Mmebusɛm 3
1 Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfi me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara wɔ wo koma mu,
My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart keep my commandments;
2 na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfe bebree na ɛde yiyedi abrɛ wo.
For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they increase unto thee.
3 Mma adɔe ne nokware mmfi wo nkyɛn fa yan wo kɔn mu kyerɛw gu wo koma pon so.
Let kindness and truth not forsake thee; bind them about thy throat; write them upon the table of thy heart:
4 Na wubenya adom ne din pa wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the eyes 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 thy heart: and upon thy own understanding do not rely.
6 hu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu, na ɔbɛteɛ wʼakwan.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make level thy paths.
7 Nnye wo ho nni sɛ woyɛ onyansafo; suro Awurade na kyi bɔne.
Be not wise in thy own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo nipadua, na ayɛ aduan ama wo nnompe.
It will be healing to thy body, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade anuonyam, ne wo nnɔbae a edi kan nyinaa;
Honor the Lord with thy wealth, and with the first-fruits of all thy products:
10 na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so, na nsa foforo abu afa wʼahina so.
So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and with new wine shall thy presses overflow.
11 Me ba, sɛ Awurade teɛ wo so a, tie no yiye, na mmu nʼanimka so,
The correction of the Lord, my son, do not despise; and feel no loathing for his admonition;
12 Efisɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛnea agya teɛ ɔba a ɔdɔ no no.
Because whomever the Lord loveth he admonisheth; and as a father who delighteth in [his] son.
13 Nhyira nka onipa a ohu nyansa, onipa a onya ntease,
Happy the man that hath found wisdom, and the man that acquireth understanding.
14 efisɛ, nimdeɛ so mfaso sen dwetɛ, na nea efi mu ba sen sikakɔkɔɔ.
For the obtaining of her is better than the obtaining of silver, and better than fine gold is her product.
15 Ne bo yɛ den sen bota; na worentumi mfa wʼapɛde biara ntoto no ho.
She is more precious than pearls; and all the things thou valuest are not equal 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: in her left are riches and honor.
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.
A tree of life is she to those that lay hold on her: and every one that firmly graspeth her will be made happy.
19 Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na ntease mu na ɔde ɔsoro tim hɔ.
The Lord hath through wisdom founded the earth: he hath established the heavens through understanding.
20 Efi ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebun mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ obosu.
By his knowledge were the depths split open, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 Me ba, fa atemmu pa ne nhumu sie, na mma emfi wʼani so;
My son, let them not be removed from thy eyes; keep [before thee] sound wisdom and discretion:
22 ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, nnwinne a ɛma wo kɔn anuonyam wie pɛyɛ.
And they will be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy throat.
23 Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan renhintiw;
Then wilt thou walk in safety on thy way, and thy foot will not strike [against aught]:
24 sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bekum.
When thou layest thyself down, thou shalt feel no dread; and as thou liest down, thy sleep shall be pleasant.
25 Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛe a ɛba amumɔyɛfo so,
Thou needest not to be afraid of sudden dread, neither of the [unlooked-for] tempest over the wicked, when it cometh.
26 efisɛ Awurade bɛwɔ wʼafa na ɔbɛkora wo nan afi afiri mu.
For the Lord will be thy confidence, and he will guard thy foot from being caught.
27 Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, bere a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
Withhold not a benefit from him who is deserving it, when it is in the power of thy 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 neighbor, Go, and return, and tomorrow will I give: when thou hast it by thee.
29 Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko bere a ɔne wo te yiye.
Contrive not against thy neighbor any evil, when he dwelleth in safety with thee.
30 Mmɔ obi sobo kwa bere a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara ɛ.
Quarrel not with any man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfo, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
32 efisɛ Awurade kyi basabasayɛfo na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔtreneeni mu.
For the froward is an abomination to the Lord; but with the upright is his good-will.
33 Awurade nnome wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi so, na ohyira ɔtreneeni fi.
The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked; but the habitation of the righteous will he bless.
34 Odi fɛwdifo a wɔyɛ ahantan no ho fɛw, na ɔdom ahobrɛasefo ne wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so no.
If [it concern] the scornful he will himself render them a scorn; but unto the lowly doth he give grace.
35 Anyansafo benya anuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafo de, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
The wise shall inherit glory; but fools shall obtain disgrace as their portion.
