Mmebusɛm 6
1 Me ba, sɛ woadi akagyinamu ama ɔyɔnko bi, sɛ wode wo biribi asi awowa ama obi,
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,
2 sɛ nea wokae ayi ka ama wo na sɛ wʼano asɛm afiri ayi wo a,
if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth,
3 ɛno de yɛ eyi, me ba, na fa tetew wo ho, sɛ ɔyɔnko nsa aka wo no nti: fa ahobrɛase kɔ nʼanim; na kɔ so pa wo yɔnko no kyɛw!
then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor.
4 Mma wʼani nkum na ntɔ nko.
Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.
5 Gye wo ho, sɛnea ɔforote guan fi ɔbɔmmɔfo nsam anaa sɛnea anomaa guan fi ofirisumfo afiri mu no.
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 Ɔkwadwofo, kɔ ɔtɛtea nkyɛn; hwɛ nʼakwan, na hu nyansa!
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.
7 Onni ɔsahene, onni ɔhwɛfo anaa sodifo bi,
Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler,
8 nanso ɔde aduan sie wɔ ahuhurubere mu, ɔboaboa nnuan ano wɔ twabere.
it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
9 Wo, ɔkwadwofo, wobɛda akosi da bɛn? Wubenyan bere bɛn?
How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 Nna kakra, nkotɔ kakra, nsa a woabobɔw de rehome kakra,
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 ɛbɛma ohia aba wo so sɛ ɔkwanmukafo na ahokyere atow akyere wo sɛnea okura otuo.
and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
12 Onipa teta ne ohuhuni a odi atoro kyin,
A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,
13 nea obu nʼani, na ɔde ne nan yɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne na ɔde ne nsateaa kyerɛkyerɛ ade,
winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.
14 nea ɔde ne koma mu nnaadaa bɔ pɔw bɔne, na ɔde mpaapaemu ba bere biara.
With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.
15 Ɛno nti amanehunu bɛba no so prɛko pɛ; wɔbɛsɛe no mpofirim, a wɔrenya ano aduru.
Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.
16 Nneɛma asia na Awurade mpɛ, nneɛma ason na ɛyɛ nʼakyiwade:
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
17 ani a ɛtra ntɔn, atoro tɛkrɛma, nsa a ɛka mogya a edi bem gu,
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 koma a edwen amumɔyɛ ho, anan a etutu mmirika kɔyɛ bɔne,
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,
19 ɔdansekurumni a odi atoro ne onipa a ɔde mpaapaemu ba anuanom mu.
a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
20 Me ba, tie wʼagya ahyɛde na nnyaa wo na nkyerɛkyerɛ mu.
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Fa kyekyere wo koma ho daa; na fa kyekyere wɔ kɔn mu.
Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck.
22 Wonantew a, ɛbɛkyerɛ wo kwan; sɛ woda a, ɛbɛwɛn wo; sɛ wunyan a, ɛbɛkasa akyerɛ wo.
When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 Na saa ahyɛde yi yɛ kanea saa nkyerɛkyerɛ yi yɛ hann, na ahohyɛso nteɛso yi yɛ nkwa kwan,
For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,
24 ɛtwe wo fi ɔbea a onni suban pa no ho, fi ɔbeawarefo huhuni tɛkrɛmadɛ ho.
to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
25 Mma wo kɔn nnɔ nʼahoɔfɛ, mma nʼani akyideda no ntwetwe wo,
Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
26 efisɛ oguamanfo ma wʼanuonyam yɛ sɛ brodosin, na obi yere gyigye wo kɔ owu mu.
For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.
27 Obi betumi asɔ gya agu ne srɛ so a nhyew nʼatade ana?
Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?
28 Obi betumi anantew nnyansramma so a mpumpunnya mmobɔ nʼanan ho ana?
Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?
29 Saa na ɔbarima a ɔne ɔbarima foforo yere da no te; obiara a ɔde ne nsa bɛka no no, remfa ne ho nni da.
So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
30 Nnipa mmu ɔkorɔmfo a wakowia ade animtiaa sɛ ɔkɔm de no na ɔde rekodwudwo ano nti.
Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger.
31 Mmom, sɛ wɔkyere no a, ɛsɛ sɛ otua mmɔho ason; sɛ ɛbɛma wahwere ne fi agyapade nyinaa mpo a.
Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.
32 Ɔbarima a ɔsɛe aware no nni adwene; obiara a ɔyɛ saa no sɛe ne ho.
He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Ɔhwe ne animguase na obenya, na nʼahohora rempepa da.
Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away.
34 Ninkutwe hwanyan okunu abufuw na sɛ ɔtɔ were a, ahummɔbɔ biara nni mu.
For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.
35 Ɔrennye mpata biara; na ɔbɛpo adanmude, sɛ ɛso sɛ dɛn mpo a.
He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.
