Mmebusɛm 2
1 Me ba, sɛ wutie me nsɛm, na woma me mmaransɛm tena wo mu a,
My son, listen to what I say, and [consider my instructions to be as valuable as] [MET] a treasure.
2 sɛ wowɛn wʼaso ma nyansa na wode wo koma ma ntease,
Pay attention to wisdom and try hard to understand it.
3 na woma wo nne so frɛ nhumu na wusu frɛ ntease,
Call out [to God] to get insight; plead with him to help you to understand more [of what he wants you to know].
4 na sɛ wohwehwɛ no te sɛnea wohwehwɛ dwetɛ na wohwehwɛ no sɛnea worepɛ ademude a ahintaw a,
Search [eagerly] for wisdom, like you would search for silver, like you would search for a treasure that someone has hidden.
5 ɛno na wobɛte Awurade suro ase na woahu Onyankopɔn ho nimdeɛ.
If you do that, you will understand how to revere Yahweh, and you will succeed in knowing God.
6 Awurade ma nimdeɛ, na nʼanom na nyansa ne ntease fi ba.
Yahweh is the one who gives us wisdom. He is the one who tells us things that we need to know and understand.
7 Ɔkora nkonimdi ma wɔn a wɔteɛ, ɔyɛ kyɛm ma wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ pɛ,
He gives good advice to those who conduct their lives as they should. He protects [MET] those who do what is right.
8 ɔwɛn nea ɔyɛ pɛ kwan, na ɔbɔ wɔn a wodi no nokware no akwan ho ban.
He guards those who act justly/fairly [toward others], and he watches over those who are faithful/loyal [to him].
9 Ɛno na wobɛte nea eye ne nea ɛyɛ pɛ, ne nea ɛfata, ɔkwan biara a eye ase.
[If you ask God for wisdom], you will understand what is right and just [DOU] [to do], and [you will know] the right way to conduct your life,
10 Afei nyansa bewura wo koma mu, na nimdeɛ ayɛ ahomeka ama wo kra.
because you will be wise in your inner being; and knowing [what God wants you to know] will cause you to be joyful.
11 Adwene bɛbɔ wo ho ban na ntease ahwɛ wo so.
If you know [PRS] how to choose what is right to do and if you understand [what God wants] you to do, God will protect you and guard you and keep you safe.
12 Nyansa beyi wo afi amumɔyɛfo akwan mu, ebeyi wo afi nnipa a wɔn nsɛm yɛ basabasa nsam,
If you are wise [PRS], you will not do what evil people do, and you will not [believe what] deceitful people say.
13 wɔn a wɔaman afi akwan pa so akɔnantew sum akwan so no,
Deceitful people have stopped acting fairly/justly [toward others] and (walk on dark and evil paths/do what evil people do) [MET].
14 wɔn a wɔn ani gye bɔneyɛ ho, na wodi ahurusi wɔ bɔne mu basabasayɛ ho,
They enjoy doing what is wrong; they like to do what is evil and to deceive [people].
15 wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye na wɔyɛ abonsam wɔ wɔn akwan mu.
They (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) and are always dishonest.
16 Nimdeɛ begye wo afi ɔbea waresɛefo no nsam, afi ɔbea warefo huhuni a ɔka nnaadaasɛm ho,
If you are wise [PRS], you will [also] be saved from (immoral women/prostitutes); you will not pay attention when adulterous women try to (seduce/entice you by what they say.)
17 nea wagyaa ne mmabaabere mu kunu na wapo apam a ɔyɛɛ wɔ Onyankopɔn anim no.
Those women have left the husbands whom they married when they were young; they have disregarded the solemn promise they made to God [not to commit adultery].
18 Ne fi yɛ ɔkwan a ɛkɔ owu mu na nʼakwan kɔ awufo honhom nkyɛn.
If you go into houses of women who are like that, you will die [when you are still young]; the road [to their houses] leads to hell. (questioned)
19 Obiara a ɔkɔ ne nkyɛn no nsan mma anaasɛ ɔrensi nkwa akwan so.
No man who (visits/sleeps with) a woman like that will again [live harmoniously with his family]. He will never have a [happy] life again.
20 Enti wubedi nnipa pa anammɔn akyi na woanantew atreneefo akwan so.
If [you are wise], you should behave like good men behave. You should (stay on the paths that righteous [people] walk on/do what godly people do) [MET],
21 Efisɛ wɔn a wɔteɛ bɛtena asase no so, na wɔn a asɛm nni wɔn ho no na wɔbɛka hɔ;
because only godly people will live in this land [and receive God’s blessings]; [only] those who have not done wrong will stay here [for a long time].
22 na wobetwa amumɔyɛfo afi asase no so, na wɔatɔre atorofo ase.
Wicked [people] will be expelled from this land, and [people] who are not trustworthy will be thrown {God will throw them} out of it.
