Mmɛbusɛm 2
1 Me ba, sɛ wotie me nsɛm, na woma me nkyerɛkyerɛ tena wo mu a,
My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
2 sɛ wowɛn wʼaso ma nyansa na wode wʼakoma ma nteaseɛ,
if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,
3 na woma wo nne so frɛ nhunumu na wosu frɛ nteaseɛ,
if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,
4 na sɛ wohwehwɛ no te sɛ deɛ wohwehwɛ dwetɛ na wo hwehwɛ no sɛdeɛ worepɛ ademudeɛ a ahinta a,
if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure,
5 ɛno na wobɛte Awurade suro ase na woahunu Onyankopɔn ho nimdeɛ.
then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.
6 Awurade ma nimdeɛ, na nʼanom na nyansa ne nteaseɛ firi ba.
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 Ɔkora nkonimdie ma wɔn a wɔteneɛ, ɔyɛ kyɛm ma wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ pɛ,
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,
8 ɔwɛn deɛ ɔtene akwan, na ɔbɔ wɔn a wɔdi no nokorɛ no akwan ho ban.
to guard the paths of justice and protect 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 discern righteousness and justice and equity—every good path.
10 Afei nyansa bɛwura wʼakoma mu, na nimdeɛ ayɛ ahomeka ama wo kra.
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul.
11 Adwene bɛbɔ wo ho ban na nteaseɛ ahwɛ wo so.
Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard 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 man who speaks perversity,
13 na wɔmane firi akwan pa so kɔnante esum akwan so,
from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 wɔn a wɔn ani gye bɔneyɛ ho, na wɔdi ahurisie wɔ bɔne mu basabasayɛ ho,
from those who enjoy doing evil and rejoice in the twistedness of evil,
15 wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye na wɔyɛ abonsamfoɔ wɔ wɔn akwan mu.
whose paths are crooked and whose ways are devious.
16 Nimdeɛ bɛgye wo afiri ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ no nsam, afiri ɔbaa warefoɔ sansani a ɔka nnaadaasɛm ho,
It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words
17 deɛ wagyaa ne mmabaawaberɛ mu kunu na wapo apam a ɔyɛɛ wɔ Onyankopɔn anim no.
who abandons the partner 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 sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.
19 Obiara a ɔkɔ ne nkyɛn no nsane mma anaasɛ ɔrensi nkwa akwan so.
None who go to her return or negotiate the paths of life.
20 Enti wobɛdi nnipa pa anammɔn akyi na woanante ateneneefoɔ akwan so.
So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to 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 inhabit the land, and the blameless 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, and the unfaithful will be uprooted.
