Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
Dawid babarima Salomo, Israelhene, mmɛbusɛm nie:
2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
Ne botaeɛ ne sɛ ɛbɛkyerɛ nnipa nyansa ne ahohyɛsoɔ; ne sɛ ɛbɛboa ma wɔate nsɛm a emu dɔ ase;
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
sɛ wɔbɛnya ahohyɛsoɔ na wɔabɔ ɔbra pa, a ɛbɛma wɔayɛ ade pa, deɛ ɛtene na ɛho nni asɛm;
4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—
sɛ ɛbɛma deɛ nʼadwene mu nnɔ anya nyansa na mmabunu anya nimdeɛ ne adwene.
5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
Anyansafoɔ ntie na wɔmfa nka deɛ wɔnim ho, na deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu nya akwankyerɛ a
6 to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
ɛbɛma woate mmɛ ne akasabɛbuo, anyansafoɔ nsɛnka ne aborɔme ase.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Awurade suro yɛ nimdeɛ ahyɛaseɛ, na nkwaseafoɔ bu nyansa ne ahohyɛsoɔ animtiaa.
8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
Me ba, tie wʼagya akwankyerɛ na mpo wo maame nkyerɛkyerɛ.
9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
Ɛbɛyɛ wo tiri animuonyam abotire ne wo kɔn mu ntweaban.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
Me ba, sɛ nnebɔneyɛfoɔ daadaa wo a, mma wɔn ho ɛkwan.
11 If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
Sɛ wɔka sɛ, “Bra ma yɛnkɔ; ma yɛnkɔtetɛ na yɛnkum obi, ma yɛnkɔtɛ ntwɛn mmɔborɔni bi;
12 Let's swallow them up alive like Sheol (Sheol h7585), and whole, like those who go down into the pit.
ma yɛmmemmene wɔn anikann sɛ ɛda, yɛmmene wɔn sɛ wɔn a wɔkɔ damena mu; (Sheol h7585)
13 We will find all valuable wealth. We will fill our houses with plunder.
yɛbɛnya nneɛma a ɛsom bo ahodoɔ na yɛde afodeɛ ahyɛ yɛn afie ma;
14 You shall cast your lot among us. We will all have one purse”—
enti, fa wo ho bɛhyɛ mu, na wobɛnya wo kyɛfa wɔ ahonyadeɛ no mu” a,
15 my son, do not walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
Me ba, wo ne wɔn nnante, mfa wo nan nsi wɔn akwan so;
16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
Wɔn nan de ntɛmpɛ kɔ bɔne mu, na wɔde ahoɔherɛ ka mogya gu.
17 For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
Ɛho nni mfasoɔ sɛ obi bɛsum nnomaafidie wɔ ɛberɛ a nnomaa nyinaa hwɛ!
18 but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
Saa nnipa yi tetɛ pɛ wɔn ankasa mogya; wɔtetɛ wɔn ankasa wɔn ho!
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
Saa na wɔn a wɔdi korɔnodeɛ akyi no awieeɛ teɛ; ɛma wɔhwere wɔn nkwa!
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
Nyansa team wɔ mmɔntene so, ɔma ne nne so wɔ adwaberem,
21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
ɔteaam wɔ afasuo no atifi, ɔkasa wɔ kuropɔn no apono ano sɛ,
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
“Mo adwenemherɛfoɔ, mobɛyɛ adwenemherɛ akɔsi da bɛn? Fɛdifoɔ bɛdi fɛ akɔsi da bɛn? Nkwaseafoɔ bɛkyiri nimdeɛ akɔsi da bɛn?
23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
Sɛ motiee mʼaninka a, anka mekaa mʼakoma mu nsɛm nyinaa kyerɛɛ mo maa mo hunuu me nsusuiɛ.
24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
Nanso, sɛ moyii mo aso ɛberɛ a mefrɛɛ mo na amfa obiara ho ɛberɛ a metenee me nsa mu,
25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
sɛ mopoo mʼafotuo, na moampɛ mʼanimka enti,
26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
me nso mɛsere mo wɔ mo amanehunu mu; sɛ abɛbrɛsɛ bi bu fa mo so a, medi mo ho fɛw,
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.
sɛ abɛbrɛsɛ bi bu fa mo so te sɛ ahum, na amanehunu bi bɔ fa mo so sɛ twahoframa, na awerɛhoɔ ne ɔhaw mene mo a,
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
“Afei mobɛfrɛ me, nanso meremmua mo; mobɛhwehwɛ me, nanso morenhunu me.
29 because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD.
Esiane sɛ wɔkyirii nimdeɛ na wɔampɛ sɛ wobɛsuro Awurade.
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
Esiane sɛ w ɔpoo mʼafotuo, na wɔbuu me ntenesoɔ animtiaa enti,
31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
wɔbɛdi wɔn akwan so aba na wɔn nhyehyɛeɛ mu aduane bɛmee wɔn.
32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
Na ntetekwaafoɔ asoɔden bɛkum wɔn, na nkwaseafoɔ tirimudɛ bɛsɛe wɔn;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Nanso, obiara a ɔbɛtie me no, ɔbɛtena ase asomdwoeɛ mu na ne ho bɛtɔ no a ɔrensuro ɔhaw biara.”
