Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
Me mma, muntie me, muntie agya nkyerɛkyerɛ; monyɛ aso na moanya ntease.
2 for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
Mema mo adesua a ɛkɔ anim, enti munnnyaa me nkyerɛkyerɛ mu.
3 When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
Efisɛ na me nso, meyɛ mʼagya babarima, meda so yɛ akokoaa no, na me na ani gye me ho.
4 he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
Na ɔkyerɛkyerɛɛ me se, “Ma me nsɛm nni wo koma mu dɛm, di me nkyerɛkyerɛ so na wubenya nkwa.
5 Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
Nya nyansa, nya ntease; mma wo werɛ mfi me nsɛm anaa ntwe wo ho mfi ho.
6 Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
Nnyaw nyansa hɔ, na ɛbɛbɔ wo ho ban; dɔ no, na ɛbɛhwɛ wo so.
7 The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
Nyansa boro biribiara so; enti hwehwɛ nyansa. Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ne bo te sɛ wʼahode nyinaa de, nanso nya ntease.
8 Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
Di no ni na ɛbɛma wo so; yɛ no atuu, na ɛbɛhyɛ wo anuonyam.
9 She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
Ɔde nkonimdi nhwiren hankare begu wo ti so na wama wo ahenkyɛw a ɛyɛ fɛ.”
10 Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
Me ba, tie na fa nea meka no, na wo nkwanna bɛyɛ bebree.
11 I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
Mɛkyerɛ wo nyansa kwan so na mede wo afa akwan a ɛteɛ so.
12 Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
Sɛ wonantew a, wʼanammɔntu bɛkɔ waa na sɛ wutu mmirika a, worenhintiw.
13 Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
Di nkyerɛkyerɛ so; na nnyaa mu, bɔ ho ban yiye, efisɛ ɛyɛ wo nkwa.
14 Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
Ntu wo nan nsi amumɔyɛfo kwan so na nnantew abɔnefo kwan so.
15 Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
Kwati no, ntu kwan mfa so; dan fi so na kɔ wo kwan.
16 Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
Efisɛ wɔnyɛɛ bɔne a wontumi nna; na wɔn nna tew yera kosi sɛ wɔbɛma obi ahwe ase.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Wodi amumɔyɛsɛm brodo, na wɔnom kitikitiyɛ nsa.
18 The way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
Atreneefo kwan te sɛ adekyee hann a edi kan, ɛkɔ so hyerɛn yiye kodu awia ketee.
19 But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
Nanso amumɔyɛfo kwan te sɛ sum kabii; wonnim nea ɛma wohintiw.
20 My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
Me ba, yɛ aso ma nea meka; tie me nsɛm no yiye.
21 Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
Mma emfi wʼani so, fa sie wo koma mu;
22 for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
efisɛ, ɛyɛ nkwa ma wɔn a wohu ne akwahosan ma nipadua no nyinaa.
23 Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
Ne nyinaa akyi, bɔ wo koma ho ban, efisɛ, ɛno ne wo nkwa asuti.
24 Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
Mma oburu kasa mfi wʼano; mma nkontomposɛm mmɛn wʼano koraa.
25 Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
Hwɛ wʼanim tee, na ma wʼani nkɔ nea ɛwɔ wʼanim no so.
26 Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
Bɔ ɔkwan tamaa ma wʼanan na fa akwan a atim so.
27 Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
Mman mfa nifa anaa benkum; twe wo nan fi bɔne ho.
