Mmɛbusɛm 3
1 Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfiri me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara yi wɔ wʼakoma mu,
My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments:
2 na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfeɛ bebree na ɛde yiedie abrɛ wo.
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.
3 Mma adɔeɛ ne nokorɛ mfiri wo nkyɛn fa yane wo kɔn mu twerɛ gu wʼakoma ɛpono so.
Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them on the table of your heart:
4 Na wobɛnya adom ne din pa wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
So shall you find favor and good understanding 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 to your own understanding.
6 hunu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu, na ɔbɛtene wʼakwan.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.
7 Nnye wo ho nni sɛ woyɛ onyansafoɔ suro Awurade na kyiri bɔne.
Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo onipadua na ayɛ aduane ama wo nnompe.
It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.
9 Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade animuonyam, ne wo nnɔbaeɛ a ɛdi ɛkan nyinaa;
Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase:
10 na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so, na nsã foforɔ abu afa wʼankorɛ so
So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 Me ba, sɛ Awurade tene wo so a, tie no yie, na sɛ ɔka wʼanim a, mpa aba,
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12 Ɛfiri sɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛdeɛ agya tene ɔba a ɔdɔ no so no.
For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Nhyira nka onipa a ɔhunu nyansa, onipa a ɔnya nteaseɛ,
Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.
14 ɛfiri sɛ, nimdeɛ ho mfasoɔ sene dwetɛ, na deɛ ɛfiri mu ba sene sikakɔkɔɔ.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 Ne boɔ yɛ dene sene bota; na worentumi mfa wʼapɛdeɛ biara ntoto ho.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared to her.
16 Nkwa tenten wɔ ne nsa nifa mu; ahonyadeɛ ne animuonyam wɔ ne nsa benkum mu.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor.
17 Nʼakwan yɛ ahomeka, na nʼasa nyinaa yɛ asomdwoeɛ.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
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 them that lay hold on her: and happy is every one that retains her.
19 Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na nteaseɛ mu na ɔde ɔsoro timii hɔ.
The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has he established the heavens.
20 Ɛfiri ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebunu mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ bosuo.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 Me ba, fa atemmuo pa ne nhunumu sie, na mma ɛmfiri wʼani so;
My son, let not them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, ahyehyɛdeɛ a ɛma wɔ kɔn nya animuonyam.
So shall they be life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
23 Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan rensunti;
Then shall you walk in your way safely, and your foot shall not stumble.
24 sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bɛkum.
When you lie down, you shall not be afraid: yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.
25 Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛeɛ a ɛba amumuyɛfoɔ so,
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.
26 Ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade bɛyɛ wʼawerɛhyɛm na ɔbɛkora wo nan afiri afidie mu.
For the LORD shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken.
27 Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, ɛberɛ a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Nka nkyerɛ wo yɔnko sɛ: “Kɔ na bra; mede bɛma wo ɔkyena” wɔ ɛberɛ a wowɔ no saa ɛberɛ no.
Say not to your neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when you have it by you.
29 Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko ɛberɛ a ɔne wo te yie.
Devise not evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.
30 Mfa ɛso nto obi so kwa ɛberɛ a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done you no harm.
31 Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfoɔ, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 ɛfiri sɛ Awurade kyiri basabasayɛfoɔ na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔteneneeni mu.
For the fraudulent is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 Awurade nnome wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ efie so, na ɔhyira ɔteneneeni fie.
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just.
34 Ɔdi fɛdifoɔ a wɔyɛ ahantan ho fɛ na ɔdom ahobrɛasefoɔ.
Surely he scorns the scorners: but he gives grace to the lowly.
35 Anyansafoɔ bɛnya animuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafoɔ deɛ, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
