Mmebusɛm 2
1 Me ba, sɛ wutie me nsɛm, na woma me mmaransɛm tena wo mu a,
My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you,
2 sɛ wowɛn wʼaso ma nyansa na wode wo koma ma ntease,
so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;
3 na woma wo nne so frɛ nhumu na wusu frɛ ntease,
yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;
4 na sɛ wohwehwɛ no te sɛnea wohwehwɛ dwetɛ na wohwehwɛ no sɛnea worepɛ ademude a ahintaw a,
if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 ɛno na wobɛte Awurade suro ase na woahu Onyankopɔn ho nimdeɛ.
then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 Awurade ma nimdeɛ, na nʼanom na nyansa ne ntease fi ba.
For the LORD gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
7 Ɔkora nkonimdi ma wɔn a wɔteɛ, ɔyɛ kyɛm ma wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ pɛ,
He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 ɔwɛn nea ɔyɛ pɛ kwan, na ɔbɔ wɔn a wodi no nokware no akwan ho ban.
that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.
9 Ɛno na wobɛte nea eye ne nea ɛyɛ pɛ, ne nea ɛfata, ɔkwan biara a eye ase.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.
10 Afei nyansa bewura wo koma mu, na nimdeɛ ayɛ ahomeka ama wo kra.
For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Adwene bɛbɔ wo ho ban na ntease ahwɛ wo so.
Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,
12 Nyansa beyi wo afi amumɔyɛfo akwan mu, ebeyi wo afi nnipa a wɔn nsɛm yɛ basabasa nsam,
to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things,
13 wɔn a wɔaman afi akwan pa so akɔnantew sum akwan so no,
who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 wɔn a wɔn ani gye bɔneyɛ ho, na wodi ahurusi wɔ bɔne mu basabasayɛ ho,
who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil,
15 wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye na wɔyɛ abonsam wɔ wɔn akwan mu.
who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths,
16 Nimdeɛ begye wo afi ɔbea waresɛefo no nsam, afi ɔbea warefo huhuni a ɔka nnaadaasɛm ho,
to deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words,
17 nea wagyaa ne mmabaabere mu kunu na wapo apam a ɔyɛɛ wɔ Onyankopɔn anim no.
who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God;
18 Ne fi yɛ ɔkwan a ɛkɔ owu mu na nʼakwan kɔ awufo honhom nkyɛn.
for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits.
19 Obiara a ɔkɔ ne nkyɛn no nsan mma anaasɛ ɔrensi nkwa akwan so.
None who go to her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life.
20 Enti wubedi nnipa pa anammɔn akyi na woanantew atreneefo akwan so.
Therefore walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
21 Efisɛ wɔn a wɔteɛ bɛtena asase no so, na wɔn a asɛm nni wɔn ho no na wɔbɛka hɔ;
For the upright will dwell in the land. The perfect will remain in it.
22 na wobetwa amumɔyɛfo afi asase no so, na wɔatɔre atorofo ase.
But the wicked will be cut off from the land. The treacherous will be rooted out of it.
