Mmebusɛm 3
1 Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfi me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara wɔ wo koma mu,
MY son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfe bebree na ɛde yiyedi abrɛ wo.
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Mma adɔe ne nokware mmfi wo nkyɛn fa yan wo kɔn mu kyerɛw gu wo koma pon so.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 Na wubenya adom ne din pa wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding 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 lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 hu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu, na ɔbɛteɛ wʼakwan.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Nnye wo ho nni sɛ woyɛ onyansafo; suro Awurade na kyi bɔne.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo nipadua, na ayɛ aduan ama wo nnompe.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade anuonyam, ne wo nnɔbae a edi kan nyinaa;
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits 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 barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 Me ba, sɛ Awurade teɛ wo so a, tie no yiye, na mmu nʼanimka so,
My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
12 Efisɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛnea agya teɛ ɔba a ɔdɔ no no.
For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Nhyira nka onipa a ohu nyansa, onipa a onya ntease,
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 efisɛ, nimdeɛ so mfaso sen dwetɛ, na nea efi mu ba sen sikakɔkɔɔ.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 Ne bo yɛ den sen bota; na worentumi mfa wʼapɛde biara ntoto no ho.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto 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 honour.
17 Nʼakwan yɛ ahomeka, na nʼanammɔnkwan nyinaa yɛ asomdwoe.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
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 upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19 Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na ntease mu na ɔde ɔsoro tim hɔ.
The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20 Efi ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebun mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ obosu.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 Me ba, fa atemmu pa ne nhumu sie, na mma emfi wʼani so;
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, nnwinne a ɛma wo kɔn anuonyam wie pɛyɛ.
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan renhintiw;
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bekum.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛe a ɛba amumɔyɛfo so,
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 efisɛ Awurade bɛwɔ wʼafa na ɔbɛkora wo nan afi afiri mu.
For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, bere a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28 Nka nkyerɛ wo yɔnko se: “Kɔ na bra; mede bɛma wo ɔkyena” wɔ bere a wowɔ no saa bere no.
Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29 Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko bere a ɔne wo te yiye.
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Mmɔ obi sobo kwa bere a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara ɛ.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfo, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 efisɛ Awurade kyi basabasayɛfo na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔtreneeni mu.
For the froward is abomination to 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 just.
34 Odi fɛwdifo a wɔyɛ ahantan no ho fɛw, na ɔdom ahobrɛasefo ne wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so no.
Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 Anyansafo benya anuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafo de, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
