Mmebusɛm 7
1 Me ba, fa me nsɛm sie na kora mʼahyɛde wɔ wo mu.
My son, accept what I say and value my instructions.
2 Di mʼahyɛde so na wubenya nkwa; bɔ me nkyerɛkyerɛ ho ban sɛ nea wodɔ no.
Do what I tell you and you will live. Observe my teachings, valuing them as your main focus in life.
3 Kyekyere bɔ wo nsateaa ho; kyerɛw no yiye gu wo koma pon so.
Tie them to your fingers; write them in your mind.
4 Ka kyerɛ nyansa se, “Woyɛ me nuabea,” na frɛ ntease wo busuani;
Tell wisdom, “You're my sister,” and call insight your best friend.
5 Wɔbɛtwe wo afi ɔbeawaresɛefo ho, afi ɔbeawarefo huhuni nsɛmmɔdɛ ho.
They will protect you from the immoral woman, from the prostitute with her seductive words.
6 Me fi mfɛnsere ano, mede mʼani faa mfɛnsere mu.
One time I looked through the lattice of the window in my house,
7 Mihuu wɔ ntetekwaafo mu, mehyɛɛ mmerante no mu baako nsow, ɔbabun a onni adwene.
and I saw among the immature young men one who had no sense at all.
8 Na ɔnam borɔn a ɛbɛn ɔbea no fi so a nʼani kyerɛ ɔbea no fi
He was walking down the street near the corner where she lived and took the road passing her house.
9 bere a onwini redwo, na anim rebiribiri no.
It was at dusk in the evening, as the light was fading and the dark night closed in.
10 Afei ɔbea bi fi behyiaa no a wasiesie ne ho sɛ oguamanfo a nnaadaa wɔ ne koma mu.
Then out came a woman came to meet him. She was dressed as a prostitute and had deceptive intentions.
11 (Ɔyɛ hyirenn na hwee mfa ne ho, ɔntena fie koraa;
(She was loud and provocative, never wanting to stay at home.
12 nnɛ wohu no mmɔnten so, ɔkyena na ɔte aguabɔbea, ɔtetɛw wɔ mmantwea mmantwea.)
One moment she'd be walking the streets, the next she'd be there in the town squares, loitering at every corner.)
13 Osoo ne mu few nʼano, wamfɛre, na ɔkae se,
She grabbed hold of him and kissed him, and with a bold face she told him,
14 “Mewɔ asomdwoe afɔrebɔde wɔ fie; nnɛ madi me bɔhyɛ so.
“I sacrificed my peace offering today, and paid my vows.
15 Enti mebae sɛ merebehyia wo; mehwehwɛɛ wo na mahu wo!
That's why I came out to meet you. I was looking for you and now I've found you!
16 Mato me mpa, mede nwera a wɔahyɛ no aduru a efi Misraim.
My bed is made, covered with colorful linens from Egypt.
17 Mede nnuhuam apete me mpa so: kurobow, pɛprɛ ne dupapo.
I've sprinkled perfume on my bed—myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Bra, ma yɛmfa ɔdɔ mmɔ ɔdɔ mu nkosi anɔpa;
Come with me, let's make love until the morning. Let's enjoy one another in our love-making!
19 Me kunu nni fie; watu kwan na ɔbɛkyɛ.
My husband isn't home; he's gone on a long trip.
20 Ɔde sika a ɛdɔɔso hyɛɛ ne sika kotoku ma na ɔremma kosi ɔsram no kurokumatwa bere mu.”
He took a bag of money with him, and he won't be coming back until the full moon.”
21 Ɔde tɛkrɛmakyene bɔɔ no adafa; ɔde nnaadaa nyaa no ne no dae.
She convinced him with all that she said; she seduced him with her smooth talking.
22 Odii nʼakyi prɛko pɛ te sɛ nantwi a ɔrekɔ akumii, anaa ɔwansan a ɔde ne ti rekɔhyɛ hankare fi mu
He followed her right away, like an ox to the slaughter. Like a stag that's caught in a snare
23 kosi sɛ bɛmma bɛwɔ ne brɛbo mu, te sɛ anomaa a ɔrekɔtɔ anomaa afiri mu na onnim sɛ ɔbɛhwere ne nkwa.
until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird flying into a trap, he's unaware he will pay with his life.
24 Na afei, me mma, muntie me; monyɛ aso mma nea meka.
So now listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to what I'm saying.
25 Mommma mo koma mpatiri nkɔ no so na momman mmfa nʼakwan so.
Don't even think about following her. Don't stray down her road.
26 Bebree na wɔnam no so ahwehwe ase; wɔn a wakum wɔn dɔɔso pa ara.
For she has brought down and destroyed a lot of men; she's killed so many.
