Mmebusɛm 2
1 Me ba, sɛ wutie me nsɛm, na woma me mmaransɛm tena wo mu a,
My son, if you accept what I say and value my instructions,
2 sɛ wowɛn wʼaso ma nyansa na wode wo koma ma ntease,
if you pay attention to wisdom and really try to understand;
3 na woma wo nne so frɛ nhumu na wusu frɛ ntease,
if you cry out for insight and call loudly for help in understanding;
4 na sɛ wohwehwɛ no te sɛnea wohwehwɛ dwetɛ na wohwehwɛ no sɛnea worepɛ ademude a ahintaw a,
if you look for it as if it were silver and search for it as if it were hidden treasure;
5 ɛno na wobɛte Awurade suro ase na woahu Onyankopɔn ho nimdeɛ.
then you will understand how to relate to the Lord and discover the truth about God.
6 Awurade ma nimdeɛ, na nʼanom na nyansa ne ntease fi ba.
The Lord is the source of wisdom; what he says provides knowledge that makes sense.
7 Ɔkora nkonimdi ma wɔn a wɔteɛ, ɔyɛ kyɛm ma wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ pɛ,
He gives good judgment to those who live right; he defends those who have good sense.
8 ɔwɛn nea ɔyɛ pɛ kwan, na ɔbɔ wɔn a wodi no nokware no akwan ho ban.
He supports those who act fairly and protects those who trust in him.
9 Ɛno na wobɛte nea eye ne nea ɛyɛ pɛ, ne nea ɛfata, ɔkwan biara a eye ase.
Then you will be able to recognize what is right and just and fair, in fact all that is good in the way you should live.
10 Afei nyansa bewura wo koma mu, na nimdeɛ ayɛ ahomeka ama wo kra.
For wisdom will fill your mind, and knowledge will make you happy.
11 Adwene bɛbɔ wo ho ban na ntease ahwɛ wo so.
Good decisions will keep you on track; thinking logically will keep you safe.
12 Nyansa beyi wo afi amumɔyɛfo akwan mu, ebeyi wo afi nnipa a wɔn nsɛm yɛ basabasa nsam,
Doing this will save you from the ways of evil, from men who tell twisted lies,
13 wɔn a wɔaman afi akwan pa so akɔnantew sum akwan so no,
who turn away from following what is right to walk down paths of darkness.
14 wɔn a wɔn ani gye bɔneyɛ ho, na wodi ahurusi wɔ bɔne mu basabasayɛ ho,
They happily do wrong; they love how twisted evil is.
15 wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye na wɔyɛ abonsam wɔ wɔn akwan mu.
They live crooked lives doing deceitful things.
16 Nimdeɛ begye wo afi ɔbea waresɛefo no nsam, afi ɔbea warefo huhuni a ɔka nnaadaasɛm ho,
Doing this will also save you from a woman who acts immorally, from a woman who like a prostitute tries to seduce you with flattering words.
17 nea wagyaa ne mmabaabere mu kunu na wapo apam a ɔyɛɛ wɔ Onyankopɔn anim no.
Such a woman has left her husband she married when she was young, forgetting the promises she made before God.
18 Ne fi yɛ ɔkwan a ɛkɔ owu mu na nʼakwan kɔ awufo honhom nkyɛn.
What happens in her house leads to death; following her way leads to the grave.
19 Obiara a ɔkɔ ne nkyɛn no nsan mma anaasɛ ɔrensi nkwa akwan so.
No one who goes to her comes back; they don't ever find the way back to life again.
20 Enti wubedi nnipa pa anammɔn akyi na woanantew atreneefo akwan so.
So you should follow the way of the good, and make sure you stay on the paths of those who do right.
21 Efisɛ wɔn a wɔteɛ bɛtena asase no so, na wɔn a asɛm nni wɔn ho no na wɔbɛka hɔ;
For only people who live right will live in the land; only honest people will remain there.
22 na wobetwa amumɔyɛfo afi asase no so, na wɔatɔre atorofo ase.
But the wicked will be thrown out of the land; those who are untrustworthy will be pulled out by the roots.
