Mmebusɛm 3
1 Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfi me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara wɔ wo koma mu,
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfe bebree na ɛde yiyedi abrɛ wo.
for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
3 Mma adɔe ne nokware mmfi wo nkyɛn fa yan wo kɔn mu kyerɛw gu wo koma pon so.
Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Na wubenya adom ne din pa wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
5 Fa wo koma nyinaa to Awurade so, na mfa wo ho nto wʼankasa ntease so;
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 hu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu, na ɔbɛteɛ wʼakwan.
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Nnye wo ho nni sɛ woyɛ onyansafo; suro Awurade na kyi bɔne.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo nipadua, na ayɛ aduan ama wo nnompe.
This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade anuonyam, ne wo nnɔbae a edi kan nyinaa;
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
10 na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so, na nsa foforo abu afa wʼahina so.
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Me ba, sɛ Awurade teɛ wo so a, tie no yiye, na mmu nʼanimka so,
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
12 Efisɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛnea agya teɛ ɔba a ɔdɔ no no.
for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Nhyira nka onipa a ohu nyansa, onipa a onya ntease,
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
14 efisɛ, nimdeɛ so mfaso sen dwetɛ, na nea efi mu ba sen sikakɔkɔɔ.
for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
15 Ne bo yɛ den sen bota; na worentumi mfa wʼapɛde biara ntoto no ho.
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Nkwa tenten wɔ ne nsa nifa mu; ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ ne nsa benkum mu.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Nʼakwan yɛ ahomeka, na nʼanammɔnkwan nyinaa yɛ asomdwoe.
All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 Ɔyɛ nkwadua ma wɔn a woso ne mu; wɔn a wokura no mu no benya nhyira.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
19 Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na ntease mu na ɔde ɔsoro tim hɔ.
The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
20 Efi ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebun mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ obosu.
By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
21 Me ba, fa atemmu pa ne nhumu sie, na mma emfi wʼani so;
My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
22 ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, nnwinne a ɛma wo kɔn anuonyam wie pɛyɛ.
They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan renhintiw;
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24 sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bekum.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛe a ɛba amumɔyɛfo so,
Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 efisɛ Awurade bɛwɔ wʼafa na ɔbɛkora wo nan afi afiri mu.
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.
27 Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, bere a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
28 Nka nkyerɛ wo yɔnko se: “Kɔ na bra; mede bɛma wo ɔkyena” wɔ bere a wowɔ no saa bere no.
Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
29 Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko bere a ɔne wo te yiye.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
30 Mmɔ obi sobo kwa bere a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara ɛ.
Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
31 Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfo, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
32 efisɛ Awurade kyi basabasayɛfo na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔtreneeni mu.
for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
33 Awurade nnome wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi so, na ohyira ɔtreneeni fi.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
34 Odi fɛwdifo a wɔyɛ ahantan no ho fɛw, na ɔdom ahobrɛasefo ne wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so no.
He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
35 Anyansafo benya anuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafo de, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
