Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Eyinom yɛ Salomo mmebusɛm nkekaho a Yudahene Hesekia afotufo kyerɛwee:
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn anuonyamhyɛ sɛ wɔde asɛm sie; sɛ wɔpɛɛpɛɛ asɛm mu nso hyɛ ahemfo anuonyam.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
Sɛnea ɔsoro korɔn na asase mu dɔ no, saa ara na wɔrentumi nhwehwɛ ahemfo koma mu.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner.
Sɛ woyi dwetɛ ho fi a, na ato nea ɛkɔ dwetɛdwumfo nsam;
5 Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Yi amumɔyɛfo fi ɔhene anim, na trenee bɛma nʼahengua atim.
6 Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
Mma wo ho so wɔ ɔhene anim, na mpere dibea wɔ atitiriw mu;
7 for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.
Eye ma no sɛ ɔbɛka akyerɛ wo se, “Bra soro ha,” sen sɛ ɔbɛbrɛ wo ase wɔ otitiriw bi anim. Nea wode wʼani ahu no
8 Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
mpɛ ntɛm mfa nkɔ asennii, na sɛ awiei no wo yɔnko gu wʼanim ase a dɛn na wobɛyɛ?
9 Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another,
Sɛ wo ne wo yɔnko di asɛm a nna obi foforo ahintasɛm adi,
10 lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
anyɛ saa a, nea ɔbɛte no begu wʼanim ase na din bɔne a wubenya no rempepa da.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Asɛm a wɔka no sɛnea ɛfata no te sɛ sika kɔkɔɔ a wɔabɔ sɛ aprɛ de atuatua dwetɛ nsiesiei mu.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
Sikakɔkɔɔ asokaa anaa sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa ahyehyɛde te sɛ onyansafo animka a ɔde ma nea ɔyɛ aso ma no.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Sɛnea sukyerɛmma ma wim dwo wɔ otwabere mu no, saa ara na ɔsomafo nokwafo te ma wɔn a wɔsoma no no; na ɔma ne wuranom akomatɔyam.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
Omununkum ne mframa a ɛmfa osu mma no te sɛ onipa a ɔde akyɛde a ɔmmfa mma hoahoa ne ho.
15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
Ntoboase ma sodifo ti da, na tɛkrɛmabere tumi bu dompe mu.
16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
Sɛ wunya ɛwo a, nni ntra so, ne bebrebe bɛma woafe.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
Ntaa nkɔ wo yɔnko fi, wo ho fono no a, ɔbɛtan wo.
18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
Onipa a odi adansekurum tia ne yɔnko no te sɛ kontibaa, afoa anaa bɛmma a ano yɛ nnam.
19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
Ɛse a ɛyare ɔkekaw anaa nan a ɛyɛ apakye te sɛ nea wode wo ho to ɔtorofo so hiada mu.
20 As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Nea ɔto dwom kyerɛ ɔwerɛhowni no, te sɛ nea ɔpa ntama gu awɔwbere mu anaa te sɛ nsa nyinyanyinya a wohwie gu apirakuru so.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
Sɛ ɔkɔm de wo tamfo a, ma no aduan nni; sɛ osukɔm de no a, ma no nsu nnom.
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.
Sɛ woyɛ saa a, wobɛsosɔ nnyansramma agu nʼatifi, na Awurade bɛma wo akatua.
23 The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
Sɛnea atifi fam mframa de osu ba no, saa ara na tɛkrɛma a edi nseku de omuna ba.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Eye sɛ wobɛtena suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Nsuonwini a ɔkra a atɔ beraw nya no te sɛ anigyesɛm a efi akyirikyiri.
26 Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
Asuti a afono anaa abura a ayɛ pɔtɔɔ te sɛ ɔtreneeni a ogyaa ne ho ma amumɔyɛfo.
27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
Enye sɛ wodi ɛwo ntraso, saa ara na ɛnyɛ anuonyam sɛ obi bɛhwehwɛ nsɛm a mu dɔ mu.
28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
Onipa a onni ahohyɛso no te sɛ kuropɔn a nʼafasu abubu agu fam.
