< Proverbs 1 >
1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, King of Israel:
Dawid babarima Salomo, Israelhene, mmebusɛm ni:
2 For the knowledge of wisdom and correction, for discerning the sayings of intelligence;
Ne botae ne sɛ ɛbɛkyerɛ nnipa nyansa ne ahohyɛso; ne sɛ ɛbɛboa ama wɔate nsɛm a emu dɔ ase;
3 For receiving the correction of prudence, righteousness and justice, and equity;
sɛ wobenya akwankyerɛ wɔ abrabɔ pa mu, a ɛbɛma wɔayɛ ade pa, nea ɛteɛ na ho nni asɛm;
4 For giving To the simple shrewdness, To the young man, knowledge and discretion.
sɛ ɛbɛma nea nʼadwene mu nnɔ anya nyansa na mmabun anya nimdeɛ ne adwene,
5 A wise man, will hear, and will increase learning, and a, discreet man, wise counsels, will acquire,
anyansafo ntie na wɔmfa nka nea wonim ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu nya akwankyerɛ a
6 By gaining discernment of proverb, and satire, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
ɛbɛma wate mmɛ ne kasammebu, anyansafo nsɛnka ne abisaa ase.
7 The reverence of Yahweh, is the beginning of knowledge, Wisdom and correction, the foolish have despised.
Awurade suro yɛ nimdeɛ mfiase, na nkwaseafo bu nyansa ne ahohyɛso animtiaa.
8 Hear, my son, the correction of thy father, and do not reject the instruction of thy mother;
Me ba, tie wʼagya akwankyerɛ na mpo wo na nkyerɛkyerɛ.
9 For, a wreath of beauty, shall they be to thy head, and chains of ornament, to thy neck.
Ɛbɛyɛ wo ti anuonyam abotiri ne wo kɔn mu atweaban.
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, do not consent.
Me ba, sɛ nnebɔneyɛfo twetwe wo a, mma wɔn ho kwan.
11 If they say—Come with us, —Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us watch in secret for him who is needlessly innocent;
Sɛ wɔka se, “Bra ma yɛnkɔ; ma yɛnkɔtetɛw na yenkum obi, ma yɛnkɔtɛw ntwɛn mmɔborɔni bi;
12 Let us engulf them, like hades, alive, While in health, like them who are going down to the pit; (Sheol )
ma yɛmmemene wɔn anikann sɛ ɔda, koraa, te sɛ wɔn a wɔkɔ ɔda mu; (Sheol )
13 All costly substance, shall we find, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
yebenya nneɛma a ɛsom bo ahorow na yɛde asade ahyɛ yɛn afi ma;
14 Thy lot, shalt thou cast into our midst, One purse, shall there be, for us all.
fa wo ho bɛhyɛ mu, na wubenya wo kyɛfa wɔ ahonyade no mu.”
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, Withhold thy foot from their path.
Me ba, wo ne wɔn nnantew, mfa wo nan nsi wɔn akwan so;
16 For, their feet, to mischief, do run, and haste to the shedding of blood.
Wɔn anan de ntɛmpɛ kɔ bɔne mu, na wɔde ahoɔhare ka mogya gu.
17 Surely, in vain, is spread the net, in the sight of aught that hath wings!
So nni mfaso sɛ obi besum nnomaafiri wɔ beae a anomaa biara hu!
18 Yet, they, for their own blood, lie in wait, They watch in secret for their own life.
Saa nnipa yi tetɛw pɛ wɔn ankasa mogya; wɔtetɛw wɔn ankasa wɔn ho!
19 Such are the ways of every one that graspeth with greed, The life of the owners thereof, it taketh away!
Saa na wɔn a wodi akorɔnne akyi no awiei te; ɛma wɔhwere wɔn nkwa!
20 Wisdom, in the open place, soundeth forth, in the broadways, she raiseth her voice;
Nyansa teɛ mu wɔ mmɔnten so, ɔma ne nne so wɔ aguabɔbea,
21 At the head of bustling streets, she crieth aloud, —at the openings of the gates in the city—her sayings, she doth utter: —
ɔteɛ mu wɔ afasu no atifi, ɔkasa wɔ kuropɔn no apon ano se,
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and, scoffers, in scoffing, delight them? and, dullards, hate knowledge?
“Mo adwenharefo, mobɛyɛ adwenhare akosi da bɛn? Fɛwdifo bedi fɛw akosi da bɛn? Nkwaseafo bekyi nimdeɛ akosi da bɛn?
23 Will ye turn, at my reproof? Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit, I will make known my words to you.
Sɛ mutiee mʼanimka a, anka mekaa me koma mu nsɛm nyinaa kyerɛɛ mo ma muhuu me nsusuwii.
24 Because I called, and ye refused, I stretched out my hand, and no one regarded;
Nanso sɛ muyii mo aso, bere a mefrɛɛ mo na amfa obiara ho, bere a meteɛɛ me nsa mu,
25 But ye dismissed all my counsel, and, to my rebuke, would not yield,
sɛ mopoo mʼafotu, na moampɛ mʼanimka nti,
26 I also, at your calamity, will laugh, I will mock, when cometh your dread;
me nso mɛserew mo wɔ mo amanehunu mu; sɛ abɛbrɛsɛ bi bu fa mo so a, midi mo ho fɛw,
27 When cometh as a crashing your dread, and, your calamity, as a storm-wind, overtaketh, when there come upon you, distress and anguish.
sɛ abɛbrɛsɛ bi bu fa mo so te sɛ ahum, na amanehunu bi bɔ fa mo so sɛ mfɛtɛ, na awerɛhow ne ɔhaw mene mo a,
28 Then, will they call me, but I will not answer, they will seek me diligently, but shall not find me.
“Afei wɔbɛfrɛ me, nanso meremmua; wɔbɛhwehwɛ me, nanso wɔrenhu me.
29 Because they hated knowledge, and, the reverence of Yahweh, did not choose;
Esiane sɛ wokyii nimdeɛ na wɔampɛ sɛ wobesuro Awurade,
30 Consented not to my counsel, disdained all my rebuke,
sɛ wɔpoo mʼafotu, na wobuu me nteɛso animtiaa nti,
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and, with their own counsels, be filled.
wobedi wɔn akwan so aba; na wɔn nhyehyɛe mu aduan bɛmee wɔn.
32 For, the turning away of the simple, will slay them, —and, the carelessness of dullards, will destroy them.
Na ntetekwaafo asoɔden bekum wɔn, na nkwaseafo tirimudɛ bɛsɛe wɔn;
33 Whereas, he that hearkeneth unto me, shall dwell safely, and be at rest, without dread of misfortune.
Nanso obiara a obetie me no, ɔbɛtena ase asomdwoe mu na ne ho bɛtɔ no a ɔrensuro ɔhaw biara.”