Mmɛbusɛm 2
1 Me ba, sɛ wotie me nsɛm, na woma me nkyerɛkyerɛ tena wo mu a,
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 sɛ wowɛn wʼaso ma nyansa na wode wʼakoma ma nteaseɛ,
make your ears pay attention to wisdom and incline your heart to understanding.
3 na woma wo nne so frɛ nhunumu na wosu frɛ nteaseɛ,
If you cry out for understanding and raise your voice for it,
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 you would seek silver and search for understanding as you would seek hidden treasures,
5 ɛno na wobɛte Awurade suro ase na woahunu Onyankopɔn ho nimdeɛ.
then you will understand the fear of Yahweh and you will find the knowledge of God.
6 Awurade ma nimdeɛ, na nʼanom na nyansa ne nteaseɛ firi ba.
For Yahweh gives wisdom, from his mouth comes 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 those who please him, he is a shield for those who walk in integrity,
8 ɔwɛn deɛ ɔtene akwan, na ɔbɔ wɔn a wɔdi no nokorɛ no akwan ho ban.
he guards the paths of justice and he will preserve the way of those who are faithful to him.
9 Ɛno na wobɛte deɛ ɛyɛ ne deɛ ɛyɛ pɛ ne deɛ ɛfata, ɛkwan biara a ɛyɛ ase.
Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and equity, and every good path.
10 Afei nyansa bɛwura wʼakoma mu, na nimdeɛ ayɛ ahomeka ama wo kra.
For wisdom will come into your heart, and 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 guard you.
12 Nyansa bɛyi wo afiri amumuyɛfoɔ akwan mu, ɛbɛyi wo afiri nnipa a wɔn nsɛm yɛ basabasa nsam,
They will rescue you from the way of evil, from those who speak perverse things,
13 na wɔmane firi akwan pa so kɔnante esum akwan so,
who abandon the right paths and walk in the ways of darkness.
14 wɔn a wɔn ani gye bɔneyɛ ho, na wɔdi ahurisie wɔ bɔne mu basabasayɛ ho,
They rejoice when they do evil and delight in the perversities of evil.
15 wɔn a wɔn akwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye na wɔyɛ abonsamfoɔ wɔ wɔn akwan mu.
They follow crooked paths, and using deception they hide their tracks.
16 Nimdeɛ bɛgye wo afiri ɔbaa waresɛefoɔ no nsam, afiri ɔbaa warefoɔ sansani a ɔka nnaadaasɛm ho,
Wisdom and discretion will save you from an adulterous woman, from an immoral woman and her flattering words.
17 deɛ wagyaa ne mmabaawaberɛ mu kunu na wapo apam a ɔyɛɛ wɔ Onyankopɔn anim no.
She forsakes the companion 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 and her tracks will lead you to those in the grave.
19 Obiara a ɔkɔ ne nkyɛn no nsane mma anaasɛ ɔrensi nkwa akwan so.
All who go in to her will not return again and they will not find the paths of life.
20 Enti wobɛdi nnipa pa anammɔn akyi na woanante ateneneefoɔ akwan so.
So you will walk in the way of good people and follow the paths of righteous people.
21 Ɛfiri sɛ wɔn a wɔtene bɛtena asase no so, na wɔn a asɛm nni wɔn ho no na wɔbɛka hɔ;
For those doing right will make a home in the land, and those with integrity 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 faithless will be cut off from it.
