Mmebusɛm 6
1 Me ba, sɛ woadi akagyinamu ama ɔyɔnko bi, sɛ wode wo biribi asi awowa ama obi,
My son, suppose you have pledged to guarantee your neighbor's debt, or you have shaken hands in agreement with a stranger,
2 sɛ nea wokae ayi ka ama wo na sɛ wʼano asɛm afiri ayi wo a,
then you've trapped yourself by what you promised, you've been caught by what you said.
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!
So this is what you have to do. You need to get out of it, because you've put yourself in that person's power. Go to your neighbor in all humility and ask him to release you from the commitment.
4 Mma wʼani nkum na ntɔ nko.
Don't delay, saying that you'll sleep on it. Don't rest until you've done it.
5 Gye wo ho, sɛnea ɔforote guan fi ɔbɔmmɔfo nsam anaa sɛnea anomaa guan fi ofirisumfo afiri mu no.
Get out of it like a gazelle escaping from a trap, like a bird from a bird-catcher's net.
6 Ɔkwadwofo, kɔ ɔtɛtea nkyɛn; hwɛ nʼakwan, na hu nyansa!
Go and observe the ants, you slacker! Learn from what they do and become wise.
7 Onni ɔsahene, onni ɔhwɛfo anaa sodifo bi,
They don't have a leader, an officer, or a ruler,
8 nanso ɔde aduan sie wɔ ahuhurubere mu, ɔboaboa nnuan ano wɔ twabere.
yet they work hard during the summer getting their food, gathering what they need during the harvest.
9 Wo, ɔkwadwofo, wobɛda akosi da bɛn? Wubenyan bere bɛn?
So how long are you going to lie there, you slacker? When are you going to get up from your sleep?
10 Nna kakra, nkotɔ kakra, nsa a woabobɔw de rehome kakra,
You may say, “Please, just a little more sleep, a little longer snooze, a little more folding of the arms to rest”—
11 ɛbɛma ohia aba wo so sɛ ɔkwanmukafo na ahokyere atow akyere wo sɛnea okura otuo.
and poverty will attack you like a robber, destitution like an armed warrior.
12 Onipa teta ne ohuhuni a odi atoro kyin,
Rebellious and wicked people go around telling lies,
13 nea obu nʼani, na ɔde ne nan yɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne na ɔde ne nsateaa kyerɛkyerɛ ade,
winking slyly, giving sneaky foot gestures, rudely pointing with their fingers.
14 nea ɔde ne koma mu nnaadaa bɔ pɔw bɔne, na ɔde mpaapaemu ba bere biara.
Their warped minds plot evil schemes; they're always causing trouble.
15 Ɛno nti amanehunu bɛba no so prɛko pɛ; wɔbɛsɛe no mpofirim, a wɔrenya ano aduru.
As a result, disaster falls suddenly on such people; in just a moment they're destroyed without hope of healing.
16 Nneɛma asia na Awurade mpɛ, nneɛma ason na ɛyɛ nʼakyiwade:
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven things that he absolutely detests:
17 ani a ɛtra ntɔn, atoro tɛkrɛma, nsa a ɛka mogya a edi bem gu,
arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that murder the innocent,
18 koma a edwen amumɔyɛ ho, anan a etutu mmirika kɔyɛ bɔne,
a mind that plots evil schemes, feet that hurriedly run to do wrong,
19 ɔdansekurumni a odi atoro ne onipa a ɔde mpaapaemu ba anuanom mu.
a false witness that speaks lies, those who caused arguments in families.
20 Me ba, tie wʼagya ahyɛde na nnyaa wo na nkyerɛkyerɛ mu.
My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
21 Fa kyekyere wo koma ho daa; na fa kyekyere wɔ kɔn mu.
Keep them always in mind. Tie them around your neck.
22 Wonantew a, ɛbɛkyerɛ wo kwan; sɛ woda a, ɛbɛwɛn wo; sɛ wunyan a, ɛbɛkasa akyerɛ wo.
They will lead you as you walk along; they will watch over you as you sleep; when you wake up they will talk with you.
23 Na saa ahyɛde yi yɛ kanea saa nkyerɛkyerɛ yi yɛ hann, na ahohyɛso nteɛso yi yɛ nkwa kwan,
For the instruction is a lamp, and the teaching is a light. The correction that comes from discipline is the way to life.
24 ɛtwe wo fi ɔbea a onni suban pa no ho, fi ɔbeawarefo huhuni tɛkrɛmadɛ ho.
It will protect you from an evil woman and the seductive words of a prostitute.
25 Mma wo kɔn nnɔ nʼahoɔfɛ, mma nʼani akyideda no ntwetwe wo,
Don't let your mind lust after her beauty, or let her hypnotize you with her fluttering eyelashes.
26 efisɛ oguamanfo ma wʼanuonyam yɛ sɛ brodosin, na obi yere gyigye wo kɔ owu mu.
You can buy a prostitute for the price of a loaf of bread, but adultery with another man's wife can cost you your life.
27 Obi betumi asɔ gya agu ne srɛ so a nhyew nʼatade ana?
Can you put fire in your lap and not burn your clothes?
28 Obi betumi anantew nnyansramma so a mpumpunnya mmobɔ nʼanan ho ana?
Can you walk on hot coals and not scorch your 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.
It's the same for anyone who sleeps with another man's wife. No one who touches her will remain unpunished.
30 Nnipa mmu ɔkorɔmfo a wakowia ade animtiaa sɛ ɔkɔm de no na ɔde rekodwudwo ano nti.
People don't condemn a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he's hungry.
31 Mmom, sɛ wɔkyere no a, ɛsɛ sɛ otua mmɔho ason; sɛ ɛbɛma wahwere ne fi agyapade nyinaa mpo a.
But if he's caught, he has to pay back seven times what he stole, even if it means handing over everything he has in his house.
32 Ɔbarima a ɔsɛe aware no nni adwene; obiara a ɔyɛ saa no sɛe ne ho.
Any man who commits adultery with a woman has no sense; he who does so destroys himself.
33 Ɔhwe ne animguase na obenya, na nʼahohora rempepa da.
He will be wounded and dishonored. His disgrace will never be removed.
34 Ninkutwe hwanyan okunu abufuw na sɛ ɔtɔ were a, ahummɔbɔ biara nni mu.
For jealousy makes a husband furious, and he won't hold back when he takes revenge.
35 Ɔrennye mpata biara; na ɔbɛpo adanmude, sɛ ɛso sɛ dɛn mpo a.
He refuses any compensation, and won't be paid off, however big the amount.
