Mmɛbusɛm 3
1 Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfiri me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara yi wɔ wʼakoma mu,
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfeɛ bebree na ɛde yiedie abrɛ wo.
for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
3 Mma adɔeɛ ne nokorɛ mfiri wo nkyɛn fa yane wo kɔn mu twerɛ gu wʼakoma ɛpono so.
Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Na wobɛnya adom ne din pa wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
5 Fa wʼakoma nyinaa to Awurade so na mmfa wo ho nto wʼankasa nteaseɛ so;
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 hunu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu, na ɔbɛtene wʼakwan.
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Nnye wo ho nni sɛ woyɛ onyansafoɔ suro Awurade na kyiri bɔne.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo onipadua na ayɛ aduane ama wo nnompe.
This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade animuonyam, ne wo nnɔbaeɛ a ɛdi ɛkan nyinaa;
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
10 na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so, na nsã foforɔ abu afa wʼankorɛ so
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Me ba, sɛ Awurade tene wo so a, tie no yie, na sɛ ɔka wʼanim a, mpa aba,
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
12 Ɛfiri sɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛdeɛ agya tene ɔba a ɔdɔ no so no.
for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Nhyira nka onipa a ɔhunu nyansa, onipa a ɔnya nteaseɛ,
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
14 ɛfiri sɛ, nimdeɛ ho mfasoɔ sene dwetɛ, na deɛ ɛfiri mu ba sene sikakɔkɔɔ.
for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
15 Ne boɔ yɛ dene sene bota; na worentumi mfa wʼapɛdeɛ biara ntoto ho.
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Nkwa tenten wɔ ne nsa nifa mu; ahonyadeɛ ne animuonyam wɔ ne nsa benkum mu.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Nʼakwan yɛ ahomeka, na nʼasa nyinaa yɛ asomdwoeɛ.
All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 Ɔyɛ nkwa dua ma wɔn a wɔsɔ ne mu; wɔn a wɔkura ne mu no bɛnya nhyira.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
19 Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na nteaseɛ mu na ɔde ɔsoro timii hɔ.
The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
20 Ɛfiri ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebunu mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ bosuo.
By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
21 Me ba, fa atemmuo pa ne nhunumu sie, na mma ɛmfiri wʼani so;
My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
22 ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, ahyehyɛdeɛ a ɛma wɔ kɔn nya animuonyam.
They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan rensunti;
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24 sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bɛkum.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛeɛ a ɛba amumuyɛfoɔ so,
Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 Ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade bɛyɛ wʼawerɛhyɛm na ɔbɛkora wo nan afiri afidie mu.
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.
27 Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, ɛberɛ a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
28 Nka nkyerɛ wo yɔnko sɛ: “Kɔ na bra; mede bɛma wo ɔkyena” wɔ ɛberɛ a wowɔ no saa ɛberɛ no.
Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
29 Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko ɛberɛ a ɔne wo te yie.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
30 Mfa ɛso nto obi so kwa ɛberɛ a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara.
Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
31 Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfoɔ, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
32 ɛfiri sɛ Awurade kyiri basabasayɛfoɔ na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔteneneeni mu.
for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
33 Awurade nnome wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ efie so, na ɔhyira ɔteneneeni fie.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
34 Ɔdi fɛdifoɔ a wɔyɛ ahantan ho fɛ na ɔdom ahobrɛasefoɔ.
He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
35 Anyansafoɔ bɛnya animuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafoɔ deɛ, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
