Proverbs 6
1 My son, suppose you have pledged to guarantee your neighbor's debt, or you have shaken hands in agreement with a stranger,
Me ba, sɛ woadi akagyinamu ama ɔyɔnko bi, sɛ wode wo biribi asi awowa ama obi,
2 then you've trapped yourself by what you promised, you've been caught by what you said.
sɛ nea wokae ayi ka ama wo na sɛ wʼano asɛm afiri ayi wo a,
3 So this is what you have to do. You need to get out of it, because you've put yourself in that person's power. Go to your neighbor in all humility and ask him to release you from the commitment.
ɛno de yɛ eyi, me ba, na fa tetew wo ho, sɛ ɔyɔnko nsa aka wo no nti: fa ahobrɛase kɔ nʼanim; na kɔ so pa wo yɔnko no kyɛw!
4 Don't delay, saying that you'll sleep on it. Don't rest until you've done it.
Mma wʼani nkum na ntɔ nko.
5 Get out of it like a gazelle escaping from a trap, like a bird from a bird-catcher's net.
Gye wo ho, sɛnea ɔforote guan fi ɔbɔmmɔfo nsam anaa sɛnea anomaa guan fi ofirisumfo afiri mu no.
6 Go and observe the ants, you slacker! Learn from what they do and become wise.
Ɔkwadwofo, kɔ ɔtɛtea nkyɛn; hwɛ nʼakwan, na hu nyansa!
7 They don't have a leader, an officer, or a ruler,
Onni ɔsahene, onni ɔhwɛfo anaa sodifo bi,
8 yet they work hard during the summer getting their food, gathering what they need during the harvest.
nanso ɔde aduan sie wɔ ahuhurubere mu, ɔboaboa nnuan ano wɔ twabere.
9 So how long are you going to lie there, you slacker? When are you going to get up from your sleep?
Wo, ɔkwadwofo, wobɛda akosi da bɛn? Wubenyan bere bɛn?
10 You may say, “Please, just a little more sleep, a little longer snooze, a little more folding of the arms to rest”—
Nna kakra, nkotɔ kakra, nsa a woabobɔw de rehome kakra,
11 and poverty will attack you like a robber, destitution like an armed warrior.
ɛbɛma ohia aba wo so sɛ ɔkwanmukafo na ahokyere atow akyere wo sɛnea okura otuo.
12 Rebellious and wicked people go around telling lies,
Onipa teta ne ohuhuni a odi atoro kyin,
13 winking slyly, giving sneaky foot gestures, rudely pointing with their fingers.
nea obu nʼani, na ɔde ne nan yɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne na ɔde ne nsateaa kyerɛkyerɛ ade,
14 Their warped minds plot evil schemes; they're always causing trouble.
nea ɔde ne koma mu nnaadaa bɔ pɔw bɔne, na ɔde mpaapaemu ba bere biara.
15 As a result, disaster falls suddenly on such people; in just a moment they're destroyed without hope of healing.
Ɛno nti amanehunu bɛba no so prɛko pɛ; wɔbɛsɛe no mpofirim, a wɔrenya ano aduru.
16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven things that he absolutely detests:
Nneɛma asia na Awurade mpɛ, nneɛma ason na ɛyɛ nʼakyiwade:
17 arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that murder the innocent,
ani a ɛtra ntɔn, atoro tɛkrɛma, nsa a ɛka mogya a edi bem gu,
18 a mind that plots evil schemes, feet that hurriedly run to do wrong,
koma a edwen amumɔyɛ ho, anan a etutu mmirika kɔyɛ bɔne,
19 a false witness that speaks lies, those who caused arguments in families.
ɔdansekurumni a odi atoro ne onipa a ɔde mpaapaemu ba anuanom mu.
20 My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
Me ba, tie wʼagya ahyɛde na nnyaa wo na nkyerɛkyerɛ mu.
21 Keep them always in mind. Tie them around your neck.
Fa kyekyere wo koma ho daa; na fa kyekyere wɔ kɔn mu.
22 They will lead you as you walk along; they will watch over you as you sleep; when you wake up they will talk with you.
Wonantew a, ɛbɛkyerɛ wo kwan; sɛ woda a, ɛbɛwɛn wo; sɛ wunyan a, ɛbɛkasa akyerɛ wo.
23 For the instruction is a lamp, and the teaching is a light. The correction that comes from discipline is the way to life.
Na saa ahyɛde yi yɛ kanea saa nkyerɛkyerɛ yi yɛ hann, na ahohyɛso nteɛso yi yɛ nkwa kwan,
24 It will protect you from an evil woman and the seductive words of a prostitute.
ɛtwe wo fi ɔbea a onni suban pa no ho, fi ɔbeawarefo huhuni tɛkrɛmadɛ ho.
25 Don't let your mind lust after her beauty, or let her hypnotize you with her fluttering eyelashes.
Mma wo kɔn nnɔ nʼahoɔfɛ, mma nʼani akyideda no ntwetwe wo,
26 You can buy a prostitute for the price of a loaf of bread, but adultery with another man's wife can cost you your life.
efisɛ oguamanfo ma wʼanuonyam yɛ sɛ brodosin, na obi yere gyigye wo kɔ owu mu.
27 Can you put fire in your lap and not burn your clothes?
Obi betumi asɔ gya agu ne srɛ so a nhyew nʼatade ana?
28 Can you walk on hot coals and not scorch your feet?
Obi betumi anantew nnyansramma so a mpumpunnya mmobɔ nʼanan ho ana?
29 It's the same for anyone who sleeps with another man's wife. No one who touches her will remain unpunished.
Saa na ɔbarima a ɔne ɔbarima foforo yere da no te; obiara a ɔde ne nsa bɛka no no, remfa ne ho nni da.
30 People don't condemn a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he's hungry.
Nnipa mmu ɔkorɔmfo a wakowia ade animtiaa sɛ ɔkɔm de no na ɔde rekodwudwo ano nti.
31 But if he's caught, he has to pay back seven times what he stole, even if it means handing over everything he has in his house.
Mmom, sɛ wɔkyere no a, ɛsɛ sɛ otua mmɔho ason; sɛ ɛbɛma wahwere ne fi agyapade nyinaa mpo a.
32 Any man who commits adultery with a woman has no sense; he who does so destroys himself.
Ɔbarima a ɔsɛe aware no nni adwene; obiara a ɔyɛ saa no sɛe ne ho.
33 He will be wounded and dishonored. His disgrace will never be removed.
Ɔhwe ne animguase na obenya, na nʼahohora rempepa da.
34 For jealousy makes a husband furious, and he won't hold back when he takes revenge.
Ninkutwe hwanyan okunu abufuw na sɛ ɔtɔ were a, ahummɔbɔ biara nni mu.
35 He refuses any compensation, and won't be paid off, however big the amount.
Ɔrennye mpata biara; na ɔbɛpo adanmude, sɛ ɛso sɛ dɛn mpo a.
