Proverbs 7
1 My son, accept what I say and value my instructions.
Me ba, fa me nsɛm sie na kora mʼahyɛde wɔ wo mu.
2 Do what I tell you and you will live. Observe my teachings, valuing them as your main focus in life.
Di mʼahyɛde so na wubenya nkwa; bɔ me nkyerɛkyerɛ ho ban sɛ nea wodɔ no.
3 Tie them to your fingers; write them in your mind.
Kyekyere bɔ wo nsateaa ho; kyerɛw no yiye gu wo koma pon so.
4 Tell wisdom, “You're my sister,” and call insight your best friend.
Ka kyerɛ nyansa se, “Woyɛ me nuabea,” na frɛ ntease wo busuani;
5 They will protect you from the immoral woman, from the prostitute with her seductive words.
Wɔbɛtwe wo afi ɔbeawaresɛefo ho, afi ɔbeawarefo huhuni nsɛmmɔdɛ ho.
6 One time I looked through the lattice of the window in my house,
Me fi mfɛnsere ano, mede mʼani faa mfɛnsere mu.
7 and I saw among the immature young men one who had no sense at all.
Mihuu wɔ ntetekwaafo mu, mehyɛɛ mmerante no mu baako nsow, ɔbabun a onni adwene.
8 He was walking down the street near the corner where she lived and took the road passing her house.
Na ɔnam borɔn a ɛbɛn ɔbea no fi so a nʼani kyerɛ ɔbea no fi
9 It was at dusk in the evening, as the light was fading and the dark night closed in.
bere a onwini redwo, na anim rebiribiri no.
10 Then out came a woman came to meet him. She was dressed as a prostitute and had deceptive intentions.
Afei ɔbea bi fi behyiaa no a wasiesie ne ho sɛ oguamanfo a nnaadaa wɔ ne koma mu.
11 (She was loud and provocative, never wanting to stay at home.
(Ɔyɛ hyirenn na hwee mfa ne ho, ɔntena fie koraa;
12 One moment she'd be walking the streets, the next she'd be there in the town squares, loitering at every corner.)
nnɛ wohu no mmɔnten so, ɔkyena na ɔte aguabɔbea, ɔtetɛw wɔ mmantwea mmantwea.)
13 She grabbed hold of him and kissed him, and with a bold face she told him,
Osoo ne mu few nʼano, wamfɛre, na ɔkae se,
14 “I sacrificed my peace offering today, and paid my vows.
“Mewɔ asomdwoe afɔrebɔde wɔ fie; nnɛ madi me bɔhyɛ so.
15 That's why I came out to meet you. I was looking for you and now I've found you!
Enti mebae sɛ merebehyia wo; mehwehwɛɛ wo na mahu wo!
16 My bed is made, covered with colorful linens from Egypt.
Mato me mpa, mede nwera a wɔahyɛ no aduru a efi Misraim.
17 I've sprinkled perfume on my bed—myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Mede nnuhuam apete me mpa so: kurobow, pɛprɛ ne dupapo.
18 Come with me, let's make love until the morning. Let's enjoy one another in our love-making!
Bra, ma yɛmfa ɔdɔ mmɔ ɔdɔ mu nkosi anɔpa;
19 My husband isn't home; he's gone on a long trip.
Me kunu nni fie; watu kwan na ɔbɛkyɛ.
20 He took a bag of money with him, and he won't be coming back until the full moon.”
Ɔde sika a ɛdɔɔso hyɛɛ ne sika kotoku ma na ɔremma kosi ɔsram no kurokumatwa bere mu.”
21 She convinced him with all that she said; she seduced him with her smooth talking.
Ɔde tɛkrɛmakyene bɔɔ no adafa; ɔde nnaadaa nyaa no ne no dae.
22 He followed her right away, like an ox to the slaughter. Like a stag that's caught in a snare
Odii nʼakyi prɛko pɛ te sɛ nantwi a ɔrekɔ akumii, anaa ɔwansan a ɔde ne ti rekɔhyɛ hankare fi mu
23 until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird flying into a trap, he's unaware he will pay with his life.
kosi sɛ bɛmma bɛwɔ ne brɛbo mu, te sɛ anomaa a ɔrekɔtɔ anomaa afiri mu na onnim sɛ ɔbɛhwere ne nkwa.
24 So now listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to what I'm saying.
Na afei, me mma, muntie me; monyɛ aso mma nea meka.
25 Don't even think about following her. Don't stray down her road.
Mommma mo koma mpatiri nkɔ no so na momman mmfa nʼakwan so.
26 For she has brought down and destroyed a lot of men; she's killed so many.
Bebree na wɔnam no so ahwehwe ase; wɔn a wakum wɔn dɔɔso pa ara.
