Mmebusɛm 7
1 Me ba, fa me nsɛm sie na kora mʼahyɛde wɔ wo mu.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,
2 Di mʼahyɛde so na wubenya nkwa; bɔ me nkyerɛkyerɛ ho ban sɛ nea wodɔ no.
Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:
3 Kyekyere bɔ wo nsateaa ho; kyerɛw no yiye gu wo koma pon so.
Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.
4 Ka kyerɛ nyansa se, “Woyɛ me nuabea,” na frɛ ntease wo busuani;
Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,
5 Wɔbɛtwe wo afi ɔbeawaresɛefo ho, afi ɔbeawarefo huhuni nsɛmmɔdɛ ho.
That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her words.
6 Me fi mfɛnsere ano, mede mʼani faa mfɛnsere mu.
For I look out of the window of my house through the lattice,
7 Mihuu wɔ ntetekwaafo mu, mehyɛɛ mmerante no mu baako nsow, ɔbabun a onni adwene.
And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,
8 Na ɔnam borɔn a ɛbɛn ɔbea no fi so a nʼani kyerɛ ɔbea no fi
Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house.
9 bere a onwini redwo, na anim rebiribiri no.
In the dark, when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night,
10 Afei ɔbea bi fi behyiaa no a wasiesie ne ho sɛ oguamanfo a nnaadaa wɔ ne koma mu.
And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot’s attire prepared to deceive souls; talkative and wandering,
11 (Ɔyɛ hyirenn na hwee mfa ne ho, ɔntena fie koraa;
Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,
12 nnɛ wohu no mmɔnten so, ɔkyena na ɔte aguabɔbea, ɔtetɛw wɔ mmantwea mmantwea.)
Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.
13 Osoo ne mu few nʼano, wamfɛre, na ɔkae se,
And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:
14 “Mewɔ asomdwoe afɔrebɔde wɔ fie; nnɛ madi me bɔhyɛ so.
I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.
15 Enti mebae sɛ merebehyia wo; mehwehwɛɛ wo na mahu wo!
Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.
16 Mato me mpa, mede nwera a wɔahyɛ no aduru a efi Misraim.
I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought from Egypt.
17 Mede nnuhuam apete me mpa so: kurobow, pɛprɛ ne dupapo.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Bra, ma yɛmfa ɔdɔ mmɔ ɔdɔ mu nkosi anɔpa;
Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear.
19 Me kunu nni fie; watu kwan na ɔbɛkyɛ.
For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.
20 Ɔde sika a ɛdɔɔso hyɛɛ ne sika kotoku ma na ɔremma kosi ɔsram no kurokumatwa bere mu.”
He took with him a bag of money: he mill return home the day of the full moon.
21 Ɔde tɛkrɛmakyene bɔɔ no adafa; ɔde nnaadaa nyaa no ne no dae.
She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.
22 Odii nʼakyi prɛko pɛ te sɛ nantwi a ɔrekɔ akumii, anaa ɔwansan a ɔde ne ti rekɔhyɛ hankare fi mu
Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to bonds,
23 kosi sɛ bɛmma bɛwɔ ne brɛbo mu, te sɛ anomaa a ɔrekɔtɔ anomaa afiri mu na onnim sɛ ɔbɛhwere ne nkwa.
Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.
24 Na afei, me mma, muntie me; monyɛ aso mma nea meka.
Now therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Mommma mo koma mpatiri nkɔ no so na momman mmfa nʼakwan so.
Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.
26 Bebree na wɔnam no so ahwehwe ase; wɔn a wakum wɔn dɔɔso pa ara.
For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.
