Mmebusɛm 3
1 Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfi me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara wɔ wo koma mu,
My sonne, forget not thou my Lawe, but let thine heart keepe my commandements.
2 na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfe bebree na ɛde yiyedi abrɛ wo.
For they shall increase the length of thy dayes and the yeeres of life, and thy prosperitie.
3 Mma adɔe ne nokware mmfi wo nkyɛn fa yan wo kɔn mu kyerɛw gu wo koma pon so.
Let not mercie and trueth forsake thee: binde them on thy necke, and write them vpon the table of thine heart.
4 Na wubenya adom ne din pa wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
So shalt thou finde fauour and good vnderstanding 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 thine heart, and leane not vnto thine owne wisdome.
6 hu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu, na ɔbɛteɛ wʼakwan.
In all thy wayes acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy wayes.
7 Nnye wo ho nni sɛ woyɛ onyansafo; suro Awurade na kyi bɔne.
Be not wise in thine owne eyes: but feare the Lord, and depart from euill.
8 Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo nipadua, na ayɛ aduan ama wo nnompe.
So health shalbe vnto thy nauel, and marowe vnto thy bones.
9 Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade anuonyam, ne wo nnɔbae a edi kan nyinaa;
Honour the Lord with thy riches, and with the first fruites of all thine increase.
10 na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so, na nsa foforo abu afa wʼahina so.
So shall thy barnes be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall burst with newe wine.
11 Me ba, sɛ Awurade teɛ wo so a, tie no yiye, na mmu nʼanimka so,
My sonne, refuse not the chastening of the Lord, neither be grieued with his correction.
12 Efisɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛnea agya teɛ ɔba a ɔdɔ no no.
For the Lord correcteth him, whome he loueth, euen as the father doeth the childe in whom he deliteth.
13 Nhyira nka onipa a ohu nyansa, onipa a onya ntease,
Blessed is the man that findeth wisedome, and the man that getteth vnderstanding.
14 efisɛ, nimdeɛ so mfaso sen dwetɛ, na nea efi mu ba sen sikakɔkɔɔ.
For the marchandise thereof is better then the marchandise of siluer, and the gaine thereof is better then golde.
15 Ne bo yɛ den sen bota; na worentumi mfa wʼapɛde biara ntoto no ho.
It is more precious then pearles: and all things that thou canst desire, are not to be compared vnto her.
16 Nkwa tenten wɔ ne nsa nifa mu; ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ ne nsa benkum mu.
Length of dayes is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
17 Nʼakwan yɛ ahomeka, na nʼanammɔnkwan nyinaa yɛ asomdwoe.
Her wayes are wayes of pleasure, and all her pathes prosperitie.
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 holde on her, and blessed is he that retaineth her.
19 Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na ntease mu na ɔde ɔsoro tim hɔ.
The Lord by wisdome hath layde the foundation of the earth, and hath stablished the heauens through vnderstanding.
20 Efi ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebun mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ obosu.
By his knowledge the depthes are broken vp, and the cloudes droppe downe the dewe.
21 Me ba, fa atemmu pa ne nhumu sie, na mma emfi wʼani so;
My sonne, let not these things depart from thine eyes, but obserue wisdome, and counsell.
22 ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, nnwinne a ɛma wo kɔn anuonyam wie pɛyɛ.
So they shalbe life to thy soule, and grace vnto thy necke.
23 Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan renhintiw;
Then shalt thou walke safely by thy way: and thy foote shall not stumble.
24 sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bekum.
If thou sleepest, thou shalt not bee afraide, and when thou sleepest, thy sleepe shalbe sweete.
25 Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛe a ɛba amumɔyɛfo so,
Thou shalt not feare for any sudden feare, neither for the destruction of the wicked, when it commeth.
26 efisɛ Awurade bɛwɔ wʼafa na ɔbɛkora wo nan afi afiri mu.
For the Lord shall be for thine assurance, and shall preserue thy foote from taking.
27 Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, bere a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
Withhold not the good from the owners thereof, though there be power in thine hand to doe it.
28 Nka nkyerɛ wo yɔnko se: “Kɔ na bra; mede bɛma wo ɔkyena” wɔ bere a wowɔ no saa bere no.
Say not vnto thy neighbour, Go and come againe, and to morow wil I giue thee, if thou now haue it.
29 Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko bere a ɔne wo te yiye.
Intend none hurt against thy neighbour, seeing he doeth dwell without feare by thee.
30 Mmɔ obi sobo kwa bere a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara ɛ.
Striue not with a man causelesse, when he hath done thee no harme.
31 Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfo, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
Bee not enuious for the wicked man, neither chuse any of his wayes.
32 efisɛ Awurade kyi basabasayɛfo na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔtreneeni mu.
For the frowarde is abomination vnto the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 Awurade nnome wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi so, na ohyira ɔtreneeni fi.
The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
34 Odi fɛwdifo a wɔyɛ ahantan no ho fɛw, na ɔdom ahobrɛasefo ne wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so no.
With the scornefull he scorneth, but hee giueth grace vnto the humble.
35 Anyansafo benya anuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafo de, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
The wise shall inherite glorie: but fooles dishonour, though they be exalted.
