Proverbs 3
1 My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfiri me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara yi wɔ wʼakoma mu,
2 for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfeɛ bebree na ɛde yiedie abrɛ wo.
3 Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around 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 So you will find favour, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Na wobɛnya adom ne din pa wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
Fa wʼakoma nyinaa to Awurade so na mmfa wo ho nto wʼankasa nteaseɛ so;
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
hunu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu, na ɔbɛtene wʼakwan.
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Nnye wo ho nni sɛ woyɛ onyansafoɔ suro Awurade na kyiri bɔne.
8 It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo onipadua na ayɛ aduane ama wo nnompe.
9 Honour the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade animuonyam, ne wo nnɔbaeɛ a ɛdi ɛkan nyinaa;
10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so, na nsã foforɔ abu afa wʼankorɛ so
11 My son, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
Me ba, sɛ Awurade tene wo so a, tie no yie, na sɛ ɔka wʼanim a, mpa aba,
12 for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
Ɛfiri sɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛdeɛ agya tene ɔba a ɔdɔ no so no.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
Nhyira nka onipa a ɔhunu nyansa, onipa a ɔnya nteaseɛ,
14 For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
ɛfiri sɛ, nimdeɛ ho mfasoɔ sene dwetɛ, na deɛ ɛfiri mu ba sene sikakɔkɔɔ.
15 She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared 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 hand are riches and honour.
Nkwa tenten wɔ ne nsa nifa mu; ahonyadeɛ ne animuonyam wɔ ne nsa benkum mu.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
Nʼakwan yɛ ahomeka, na nʼasa nyinaa yɛ asomdwoeɛ.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
Ɔyɛ nkwa dua ma wɔn a wɔsɔ ne mu; wɔn a wɔkura ne mu no bɛnya nhyira.
19 By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na nteaseɛ mu na ɔde ɔsoro timii hɔ.
20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
Ɛfiri ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebunu mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ bosuo.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
Me ba, fa atemmuo pa ne nhunumu sie, na mma ɛmfiri wʼani so;
22 so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, ahyehyɛdeɛ a ɛma wɔ kɔn nya animuonyam.
23 Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan rensunti;
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bɛkum.
25 Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛeɛ a ɛba amumuyɛfoɔ so,
26 for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
Ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade bɛyɛ wʼawerɛhyɛm na ɔbɛkora wo nan afiri afidie mu.
27 Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, ɛberɛ a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
28 Don’t say to your neighbour, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
Nka nkyerɛ wo yɔnko sɛ: “Kɔ na bra; mede bɛma wo ɔkyena” wɔ ɛberɛ a wowɔ no saa ɛberɛ no.
29 Don’t devise evil against your neighbour, since he dwells securely by you.
Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko ɛberɛ a ɔne wo te yie.
30 Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
Mfa ɛso nto obi so kwa ɛberɛ a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara.
31 Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfoɔ, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
32 For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.
ɛfiri sɛ Awurade kyiri basabasayɛfoɔ na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔteneneeni mu.
33 The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Awurade nnome wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ efie so, na ɔhyira ɔteneneeni fie.
34 Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
Ɔdi fɛdifoɔ a wɔyɛ ahantan ho fɛ na ɔdom ahobrɛasefoɔ.
35 The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
Anyansafoɔ bɛnya animuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafoɔ deɛ, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
