Mmebusɛm 4
1 Me mma, muntie me, muntie agya nkyerɛkyerɛ; monyɛ aso na moanya ntease.
Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Mema mo adesua a ɛkɔ anim, enti munnnyaa me nkyerɛkyerɛ mu.
For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.
3 Efisɛ na me nso, meyɛ mʼagya babarima, meda so yɛ akokoaa no, na me na ani gye me ho.
For I have been a son to my father—tender, And an only one before my mother.
4 Na ɔkyerɛkyerɛɛ me se, “Ma me nsɛm nni wo koma mu dɛm, di me nkyerɛkyerɛ so na wubenya nkwa.
And he directs me, and he says to me: “Let your heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Nya nyansa, nya ntease; mma wo werɛ mfi me nsɛm anaa ntwe wo ho mfi ho.
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 Nnyaw nyansa hɔ, na ɛbɛbɔ wo ho ban; dɔ no, na ɛbɛhwɛ wo so.
Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, Love her, and she keeps you.
7 Nyansa boro biribiara so; enti hwehwɛ nyansa. Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ne bo te sɛ wʼahode nyinaa de, nanso nya ntease.
The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all your getting get understanding.
8 Di no ni na ɛbɛma wo so; yɛ no atuu, na ɛbɛhyɛ wo anuonyam.
Exalt her and she lifts you up, She honors you when you embrace her.
9 Ɔde nkonimdi nhwiren hankare begu wo ti so na wama wo ahenkyɛw a ɛyɛ fɛ.”
She gives a wreath of grace to your head, She gives you a crown of beauty freely.”
10 Me ba, tie na fa nea meka no, na wo nkwanna bɛyɛ bebree.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to you.
11 Mɛkyerɛ wo nyansa kwan so na mede wo afa akwan a ɛteɛ so.
I have directed you in a way of wisdom, I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 Sɛ wonantew a, wʼanammɔntu bɛkɔ waa na sɛ wutu mmirika a, worenhintiw.
In your walking your step is not restricted, And if you run, you do not stumble.
13 Di nkyerɛkyerɛ so; na nnyaa mu, bɔ ho ban yiye, efisɛ ɛyɛ wo nkwa.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] your life.
14 Ntu wo nan nsi amumɔyɛfo kwan so na nnantew abɔnefo kwan so.
Do not enter into the path of the wicked, And do not be blessed in a way of evildoers.
15 Kwati no, ntu kwan mfa so; dan fi so na kɔ wo kwan.
Avoid it, do not pass over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 Efisɛ wɔnyɛɛ bɔne a wontumi nna; na wɔn nna tew yera kosi sɛ wɔbɛma obi ahwe ase.
For they do not sleep if they do no evil, And their sleep has been taken away violently, If they do not cause [some] to stumble.
17 Wodi amumɔyɛsɛm brodo, na wɔnom kitikitiyɛ nsa.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And they drink wine of violence.
18 Atreneefo kwan te sɛ adekyee hann a edi kan, ɛkɔ so hyerɛn yiye kodu awia ketee.
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening until the day is established,
19 Nanso amumɔyɛfo kwan te sɛ sum kabii; wonnim nea ɛma wohintiw.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 Me ba, yɛ aso ma nea meka; tie me nsɛm no yiye.
My son, give attention to my words, Incline your ear to my sayings,
21 Mma emfi wʼani so, fa sie wo koma mu;
Do not let them turn aside from your eyes, Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
22 efisɛ, ɛyɛ nkwa ma wɔn a wohu ne akwahosan ma nipadua no nyinaa.
For they [are] life to those finding them, And healing to all their flesh.
23 Ne nyinaa akyi, bɔ wo koma ho ban, efisɛ, ɛno ne wo nkwa asuti.
Above every charge keep your heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Mma oburu kasa mfi wʼano; mma nkontomposɛm mmɛn wʼano koraa.
Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, And put perverse lips far from you,
25 Hwɛ wʼanim tee, na ma wʼani nkɔ nea ɛwɔ wʼanim no so.
Your eyes look straightforward, And your eyelids look straight before you.
26 Bɔ ɔkwan tamaa ma wʼanan na fa akwan a atim so.
Ponder the path of your feet, And all your ways [are] established.
27 Mman mfa nifa anaa benkum; twe wo nan fi bɔne ho.
Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside your foot from evil!
