Salomo Mmebusɛm Nkekaho
1Eyinom yɛ Salomo mmebusɛm nkekaho a Yudahene Hesekia afotufo kyerɛwee:
2Ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn anuonyamhyɛ sɛ wɔde asɛm sie;
sɛ wɔpɛɛpɛɛ asɛm mu nso hyɛ ahemfo anuonyam.
3Sɛnea ɔsoro korɔn na asase mu dɔ no,
saa ara na wɔrentumi nhwehwɛ ahemfo koma mu.
4Sɛ woyi dwetɛ ho fi a,
na ato nea ɛkɔ dwetɛdwumfo nsam;
5Yi amumɔyɛfo fi ɔhene anim,
na trenee bɛma nʼahengua atim.
6Mma wo ho so wɔ ɔhene anim,
na mpere dibea wɔ atitiriw mu;
7Eye ma no sɛ ɔbɛka akyerɛ wo se, “Bra soro ha,”
sen sɛ ɔbɛbrɛ wo ase wɔ otitiriw bi anim.
Nea wode wʼani ahu no
8mpɛ ntɛm mfa nkɔ asennii,
na sɛ awiei no wo yɔnko gu wʼanim ase a
dɛn na wobɛyɛ?
9Sɛ wo ne wo yɔnko di asɛm a
nna obi foforo ahintasɛm adi,
10anyɛ saa a, nea ɔbɛte no begu wʼanim ase
na din bɔne a wubenya no rempepa da.
11Asɛm a wɔka no sɛnea ɛfata no
te sɛ sika kɔkɔɔ a wɔabɔ sɛ aprɛ
de atuatua dwetɛ nsiesiei mu.
12Sikakɔkɔɔ asokaa anaa sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa ahyehyɛde
te sɛ onyansafo animka a ɔde ma nea ɔyɛ aso ma no.
13Sɛnea 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.
14Omununkum ne mframa a ɛmfa osu mma no
te sɛ onipa a ɔde akyɛde a ɔmmfa mma hoahoa ne ho.
15Ntoboase ma sodifo ti da,
na tɛkrɛmabere tumi bu dompe mu.
16Sɛ wunya ɛwo a, nni ntra so,
ne bebrebe bɛma woafe.
17Ntaa nkɔ wo yɔnko fi,
wo ho fono no a, ɔbɛtan wo.
18Onipa a odi adansekurum tia ne yɔnko no
te sɛ kontibaa, afoa anaa bɛmma a ano yɛ nnam.
19Ɛse a ɛyare ɔkekaw anaa nan a ɛyɛ apakye
te sɛ nea wode wo ho to ɔtorofo so hiada mu.
20Nea ɔto dwom kyerɛ ɔwerɛhowni no,
te sɛ nea ɔpa ntama gu awɔwbere mu
anaa te sɛ nsa nyinyanyinya a wohwie gu apirakuru so.
21Sɛ ɔkɔm de wo tamfo a, ma no aduan nni;
sɛ osukɔm de no a, ma no nsu nnom.
22Sɛ woyɛ saa a, wobɛsosɔ nnyansramma agu nʼatifi,
na Awurade bɛma wo akatua.
23Sɛnea atifi fam mframa de osu ba no,
saa ara na tɛkrɛma a edi nseku de omuna ba.
24Eye sɛ wobɛtena suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi,
sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
25Nsuonwini a ɔkra a atɔ beraw nya no
te sɛ anigyesɛm a efi akyirikyiri.
26Asuti a afono anaa abura a ayɛ pɔtɔɔ
te sɛ ɔtreneeni a ogyaa ne ho ma amumɔyɛfo.
27Enye sɛ wodi ɛwo ntraso,
saa ara na ɛnyɛ anuonyam sɛ obi bɛhwehwɛ nsɛm a mu dɔ mu.
28Onipa a onni ahohyɛso no
te sɛ kuropɔn a nʼafasu abubu agu fam.
More Proverbs of Solomon
1These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4Remove the dross from the silver,
and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established through righteousness.
6Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
and do not claim a place among his great men;
7it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
What you have seen with your eyes
8do not bring25:7,8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / 8 Do not go hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?
9If you take your neighbor to court,
do not betray another’s confidence,
10or the one who hears it may shame you
and the charge against you will stand.
11Like apples25:11 Or possibly apricots of gold in settings of silver
is a ruling rightly given.
12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
13Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.
14Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.
15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.
17Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
too much of you, and they will hate you.
18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on a wound,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
23Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.
26Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
28Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control.
