Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
Me mma, montie me, montie agya nkyerɛkyerɛ; monyɛ aso na moanya nteaseɛ.
2 for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
Mema mo adenim a ɛkɔ anim, enti monnyaa me nkyerɛkyerɛ mu.
3 When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
Meyɛ ɔbabanin wɔ mʼagya fie, meda so yɛ abadomaa na me maame di me bakorɔ no,
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.
ɔkyerɛkyerɛɛ me sɛ, “Ma me nsɛm nni wʼakoma mu dɛm di me nkyerɛkyerɛ so na wobɛnya nkwa.
5 Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
Nya nyansa, nya nteaseɛ; mma wo werɛ mfiri me nsɛm anaa ntwe wo ho mfiri ho.
6 Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
Nnya 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. Ɛwom sɛ ne boɔ te sɛ wʼahodeɛ nyinaa deɛ nanso nya nteaseɛ.
8 Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
Di no nni na ɛbɛpagya wo; yɛ no atuu, na ɛbɛhyɛ wo animuonyam.
9 She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
Ɔde nkonimdie nhwiren hankra bɛgu wo tiri so na wama wo ahenkyɛ 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 deɛ 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 nyansakwan na mede wo afa akwan a ɛtene so.
12 Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
Sɛ wonante a, wʼanammɔntuo bɛkɔ yɛɛ na sɛ wotu mmirika a, worensunti.
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 yie, ɛfiri sɛ 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 amumuyɛfoɔ kwan so na nnante abɔnefoɔ kwan so.
15 Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
Kwati no, ntu kwan mfa so; dane firi so na kɔ wo baabi.
16 Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
Ɛfiri sɛ wɔntumi nna kɔsi sɛ wɔbɛyɛ bɔne; na wɔntɔ nko kɔsi sɛ wɔbɛma obi ahwe ase.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Amumuyɛsɛm yɛ wɔn aduane, na basabasayɛ yɛ wɔn 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.
Teneneefoɔ kwan te sɛ adekyeɛ hann a ɛdi ɛkan, ɛkɔ so hyerɛn yie kɔduru 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, amumuyɛfoɔ kwan te sɛ esum kabii; wɔnnim deɛ ɛma wɔsunti.
20 My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
Me ba, yɛ aso ma deɛ meka; tie me nsɛm no yie.
21 Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
Mma ɛmfiri wʼani so, fa sie wʼakoma mu;
22 for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
ɛfiri sɛ, ɛyɛ nkwa ma wɔn a wɔhunu ne akwahosan ma onipadua no nyinaa.
23 Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
Ne nyinaa akyi, bɔ wʼakoma ho ban, ɛfiri sɛ, ɛno ne wo nkwa asutire.
24 Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
Mma akontonkyesɛm mfiri 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 deɛ ɛwɔ wʼanim no so.
26 Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
Bɔ ɛkwan tamaa ma wo nan na fa akwan a atim so.
27 Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
Mmane mfa nifa anaa benkum; twe wo nan firi bɔne ho.
