Mmebusɛm 2
1 Me ba, sɛ wutie me nsɛm, na woma me mmaransɛm tena wo mu a,
My son, if thou wouldst but accept my words, and treasure up my commandments with thee;
2 sɛ wowɛn wʼaso ma nyansa na wode wo koma ma ntease,
To let thy ear listen unto wisdom: [if] thou wouldst incline thy heart to understanding.
3 na woma wo nne so frɛ nhumu na wusu frɛ ntease,
For if thou wilt call after intelligence; if after understanding thou wilt lift up thy voice;
4 na sɛ wohwehwɛ no te sɛnea wohwehwɛ dwetɛ na wohwehwɛ no sɛnea worepɛ ademude a ahintaw a,
If thou wilt 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 wilt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of God wilt thou find.
6 Awurade ma nimdeɛ, na nʼanom na nyansa ne ntease fi ba.
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [come] knowledge and understanding.
7 Ɔkora nkonimdi ma wɔn a wɔteɛ, ɔyɛ kyɛm ma wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ pɛ,
He treasureth up sound wisdom for the righteous, as a shield to those that walk in integrity:
8 ɔwɛn nea ɔyɛ pɛ kwan, na ɔbɔ wɔn a wodi no nokware no akwan ho ban.
That men may keep the paths of justice; and the way of his pious servants doth he guard.
9 Ɛno na wobɛte nea eye ne nea ɛyɛ pɛ, ne nea ɛfata, ɔkwan biara a eye ase.
Then wilt thou understand righteousness, and justice, and equity: yea, every track of goodness.
10 Afei nyansa bewura wo koma mu, na nimdeɛ ayɛ ahomeka ama wo kra.
For wisdom will enter thy heart, and knowledge will be pleasant unto thy soul;
11 Adwene bɛbɔ wo ho ban na ntease ahwɛ wo so.
Discretion will watch over thee, understanding will keep thee;
12 Nyansa beyi wo afi amumɔyɛfo akwan mu, ebeyi wo afi nnipa a wɔn nsɛm yɛ basabasa nsam,
To deliver thee from the way of the bad, from the man that speaketh perverse things;
13 wɔn a wɔaman afi akwan pa so akɔnantew sum akwan so no,
[From those] who leave 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, who are delighted in the perverseness of the bad;
15 wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye na wɔyɛ abonsam wɔ wɔn akwan mu.
Who as regardeth their paths are crooked, and froward in their tracks.
16 Nimdeɛ begye wo afi ɔbea waresɛefo no nsam, afi ɔbea warefo huhuni a ɔka nnaadaasɛm ho,
To deliver thee from the adulteress, from the alien woman that useth flattering speeches;
17 nea wagyaa ne mmabaabere mu kunu na wapo apam a ɔyɛɛ wɔ Onyankopɔn anim no.
That forsaketh the friend of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
18 Ne fi yɛ ɔkwan a ɛkɔ owu mu na nʼakwan kɔ awufo honhom nkyɛn.
For she sinketh unto death—her house, and unto the departed [lead] her tracks.
19 Obiara a ɔkɔ ne nkyɛn no nsan mma anaasɛ ɔrensi nkwa akwan so.
All that come unto her return not again, and they will not reach the paths of life.
20 Enti wubedi nnipa pa anammɔn akyi na woanantew atreneefo akwan so.
In order that thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and observe 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 on the earth, and the perfect will be left remaining on it.
22 na wobetwa amumɔyɛfo afi asase no so, na wɔatɔre atorofo ase.
But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous shall be plucked up therefrom.
