Mmebusɛm 25
1 Eyinom yɛ Salomo mmebusɛm nkekaho a Yudahene Hesekia afotufo kyerɛwee:
These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
2 Ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn anuonyamhyɛ sɛ wɔde asɛm sie; sɛ wɔpɛɛpɛɛ asɛm mu nso hyɛ ahemfo anuonyam.
It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
3 Sɛnea ɔsoro korɔn na asase mu dɔ no, saa ara na wɔrentumi nhwehwɛ ahemfo koma mu.
Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
4 Sɛ woyi dwetɛ ho fi a, na ato nea ɛkɔ dwetɛdwumfo nsam;
Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
5 Yi amumɔyɛfo fi ɔhene anim, na trenee bɛma nʼahengua atim.
Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
6 Mma wo ho so wɔ ɔhene anim, na mpere dibea wɔ atitiriw mu;
Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.
7 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
For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.
8 mpɛ ntɛm mfa nkɔ asennii, na sɛ awiei no wo yɔnko gu wʼanim ase a dɛn na wobɛyɛ?
The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.
9 Sɛ wo ne wo yɔnko di asɛm a nna obi foforo ahintasɛm adi,
Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
10 anyɛ saa a, nea ɔbɛte no begu wʼanim ase na din bɔne a wubenya no rempepa da.
lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.
11 Asɛm a wɔka no sɛnea ɛfata no te sɛ sika kɔkɔɔ a wɔabɔ sɛ aprɛ de atuatua dwetɛ nsiesiei mu.
Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 Sikakɔkɔɔ asokaa anaa sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa ahyehyɛde te sɛ onyansafo animka a ɔde ma nea ɔyɛ aso ma no.
Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
13 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.
Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.
14 Omununkum ne mframa a ɛmfa osu mma no te sɛ onipa a ɔde akyɛde a ɔmmfa mma hoahoa ne ho.
A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
15 Ntoboase ma sodifo ti da, na tɛkrɛmabere tumi bu dompe mu.
By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 Sɛ wunya ɛwo a, nni ntra so, ne bebrebe bɛma woafe.
You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
17 Ntaa nkɔ wo yɔnko fi, wo ho fono no a, ɔbɛtan wo.
Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
18 Onipa a odi adansekurum tia ne yɔnko no te sɛ kontibaa, afoa anaa bɛmma a ano yɛ nnam.
A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Ɛse a ɛyare ɔkekaw anaa nan a ɛyɛ apakye te sɛ nea wode wo ho to ɔtorofo so hiada mu.
Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
20 Nea ɔto dwom kyerɛ ɔwerɛhowni no, te sɛ nea ɔpa ntama gu awɔwbere mu anaa te sɛ nsa nyinyanyinya a wohwie gu apirakuru so.
and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart.
21 Sɛ ɔkɔm de wo tamfo a, ma no aduan nni; sɛ osukɔm de no a, ma no nsu nnom.
If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 Sɛ woyɛ saa a, wobɛsosɔ nnyansramma agu nʼatifi, na Awurade bɛma wo akatua.
For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
23 Sɛnea atifi fam mframa de osu ba no, saa ara na tɛkrɛma a edi nseku de omuna ba.
The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
24 Eye sɛ wobɛtena suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.
25 Nsuonwini a ɔkra a atɔ beraw nya no te sɛ anigyesɛm a efi akyirikyiri.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
26 Asuti a afono anaa abura a ayɛ pɔtɔɔ te sɛ ɔtreneeni a ogyaa ne ho ma amumɔyɛfo.
The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.
27 Enye sɛ wodi ɛwo ntraso, saa ara na ɛnyɛ anuonyam sɛ obi bɛhwehwɛ nsɛm a mu dɔ mu.
Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.
28 Onipa a onni ahohyɛso no te sɛ kuropɔn a nʼafasu abubu agu fam.
Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.
