Mmebusɛm 3
1 Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfi me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara wɔ wo koma mu,
My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.
2 na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfe bebree na ɛde yiyedi abrɛ wo.
For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life and peace.
3 Mma adɔe ne nokware mmfi wo nkyɛn fa yan wo kɔn mu kyerɛw gu wo koma pon so.
Let not mercy and truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy heart:
4 Na wubenya adom ne din pa wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
And thou shalt And grace and good understanding before God and men.
5 Fa wo koma nyinaa to Awurade so, na mfa wo ho nto wʼankasa ntease so;
Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.
6 hu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu, na ɔbɛteɛ wʼakwan.
In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.
7 Nnye wo ho nni sɛ woyɛ onyansafo; suro Awurade na kyi bɔne.
I Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:
8 Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo nipadua, na ayɛ aduan ama wo nnompe.
For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.
9 Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade anuonyam, ne wo nnɔbae a edi kan nyinaa;
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits:
10 na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so, na nsa foforo abu afa wʼahina so.
And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.
11 Me ba, sɛ Awurade teɛ wo so a, tie no yiye, na mmu nʼanimka so,
My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:
12 Efisɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛnea agya teɛ ɔba a ɔdɔ no no.
For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.
13 Nhyira nka onipa a ohu nyansa, onipa a onya ntease,
Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and is rich in prudence:
14 efisɛ, nimdeɛ so mfaso sen dwetɛ, na nea efi mu ba sen sikakɔkɔɔ.
The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chiefest and purest gold:
15 Ne bo yɛ den sen bota; na worentumi mfa wʼapɛde biara ntoto no ho.
She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared with her.
16 Nkwa tenten wɔ ne nsa nifa mu; ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ ne nsa benkum mu.
Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
17 Nʼakwan yɛ ahomeka, na nʼanammɔnkwan nyinaa yɛ asomdwoe.
Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.
18 Ɔyɛ nkwadua ma wɔn a woso ne mu; wɔn a wokura no mu no benya nhyira.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.
19 Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na ntease mu na ɔde ɔsoro tim hɔ.
The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.
20 Efi ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebun mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ obosu.
By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.
21 Me ba, fa atemmu pa ne nhumu sie, na mma emfi wʼani so;
My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:
22 ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, nnwinne a ɛma wo kɔn anuonyam wie pɛyɛ.
And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.
23 Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan renhintiw;
Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:
24 sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bekum.
If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛe a ɛba amumɔyɛfo so,
Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.
26 efisɛ Awurade bɛwɔ wʼafa na ɔbɛkora wo nan afi afiri mu.
For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.
27 Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, bere a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.
28 Nka nkyerɛ wo yɔnko se: “Kɔ na bra; mede bɛma wo ɔkyena” wɔ bere a wowɔ no saa bere no.
Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and tomorrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.
29 Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko bere a ɔne wo te yiye.
Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.
30 Mmɔ obi sobo kwa bere a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara ɛ.
Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.
31 Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfo, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways:
32 efisɛ Awurade kyi basabasayɛfo na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔtreneeni mu.
For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.
33 Awurade nnome wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi so, na ohyira ɔtreneeni fi.
Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
34 Odi fɛwdifo a wɔyɛ ahantan no ho fɛw, na ɔdom ahobrɛasefo ne wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so no.
He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.
35 Anyansafo benya anuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafo de, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.
