< Proverbs 2 >
1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and treasure my commandments with thee;
Me ba, sɛ wotie me nsɛm, na woma me nkyerɛkyerɛ tena wo mu a,
2 So that thou incline thy ear to wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding;
sɛ wowɛn wʼaso ma nyansa na wode wʼakoma ma nteaseɛ,
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
na woma wo nne so frɛ nhunumu na wosu frɛ nteaseɛ,
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
na sɛ wohwehwɛ no te sɛ deɛ wohwehwɛ dwetɛ na wo hwehwɛ no sɛdeɛ worepɛ ademudeɛ a ahinta a,
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
ɛno na wobɛte Awurade suro ase na woahunu Onyankopɔn ho nimdeɛ.
6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Awurade ma nimdeɛ, na nʼanom na nyansa ne nteaseɛ firi ba.
7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a shield to them that walk uprightly.
Ɔkora nkonimdie ma wɔn a wɔteneɛ, ɔyɛ kyɛm ma wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ pɛ,
8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
ɔwɛn deɛ ɔtene akwan, na ɔbɔ wɔn a wɔdi no nokorɛ no akwan ho ban.
9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; and, every good path.
Ɛno na wobɛte deɛ ɛyɛ ne deɛ ɛyɛ pɛ ne deɛ ɛfata, ɛkwan biara a ɛyɛ ase.
10 When wisdom entereth into thy heart, and knowledge is pleasant to thy soul;
Afei nyansa bɛwura wʼakoma mu, na nimdeɛ ayɛ ahomeka ama wo kra.
11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
Adwene bɛbɔ wo ho ban na nteaseɛ ahwɛ wo so.
12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh perverse things;
Nyansa bɛyi wo afiri amumuyɛfoɔ akwan mu, ɛbɛyi wo afiri nnipa a wɔn nsɛm yɛ basabasa nsam,
13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
na wɔmane firi akwan pa so kɔnante esum akwan so,
14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of the wicked;
wɔn a wɔn ani gye bɔneyɛ ho, na wɔdi ahurisie wɔ bɔne mu basabasayɛ ho,
15 Whose ways are crooked, and they are perverse in their paths:
wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye na wɔyɛ abonsamfoɔ wɔ wɔn akwan mu.
16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the adulteress who flattereth with her words;
Nimdeɛ bɛgye wo afiri ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ no nsam, afiri ɔbaa warefoɔ sansani a ɔka nnaadaasɛm ho,
17 Who forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
deɛ wagyaa ne mmabaawaberɛ mu kunu na wapo apam a ɔyɛɛ wɔ Onyankopɔn anim no.
18 For her house inclineth to death, and her paths to the dead.
Ne fie yɛ ɛkwan a ɛkɔ owuo mu na nʼakwan kɔ awufoɔ honhom nkyɛn.
19 None that go to her return again, neither do they take hold of the paths of life.
Obiara a ɔkɔ ne nkyɛn no nsane mma anaasɛ ɔrensi nkwa akwan so.
20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
Enti wobɛdi nnipa pa anammɔn akyi na woanante ateneneefoɔ akwan so.
21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
Ɛfiri sɛ wɔn a wɔtene bɛtena asase no so, na wɔn a asɛm nni wɔn ho no na wɔbɛka hɔ;
22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
na wɔbɛtwa amumuyɛfoɔ afiri asase no so, na wɔatɔre atorofoɔ ase.