< Proverbs 3 >
1 My son! Do not forget my law, And let your heart keep my commands,
Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfiri me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara yi wɔ wʼakoma mu,
2 For [the] length of [your] days and years, Life and peace they add to you.
na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfeɛ bebree na ɛde yiedie abrɛ wo.
3 Do not let kindness and truth forsake you, Bind them on your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
Mma adɔeɛ ne nokorɛ mfiri wo nkyɛn fa yane wo kɔn mu twerɛ gu wʼakoma ɛpono so.
4 And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
Na wobɛnya adom ne din pa wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
5 Trust to YHWH with all your heart, And do not lean to your own understanding.
Fa wʼakoma nyinaa to Awurade so na mmfa wo ho nto wʼankasa nteaseɛ so;
6 In all your ways know Him, And He makes your paths straight.
hunu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu, na ɔbɛtene wʼakwan.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear YHWH, and turn aside from evil.
Nnye wo ho nni sɛ woyɛ onyansafoɔ suro Awurade na kyiri bɔne.
8 It is healing to your navel, And moistening to your bones.
Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo onipadua na ayɛ aduane ama wo nnompe.
9 Honor YHWH from your substance, And from the beginning of all your increase;
Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade animuonyam, ne wo nnɔbaeɛ a ɛdi ɛkan nyinaa;
10 And your barns are filled [with] plenty, And your presses break forth [with] new wine.
na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so, na nsã foforɔ abu afa wʼankorɛ so
11 Discipline of YHWH, my son, do not despise, And do not be distressed with His reproof,
Me ba, sɛ Awurade tene wo so a, tie no yie, na sɛ ɔka wʼanim a, mpa aba,
12 For whom YHWH loves He reproves, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
Ɛfiri sɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛdeɛ agya tene ɔba a ɔdɔ no so no.
13 O the blessedness of a man [who] has found wisdom, And of a man [who] brings forth understanding.
Nhyira nka onipa a ɔhunu nyansa, onipa a ɔnya nteaseɛ,
14 For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase.
ɛfiri sɛ, nimdeɛ ho mfasoɔ sene dwetɛ, na deɛ ɛfiri mu ba sene sikakɔkɔɔ.
15 She [is] precious above rubies, And all your pleasures are not comparable to her.
Ne boɔ yɛ dene sene bota; na worentumi mfa wʼapɛdeɛ biara ntoto ho.
16 Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth and honor.
Nkwa tenten wɔ ne nsa nifa mu; ahonyadeɛ ne animuonyam wɔ ne nsa benkum mu.
17 Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.
Nʼakwan yɛ ahomeka, na nʼasa nyinaa yɛ asomdwoeɛ.
18 She [is] a tree of life to those laying hold on her, And whoever is retaining her [is] blessed.
Ɔyɛ nkwa dua ma wɔn a wɔsɔ ne mu; wɔn a wɔkura ne mu no bɛnya nhyira.
19 YHWH founded the earth by wisdom, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na nteaseɛ mu na ɔde ɔsoro timii hɔ.
20 By His knowledge depths have been broken, And clouds drop dew.
Ɛfiri ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebunu mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ bosuo.
21 My son! Do not let them turn from your eyes, Keep wisdom and thoughtfulness,
Me ba, fa atemmuo pa ne nhunumu sie, na mma ɛmfiri wʼani so;
22 And they are life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, ahyehyɛdeɛ a ɛma wɔ kɔn nya animuonyam.
23 Then you go your way confidently, And your foot does not stumble.
Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan rensunti;
24 If you lie down, you are not afraid, Indeed, you have lain down, And your sleep has been sweet.
sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bɛkum.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it comes.
Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛeɛ a ɛba amumuyɛfoɔ so,
26 For YHWH is at your side, And He has kept your foot from capture.
Ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade bɛyɛ wʼawerɛhyɛm na ɔbɛkora wo nan afiri afidie mu.
27 Do not withhold good from its owners, When your hand [is] toward God to do [it].
Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, ɛberɛ a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
28 Do not say to your friend, “Go, and return, and tomorrow I give,” When substance [is] with you.
Nka nkyerɛ wo yɔnko sɛ: “Kɔ na bra; mede bɛma wo ɔkyena” wɔ ɛberɛ a wowɔ no saa ɛberɛ no.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, And he sitting confidently with you.
Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko ɛberɛ a ɔne wo te yie.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has not done you evil.
Mfa ɛso nto obi so kwa ɛberɛ a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara.
31 Do not be envious of a man of violence, Nor fix on any of his ways.
Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfoɔ, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
32 For the perverted [is] an abomination to YHWH, And His secret counsel [is] with the upright.
ɛfiri sɛ Awurade kyiri basabasayɛfoɔ na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔteneneeni mu.
33 The curse of YHWH [is] in the house of the wicked. And He blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Awurade nnome wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ efie so, na ɔhyira ɔteneneeni fie.
34 If He scorns the scorners, Yet He gives grace to the humble.
Ɔdi fɛdifoɔ a wɔyɛ ahantan ho fɛ na ɔdom ahobrɛasefoɔ.
35 The wise inherit glory, And fools are bearing away shame!
Anyansafoɔ bɛnya animuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafoɔ deɛ, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.