Mmebusɛm 23
1 Sɛ wo ne ɔhene bi to nsa didi a, hwɛ nea esi wʼanim no yiye,
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 Sɛ woyɛ adidibrada a, hyɛ wo ho so.
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3 Nni nʼaduan akɔnnɔ akɔnnɔ no akyi, efisɛ saa aduan no daadaa nnipa.
Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4 Mmiri wo mogya ani mpɛ sika; hu nyansa na tɔ wo bo ase.
Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Wʼani bɔɔ sika so ara pɛ, na atu ayera, ampa ara ebefuw ntaban na atu akɔ wim sɛ ɔkɔre.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Nni obi a ɔyɛ pɛpɛe aduan, nni nʼakɔnnɔ aduan akyi;
Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
7 efisɛ ɔyɛ obi a bere biara osusuw sika ho. Ɔka se, “Didi na nom,” nanso ɛnyɛ ne koma mu.
for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Kakra a woadi no wobɛfe, na ɛno nti wo nkamfo so remma mfaso.
You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Nkasa nkyerɛ ɔkwasea, efisɛ ɔremfa nyansa a ɛwɔ wo kasa mu no.
Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye ngu, na ntra ɔhye nkɔ ayisaa mfuw mu,
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 efisɛ wɔn Gyefo yɛ den, na obedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn.
for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Ma wo koma mmra nkyerɛkyerɛ so, na wɛn wʼaso tie nimdeɛ.
Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Ntwentwɛn abofra nteɛso so; sɛ wode abaa teɛ no a, ɔrenwu.
Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Me ba, sɛ wo koma hu nyansa a, ɛno de, me koma ani begye;
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
16 sɛ wʼano ka nea ɛteɛ a me mu ade nyinaa ani begye.
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Mma wʼani mmere abɔnefo, mmom bɔ Awurade suro ho mmɔden bere biara.
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
18 Ampa ara anidaso wɔ hɔ ma wo daakye, na wʼanidaso renyɛ ɔkwa.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Me ba, tie, na hu nyansa, ma wo koma mfa ɔkwantrenee so.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
20 Mfa wo ho mmɔ akɔwensafo anaasɛ wɔn a wɔpɛ nam mmoroso ho,
Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
21 efisɛ, akɔwensafo ne adidibradafo bɛyɛ ahiafo, na anikum fura wɔn ntamagow.
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Tie wʼagya a ɔwoo wo no, na sɛ wo na bɔ aberewa a, mmu no animtiaa.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Tɔ nokware na ntɔn da; nya nyansa, ahohyɛso ne nhumu.
Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 Ɔtreneeni agya wɔ anigye bebree; nea ɔwɔ ɔba nyansafo no ani gye ne ho.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Ma wʼagya ne wo na ani nnye; ma ɔbea a ɔwoo wo no nnya ahosɛpɛw.
Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 Me ba, fa wo koma ma me na ma wʼani nkɔ mʼakwan ho,
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 na oguamanfo yɛ amoa donkudonku ɔyere huhuni yɛ ɔdaadaafo.
For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Ɔtɛw, twɛn, te sɛ ɔkwanmukafo, na ɔma mmarima mu atorofo dɔɔso.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst men.
29 Hena na wɔadome no? Hena na odi awerɛhow? Hena na odi aperepere? Hena na onwiinwii? Hena na ɔwɔ atape nko ara? Hena na mogya ada nʼani so?
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Wɔn a wɔkyɛ nsa ho, na wɔka nsa a wɔafrafra hwɛ.
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Nhwɛ nsa ani kɔkɔɔ no haa, bere a ɛretwa yerɛw yerɛw wɔ kuruwa mu, na ɛkɔ yɔɔ no.
Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32 Awiei no, ɛka te sɛ ɔwɔ na ɛwɔ bɔre te sɛ ahurutoa.
In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
33 Wʼani behu nneɛma a wunhuu da, na woadwene nneɛma basabasa ho.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 Wobɛtɔ ntintan te sɛ hyɛn mu dwumayɛni a, okura hyɛn dua a, ɛrehinhim mu den, na ehinhim wɔ po so.
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 Na wobɛka se, “Wɔbɔ me, nanso mimpira. Wɔboro me, nanso mente ɔyaw biara. Bere bɛn na menyan akɔpɛ nsa anom bio?”
“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
