Mmɛbusɛm 2
1 Me ba, sɛ wotie me nsɛm, na woma me nkyerɛkyerɛ tena wo mu a,
My son, if thou wouldst but accept my words, and treasure up my commandments with thee;
2 sɛ wowɛn wʼaso ma nyansa na wode wʼakoma ma nteaseɛ,
To let thy ear listen unto wisdom: [if] thou wouldst incline thy heart to understanding.
3 na woma wo nne so frɛ nhunumu na wosu frɛ nteaseɛ,
For if thou wilt call after intelligence; if after understanding thou wilt lift up thy voice;
4 na sɛ wohwehwɛ no te sɛ deɛ wohwehwɛ dwetɛ na wo hwehwɛ no sɛdeɛ worepɛ ademudeɛ a ahinta a,
If thou wilt 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 wilt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of God wilt thou find.
6 Awurade ma nimdeɛ, na nʼanom na nyansa ne nteaseɛ firi ba.
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [come] knowledge and understanding.
7 Ɔkora nkonimdie ma wɔn a wɔteneɛ, ɔyɛ kyɛm ma wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ pɛ,
He treasureth up sound wisdom for the righteous, as a shield to those that walk in integrity:
8 ɔwɛn deɛ ɔtene akwan, na ɔbɔ wɔn a wɔdi no nokorɛ no akwan ho ban.
That men may keep the paths of justice; and the way of his pious servants doth he guard.
9 Ɛno na wobɛte deɛ ɛyɛ ne deɛ ɛyɛ pɛ ne deɛ ɛfata, ɛkwan biara a ɛyɛ ase.
Then wilt thou understand righteousness, and justice, and equity: yea, every track of goodness.
10 Afei nyansa bɛwura wʼakoma mu, na nimdeɛ ayɛ ahomeka ama wo kra.
For wisdom will enter thy heart, and knowledge will be pleasant unto thy soul;
11 Adwene bɛbɔ wo ho ban na nteaseɛ ahwɛ wo so.
Discretion will watch over thee, understanding will keep thee;
12 Nyansa bɛyi wo afiri amumuyɛfoɔ akwan mu, ɛbɛyi wo afiri nnipa a wɔn nsɛm yɛ basabasa nsam,
To deliver thee from the way of the bad, from the man that speaketh perverse things;
13 na wɔmane firi akwan pa so kɔnante esum akwan so,
[From those] who leave 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, who are delighted in the perverseness of the bad;
15 wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye na wɔyɛ abonsamfoɔ wɔ wɔn akwan mu.
Who as regardeth their paths are crooked, and froward in their tracks.
16 Nimdeɛ bɛgye wo afiri ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ no nsam, afiri ɔbaa warefoɔ sansani a ɔka nnaadaasɛm ho,
To deliver thee from the adulteress, from the alien woman that useth flattering speeches;
17 deɛ wagyaa ne mmabaawaberɛ mu kunu na wapo apam a ɔyɛɛ wɔ Onyankopɔn anim no.
That forsaketh the friend of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
18 Ne fie yɛ ɛkwan a ɛkɔ owuo mu na nʼakwan kɔ awufoɔ honhom nkyɛn.
For she sinketh unto death—her house, and unto the departed [lead] her tracks.
19 Obiara a ɔkɔ ne nkyɛn no nsane mma anaasɛ ɔrensi nkwa akwan so.
All that come unto her return not again, and they will not reach the paths of life.
20 Enti wobɛdi nnipa pa anammɔn akyi na woanante ateneneefoɔ akwan so.
In order that thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and observe 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 on the earth, and the perfect will be left remaining on it.
22 na wɔbɛtwa amumuyɛfoɔ afiri asase no so, na wɔatɔre atorofoɔ ase.
But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous shall be plucked up therefrom.
