1Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.10.1 Dead…: Heb. Flies of death 2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. 3Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.10.3 his…: Heb. his heart
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. 5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:10.5 from: Heb. from before 6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.10.6 in great…: Heb. in great heights 7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. 8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. 10If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.10.11 a babbler: Heb. the master of the tongue
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.10.12 gracious: Heb. grace 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.10.13 his talk: Heb. his mouth 14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?10.14 is full…: Heb. multiplieth words 15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16¶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18¶ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19¶ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.10.19 maketh…: Heb. maketh glad the life
20¶ Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.10.20 thought: or, conscience
1Sɛdeɛ nwansena funu ma aduhwam yi nka bɔne no,
saa ara na nkwaseasɛm kakra boro nimdeɛ ne animuonyam so.
2Onyansafoɔ akoma kom kɔ nifa,
nanso ɔkwasea akoma kɔ benkum.
3Mpo sɛ ɔkwasea nam ɛkwan so a
wɔhunu sɛ ɔnnim nyansa
na ɔma obiara hunu sɛ wagyimi.
4Sɛ sodifoɔ bo fu wo a,
nnya wʼadwuma nto hɔ;
na ntoboaseɛ dwodwo mfomsoɔ kɛseɛ ano.
5Bɔne bi wɔ hɔ a mahunu wɔ owia yi ase.
Ɛyɛ mfomsoɔ bi a ɛfiri sodifoɔ:
6Wɔma nkwaseafoɔ diberɛ a ɛkorɔn,
na asikafoɔ nya deɛ ɛwɔ fam.
7Mahunu nkoa sɛ wɔtete apɔnkɔ so,
na mmapɔmma nam fam sɛ nkoa.
8Obiara a ɔtu amena no bɛtumi atɔ mu;
na deɛ ɔbubu ɔfasuo no, ɔwɔ bɛtumi aka no.
9Obiara a ɔpae aboɔ no, aboɔ no bɛtumi apira no;
na deɛ ɔpae nnua no bɛtumi anya mu akwanhyia.
10Sɛ abonnua ano akum
na wɔanse ano a,
ɛbɛhia ahoɔden bebree
nanso adwumayɛ ho nimdeɛ de nkonimdie bɛba.
11Sɛ ɔwɔ ka obi ansa na wɔadwodwo no a
deɛ ɔdwodwo ɔwɔ no rennya ho mfasoɔ biara.
12Onyansafoɔ anom nsɛm yɛ nyam,
nanso ɔkwasea ano fafa de no kɔ asɛeɛ mu.
13Ahyɛaseɛ no, ne nsɛm yɛ nkwaseasɛm;
na ɛkɔwie abɔdamsɛm bɔne,
14na ɔkwasea woro nsɛm.
Obiara nnim deɛ ɛreba,
hwan na ɔbɛtumi aka deɛ ɛbɛsi nʼakyi akyerɛ no?
15Ɔkwasea adwumayɛ ma ɔbrɛ;
na ɛmma ɔnhunu ɛkwan a ɛkɔ kurom.
16Nnome nka wo, asase a na wo ɔhene yɛ akwa
na wo mmapɔmma to ɛpono anɔpa.
17Nhyira nka wo, asase a wo ɔhene yɛ ɔdehyeɛ
na wo mmapɔmma didi ɛberɛ a ɛfata
de pɛ ahoɔden, na ɛnyɛ nsãborɔ.
18Sɛ obi yɛ akwadworɔ a, ne mpunan yɛ mmerɛ;
sɛ ne nsa nka hwee a, ne fie nwunu.
19Wɔto ɛpono ma sereɛ,
na nsã ma onipa ahosɛpɛ,
nanso sika na ɛyɛ biribiara safoa.
20Wʼadwene mu mpo, nkasa ntia ɔhene,
na wowɔ piam nso a, nnome osikani,
ɛfiri sɛ anomaa a ɔnam ewiem de wʼasɛm bɛkɔ,
na anomaa a otuo bɛkɔ akɔka.
