Mmebusɛm 3
1 Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfi me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara wɔ wo koma mu,
My son, do not forget my teaching; but let your 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 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 around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Na wubenya adom ne din pa wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
So you will find favor, 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 YHWH with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 hu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu, na ɔbɛteɛ wʼakwan.
In all your ways remember him, and he will make 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 depart from evil.
8 Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo nipadua, na ayɛ aduan ama wo nnompe.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade anuonyam, ne wo nnɔbae a edi kan nyinaa;
Honor YHWH with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:
10 na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so, na nsa foforo abu afa wʼahina so.
so your storehouses will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Me ba, sɛ Awurade teɛ wo so a, tie no yiye, na mmu nʼanimka so,
My son, do not despise the discipline of YHWH, nor resent his correction.
12 Efisɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛnea agya teɛ ɔba a ɔdɔ no no.
For whom YHWH loves he disciplines, and punishes every son he accepts.
13 Nhyira nka onipa a ohu nyansa, onipa a onya ntease,
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 efisɛ, nimdeɛ so mfaso sen dwetɛ, na nea efi mu ba sen sikakɔkɔɔ.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
15 Ne bo yɛ den sen bota; na worentumi mfa wʼapɛde biara ntoto no ho.
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared 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 hand are riches and honor.
17 Nʼakwan yɛ ahomeka, na nʼanammɔnkwan nyinaa yɛ asomdwoe.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. 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 who lay hold of her, and those who hold on to her are blessed
19 Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na ntease mu na ɔde ɔsoro tim hɔ.
By wisdom YHWH founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 Efi ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebun mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ obosu.
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, 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 depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, nnwinne a ɛma wo kɔn anuonyam wie pɛyɛ.
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan renhintiw;
Then you shall walk in your way securely, and your foot won't stumble.
24 sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bekum.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛe a ɛba amumɔyɛfo so,
Do not be afraid of sudden fear, or of the storm of the wicked when it comes:
26 efisɛ Awurade bɛwɔ wʼafa na ɔbɛkora wo nan afi afiri mu.
for YHWH will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, bere a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your 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.
Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you," when you have it by you.
29 Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko bere a ɔne wo te yiye.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.
30 Mmɔ obi sobo kwa bere a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara ɛ.
Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfo, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
Do not envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32 efisɛ Awurade kyi basabasayɛfo na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔtreneeni mu.
For the perverse is an abomination to YHWH, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 Awurade nnome wɔ omumɔyɛfo fi so, na ohyira ɔtreneeni fi.
YHWH's curse is in the house of the wicked, but 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.
Surely he is scornful to scoffers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35 Anyansafo benya anuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafo de, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
