Mmebusɛm 6
1 Me ba, sɛ woadi akagyinamu ama ɔyɔnko bi, sɛ wode wo biribi asi awowa ama obi,
My son, if thou hast become surety for another, If thou hast stricken hands for another,
2 sɛ nea wokae ayi ka ama wo na sɛ wʼano asɛm afiri ayi wo a,
If thou hast become ensnared by the words of thy mouth, If thou hast been caught by the words of thy 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!
Do this now, my son, and rescue thyself, —Since thou hast fallen into the hands of thy neighbor, —Go, prostrate thyself, and be urgent with thy neighbor!
4 Mma wʼani nkum na ntɔ nko.
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids;
5 Gye wo ho, sɛnea ɔforote guan fi ɔbɔmmɔfo nsam anaa sɛnea anomaa guan fi ofirisumfo afiri mu no.
Rescue thyself, as a roe from the hand, And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Ɔkwadwofo, kɔ ɔtɛtea nkyɛn; hwɛ nʼakwan, na hu nyansa!
Go to the ant, O sluggard! Consider her ways, and be wise!
7 Onni ɔsahene, onni ɔhwɛfo anaa sodifo bi,
She hath no governor, Nor overseer, nor ruler;
8 nanso ɔde aduan sie wɔ ahuhurubere mu, ɔboaboa nnuan ano wɔ twabere.
Yet she prepareth in the summer her food, She gathereth in the harvest her meat.
9 Wo, ɔkwadwofo, wobɛda akosi da bɛn? Wubenyan bere bɛn?
How long wilt thou lie in bed, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise from thy 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.
So shall thy poverty come upon thee like a robber, Yea, thy want, as an armed man!
12 Onipa teta ne ohuhuni a odi atoro kyin,
A worthless wretch is the unrighteous man, Who walketh with a deceitful mouth;
13 nea obu nʼani, na ɔde ne nan yɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne na ɔde ne nsateaa kyerɛkyerɛ ade,
Who winketh with his eyes, Speaketh with his feet, And teacheth with his fingers.
14 nea ɔde ne koma mu nnaadaa bɔ pɔw bɔne, na ɔde mpaapaemu ba bere biara.
Fraud is in his heart; He deviseth mischief continually; He scattereth contentions.
15 Ɛno nti amanehunu bɛba no so prɛko pɛ; wɔbɛsɛe no mpofirim, a wɔrenya ano aduru.
Therefore shall calamity come upon him suddenly; In a moment shall he be destroyed, and that without remedy;
16 Nneɛma asia na Awurade mpɛ, nneɛma ason na ɛyɛ nʼakyiwade:
These six things doth the LORD hate; Yea, seven are an abomination to him:
17 ani a ɛtra ntɔn, atoro tɛkrɛma, nsa a ɛka mogya a edi bem gu,
Lofty eyes, a false tongue, And hands which shed innocent blood;
18 koma a edwen amumɔyɛ ho, anan a etutu mmirika kɔyɛ bɔne,
A heart that contriveth wicked devices; Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
19 ɔdansekurumni a odi atoro ne onipa a ɔde mpaapaemu ba anuanom mu.
A false witness, that uttereth lies, And him that soweth discord among brethren.
20 Me ba, tie wʼagya ahyɛde na nnyaa wo na nkyerɛkyerɛ mu.
Keep, O my son! the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the precepts of thy mother!
21 Fa kyekyere wo koma ho daa; na fa kyekyere wɔ kɔn mu.
Bind them continually to thy heart, Tie them around thy neck!
22 Wonantew a, ɛbɛkyerɛ wo kwan; sɛ woda a, ɛbɛwɛn wo; sɛ wunyan a, ɛbɛkasa akyerɛ wo.
When thou goest forth, they shall guide thee; When thou sleepest, they shall watch over thee; And, when thou awakest, they shall talk with thee.
23 Na saa ahyɛde yi yɛ kanea saa nkyerɛkyerɛ yi yɛ hann, na ahohyɛso nteɛso yi yɛ nkwa kwan,
For the commandment is a lamp, and instruction a light; Yea, the rebukes of correction lead to life.
24 ɛtwe wo fi ɔbea a onni suban pa no ho, fi ɔbeawarefo huhuni tɛkrɛmadɛ ho.
They shall guard thee from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the unchaste woman.
25 Mma wo kɔn nnɔ nʼahoɔfɛ, mma nʼani akyideda no ntwetwe wo,
Desire not her beauty in thy heart, Nor let her catch thee with her eyelids;
26 efisɛ oguamanfo ma wʼanuonyam yɛ sɛ brodosin, na obi yere gyigye wo kɔ owu mu.
For by a harlot a man is brought to a morsel of bread, And the adulteress layeth snares for the precious life.
27 Obi betumi asɔ gya agu ne srɛ so a nhyew nʼatade ana?
Can a man take fire into his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
28 Obi betumi anantew nnyansramma so a mpumpunnya mmobɔ nʼanan ho ana?
Can one walk upon burning coals, And his feet not be scorched?
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 it with him who goeth in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever toucheth her shall not go unpunished.
30 Nnipa mmu ɔkorɔmfo a wakowia ade animtiaa sɛ ɔkɔm de no na ɔde rekodwudwo ano nti.
Men do not overlook a thief, Though he steal to satisfy his appetite, when he is hungry;
31 Mmom, sɛ wɔkyere no a, ɛsɛ sɛ otua mmɔho ason; sɛ ɛbɛma wahwere ne fi agyapade nyinaa mpo a.
If found, he must repay sevenfold, And give up all the substance of his house.
32 Ɔbarima a ɔsɛe aware no nni adwene; obiara a ɔyɛ saa no sɛe ne ho.
Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding; He that doeth it destroyeth himself;
33 Ɔhwe ne animguase na obenya, na nʼahohora rempepa da.
Blows and dishonor shall he get, And his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34 Ninkutwe hwanyan okunu abufuw na sɛ ɔtɔ were a, ahummɔbɔ biara nni mu.
For jealousy is the fury of a man; He will not spare in the day of vengeance;
35 Ɔrennye mpata biara; na ɔbɛpo adanmude, sɛ ɛso sɛ dɛn mpo a.
And he will not pay regard to any ransom, Nor be content, though thou offer many gifts.
