Mmɛbusɛm 2
1 Me ba, sɛ wotie me nsɛm, na woma me nkyerɛkyerɛ tena wo mu a,
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my commandments with thee,
2 sɛ wowɛn wʼaso ma nyansa na wode wʼakoma ma nteaseɛ,
That thy ear may hearken to wisdom: Incline thy heart to know prudence:
3 na woma wo nne so frɛ nhunumu na wosu frɛ nteaseɛ,
For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thy heart to prudence:
4 na sɛ wohwehwɛ no te sɛ deɛ wohwehwɛ dwetɛ na wo hwehwɛ no sɛdeɛ worepɛ ademudeɛ a ahinta a,
If thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a treasure:
5 ɛno na wobɛte Awurade suro ase na woahunu Onyankopɔn ho nimdeɛ.
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God.
6 Awurade ma nimdeɛ, na nʼanom na nyansa ne nteaseɛ firi ba.
Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh prudence and knowledge.
7 Ɔkora nkonimdie ma wɔn a wɔteneɛ, ɔyɛ kyɛm ma wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ pɛ,
He will keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that walk in simplicity.
8 ɔwɛn deɛ ɔtene akwan, na ɔbɔ wɔn a wɔdi no nokorɛ no akwan ho ban.
Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints.
9 Ɛno na wobɛte deɛ ɛyɛ ne deɛ ɛyɛ pɛ ne deɛ ɛfata, ɛkwan biara a ɛyɛ ase.
Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path.
10 Afei nyansa bɛwura wʼakoma mu, na nimdeɛ ayɛ ahomeka ama wo kra.
If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge please thy soul:
11 Adwene bɛbɔ wo ho ban na nteaseɛ ahwɛ wo so.
Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee,
12 Nyansa bɛyi wo afiri amumuyɛfoɔ akwan mu, ɛbɛyi wo afiri nnipa a wɔn nsɛm yɛ basabasa nsam,
That thou mayst be delivered from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh perverse things:
13 na wɔmane firi akwan pa so kɔnante esum akwan so,
Who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways:
14 wɔn a wɔn ani gye bɔneyɛ ho, na wɔdi ahurisie wɔ bɔne mu basabasayɛ ho,
Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in most wicked things:
15 wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye na wɔyɛ abonsamfoɔ wɔ wɔn akwan mu.
Whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous.
16 Nimdeɛ bɛgye wo afiri ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ no nsam, afiri ɔbaa warefoɔ sansani a ɔka nnaadaasɛm ho,
That thou mayst be delivered from the strange women, and from the stranger, who softeneth her words:
17 deɛ wagyaa ne mmabaawaberɛ mu kunu na wapo apam a ɔyɛɛ wɔ Onyankopɔn anim no.
And forsaketh the guide of her youth,
18 Ne fie yɛ ɛkwan a ɛkɔ owuo mu na nʼakwan kɔ awufoɔ honhom nkyɛn.
And hath forgotten the covenant of her God: for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths to hell. (questioned)
19 Obiara a ɔkɔ ne nkyɛn no nsane mma anaasɛ ɔrensi nkwa akwan so.
None that go in unto her shall return again, neither shall they take hold of the paths of life,
20 Enti wobɛdi nnipa pa anammɔn akyi na woanante ateneneefoɔ akwan so.
That thou mayst walk in a good way: and mayst keep the paths of the just.
21 Ɛfiri sɛ wɔn a wɔtene bɛtena asase no so, na wɔn a asɛm nni wɔn ho no na wɔbɛka hɔ;
For they that are upright shall dwell in the earth, and the simple shall continue in it.
22 na wɔbɛtwa amumuyɛfoɔ afiri asase no so, na wɔatɔre atorofoɔ ase.
But the wicked shall be destroyed from the earth: and they that do unjustly shall be taken away from it.
