛm yɛ nyam, nanso ɔkwasea ano fafa de no kɔ ɔsɛe mu.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Mfiase no, wɔn nsɛm yɛ nkwaseasɛm; awiei no, ɛyɛ adammɔ atirimɔdensɛm,
14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
na ɔkwasea woro nsɛm. Obiara nnim nea ɛreba, hena na obetumi aka nea ebesi wɔ obi akyi akyerɛ no?
15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
Ɔkwasea adwumayɛ ma ɔbrɛ; na ɛmma onhu ɔkwan a ɛkɔ kurom.
16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
Nnome nka wo, asase a na wo hene yɛ ɔsomfo na wo mmapɔmma to pon anɔpa.
17 Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Nhyira nka wo, asase a wo hene yɛ ɔdehye na wo mmapɔmma didi bere a ɛfata de pɛ ahoɔden na ɛnyɛ nsabow.
18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
Sɛ obi yɛ akwadworɔ a ne mpuran yɛ mmerɛw; sɛ ne nsa nka hwee a ne fi nwini.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
Wɔto pon ma serew, na nsa ma onipa ahosɛpɛw, nanso sika na ɛyɛ biribiara safe.
20 Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
Wʼadwene mu mpo nkasa ntia ɔhene, na wo pia mu nso nnome ɔdefo, efisɛ anomaa a ɔnam wim de wʼasɛm bɛkɔ, na anomaa a otu bɛkɔ akɔka.
