Mmɛbusɛm 2
1 Me ba, sɛ wotie me nsɛm, na woma me nkyerɛkyerɛ tena wo mu a,
My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you,
2 sɛ wowɛn wʼaso ma nyansa na wode wʼakoma ma nteaseɛ,
so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;
3 na woma wo nne so frɛ nhunumu na wosu frɛ nteaseɛ,
yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;
4 na sɛ wohwehwɛ no te sɛ deɛ wohwehwɛ dwetɛ na wo hwehwɛ no sɛdeɛ worepɛ ademudeɛ a ahinta a,
if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 ɛno na wobɛte Awurade suro ase na woahunu Onyankopɔn ho nimdeɛ.
then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 Awurade ma nimdeɛ, na nʼanom na nyansa ne nteaseɛ firi ba.
For the LORD gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
7 Ɔkora nkonimdie ma wɔn a wɔteneɛ, ɔyɛ kyɛm ma wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ pɛ,
He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 ɔwɛn deɛ ɔtene akwan, na ɔbɔ wɔn a wɔdi no nokorɛ no akwan ho ban.
that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.
9 Ɛno na wobɛte deɛ ɛyɛ ne deɛ ɛyɛ pɛ ne deɛ ɛfata, ɛkwan biara a ɛyɛ ase.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.
10 Afei nyansa bɛwura wʼakoma mu, na nimdeɛ ayɛ ahomeka ama wo kra.
For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Adwene bɛbɔ wo ho ban na nteaseɛ ahwɛ wo so.
Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,
12 Nyansa bɛyi wo afiri amumuyɛfoɔ akwan mu, ɛbɛyi wo afiri nnipa a wɔn nsɛm yɛ basabasa nsam,
to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things,
13 na wɔmane firi akwan pa so kɔnante esum akwan so,
who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 wɔn a wɔn ani gye bɔneyɛ ho, na wɔdi ahurisie wɔ bɔne mu basabasayɛ ho,
who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil,
15 wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye na wɔyɛ abonsamfoɔ wɔ wɔn akwan mu.
who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths,
16 Nimdeɛ bɛgye wo afiri ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ no nsam, afiri ɔbaa warefoɔ sansani a ɔka nnaadaasɛm ho,
to deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words,
17 deɛ wagyaa ne mmabaawaberɛ mu kunu na wapo apam a ɔyɛɛ wɔ Onyankopɔn anim no.
who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God;
18 Ne fie yɛ ɛkwan a ɛkɔ owuo mu na nʼakwan kɔ awufoɔ honhom nkyɛn.
for her house leads down to death, her paths to the departed spirits.
19 Obiara a ɔkɔ ne nkyɛn no nsane mma anaasɛ ɔrensi nkwa akwan so.
None who go to her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life.
20 Enti wobɛdi nnipa pa anammɔn akyi na woanante ateneneefoɔ akwan so.
Therefore walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
21 Ɛfiri sɛ wɔn a wɔtene bɛtena asase no so, na wɔn a asɛm nni wɔn ho no na wɔbɛka hɔ;
For the upright will dwell in the land. The perfect will remain in it.
22 na wɔbɛtwa amumuyɛfoɔ afiri asase no so, na wɔatɔre atorofoɔ ase.
But the wicked will be cut off from the land. The treacherous will be rooted out of it.
