Mmebusɛm 5
1 Me ba, yɛ aso ma me nyansa; tie me nhumu nsɛm no yiye,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding,
2 sɛnea ɛbɛma woahwɛ yiye, na wʼano akora nimdeɛ.
that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 Efisɛ ɔbea aguaman ano sosɔ ɛwo, na ne kasa yɛ fɔmm sen ngo;
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,
4 nanso awiei no, ɛyɛ nwen sen bɔnwoma, ɛyɛ nam sɛ afoa anofanu.
but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
6 Onsusuw ɔkwan a ɛkɔ nkwa mu ho; nʼakwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, nanso onnim.
She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.
7 Enti afei, me mma, muntie me; Monntwe mo ho mmfi nea meka ho.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Ɔkwan a ɛmmɛn no no na momfa so; mommmɛn ne fi pon ano,
Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,
9 anyɛ saa a, mode mo ahoɔden bɛma afoforo na mode mo mfe ama otirimɔdenfo,
lest you give your honour to others, and your years to the cruel one;
10 anyɛ saa a, ahɔho bɛfom mo ahonyade na mo brɛ de ahonya akɔ afoforo fi.
lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labours enrich another man’s house.
11 Mo nkwanna akyi, mubesi apini, bere a mo honam ne mo nipadua asa no.
You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,
12 Na moaka se, “Na mikyi ahohyɛso! Me koma ampɛ nteɛso!
and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.
13 Manyɛ osetie amma mʼakyerɛkyerɛfo na mantie me kwankyerɛfo asɛm.
I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!
14 Madu ɔsɛe ano wɔ asafo no nyinaa mu.”
I have come to the brink of utter ruin, amongst the gathered assembly.”
15 Nom nsu fi wʼankasa ahina mu, nsu a ɛteɛ fi wʼankasa abura mu.
Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.
16 So ɛsɛ sɛ wʼasuti yiri fa mmɔnten so na wo nsuwa kokɔ ɔman aguabɔbea ana?
Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?
17 Ma ɛnyɛ wo nko ara de, a wo ne ahɔho nkyɛ da.
Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.
18 Nhyira nka wʼasubura na wʼani nnye wo mmrantebere mu yere ho.
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 Ɔte sɛ ɔtwe bere dɔfo, ɔwansan nuonyamfo; ma ne nufu nsɔ wʼani daa na ne dɔ nkyekyere wo.
A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
20 Me ba, adɛn nti na woma ɔbea aguaman kyekyere wo? Adɛn nti na woda ɔbarima foforo bi yere kokom?
For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?
21 Awurade hu onipa akwan nyinaa, na ɔhwehwɛ ne nyinaa mu.
For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths.
22 Omumɔyɛfo nnebɔne sum no afiri; na ne bɔne ahama kyekyere no papee.
The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
23 Wobewu, esiane ahohyɛso a wonni nti, na wɔayera, esiane wɔn agyennyentwisɛm nti.
He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.
