Mmebusɛm 3
1 Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfi me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara wɔ wo koma mu,
My son! Do not forget my law, And let your heart keep my commands,
2 na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfe bebree na ɛde yiyedi abrɛ wo.
For [the] length of [your] days and years, Life and peace they add to you.
3 Mma adɔe ne nokware mmfi wo nkyɛn fa yan wo kɔn mu kyerɛw gu wo koma pon so.
Do not let kindness and truth forsake you, Bind them on your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 Na wubenya adom ne din pa wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
5 Fa wo koma nyinaa to Awurade so, na mfa wo ho nto wʼankasa ntease so;
Trust to YHWH with all your heart, And do not lean to your own understanding.
6 hu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu, na ɔbɛteɛ wʼakwan.
In all your ways know Him, And He makes your paths straight.
7 Nnye wo ho nni sɛ woyɛ onyansafo; suro Awurade na kyi bɔne.
Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear YHWH, and turn aside from evil.
8 Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo nipadua, na ayɛ aduan ama wo nnompe.
It is healing to your navel, And moistening to your bones.
9 Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade anuonyam, ne wo nnɔbae a edi kan nyinaa;
Honor YHWH from your substance, And from the beginning of all your increase;
10 na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so, na nsa foforo abu afa wʼahina so.
And your barns are filled [with] plenty, And your presses break forth [with] new wine.
11 Me ba, sɛ Awurade teɛ wo so a, tie no yiye, na mmu nʼanimka so,
Discipline of YHWH, my son, do not despise, And do not be distressed with His reproof,
12 Efisɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛnea agya teɛ ɔba a ɔdɔ no no.
For whom YHWH loves He reproves, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
13 Nhyira nka onipa a ohu nyansa, onipa a onya ntease,
O the blessedness of a man [who] has found wisdom, And of a man [who] brings forth understanding.
14 efisɛ, nimdeɛ so mfaso sen dwetɛ, na nea efi mu ba sen sikakɔkɔɔ.
For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase.
15 Ne bo yɛ den sen bota; na worentumi mfa wʼapɛde biara ntoto no ho.
She [is] precious above rubies, And all your pleasures are not comparable to 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] wealth 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.
She [is] a tree of life to those laying hold on her, And whoever is retaining her [is] blessed.
19 Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na ntease mu na ɔde ɔsoro tim hɔ.
YHWH founded the earth by wisdom, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
20 Efi ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebun mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ obosu.
By His knowledge depths have been broken, And clouds drop dew.
21 Me ba, fa atemmu pa ne nhumu sie, na mma emfi wʼani so;
My son! Do not let them turn from your eyes, Keep wisdom and thoughtfulness,
22 ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, nnwinne a ɛma wo kɔn anuonyam wie pɛyɛ.
And they are life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
23 Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan renhintiw;
Then you go your way confidently, And your foot does not stumble.
24 sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bekum.
If you lie down, you are not afraid, Indeed, you have lain down, And your sleep has been sweet.
25 Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛe a ɛba amumɔyɛfo so,
Do not be afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it comes.
26 efisɛ Awurade bɛwɔ wʼafa na ɔbɛkora wo nan afi afiri mu.
For YHWH is at your side, And He has kept your foot from capture.
27 Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, bere a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
Do not withhold good from its owners, When your hand [is] toward God to do [it].
28 Nka nkyerɛ wo yɔnko se: “Kɔ na bra; mede bɛma wo ɔkyena” wɔ bere a wowɔ no saa bere no.
Do not say to your friend, “Go, and return, and tomorrow I give,” When substance [is] with you.
29 Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko bere a ɔne wo te yiye.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, And he sitting confidently with you.
30 Mmɔ obi sobo kwa bere a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara ɛ.
Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has not done you evil.
31 Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfo, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
Do not be envious of a man of violence, Nor fix on any of his ways.
32 efisɛ Awurade kyi basabasayɛfo na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔtreneeni mu.
For the perverted [is] an abomination to YHWH, And His secret counsel [is] with the upright.
33 Awurade nnome wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi so, na ohyira ɔtreneeni fi.
The curse of YHWH [is] in the house of the wicked. And He blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 Odi fɛwdifo a wɔyɛ ahantan no ho fɛw, na ɔdom ahobrɛasefo ne wɔn a wɔhyɛ wɔn so no.
If He scorns the scorners, Yet He gives grace to the humble.
35 Anyansafo benya anuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafo de, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
The wise inherit glory, And fools are bearing away shame!
