Mmɛbusɛm 3
1 Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfiri me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara yi wɔ wʼakoma mu,
My son, forget not my teaching, And let thy heart observe my precepts!
2 na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfeɛ bebree na ɛde yiedie abrɛ wo.
For length of days, and years of life, And peace shall they multiply to thee.
3 Mma adɔeɛ ne nokorɛ mfiri wo nkyɛn fa yane wo kɔn mu twerɛ gu wʼakoma ɛpono so.
Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; Bind them around thy neck, Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
4 Na wobɛnya adom ne din pa wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
Then shalt thou find favor and good success 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 thy heart, And lean not on thine own understanding;
6 hunu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu, na ɔbɛtene wʼakwan.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will make thy paths plain.
7 Nnye wo ho nni sɛ woyɛ onyansafoɔ suro Awurade na kyiri bɔne.
Be not wise in thine 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 thy muscles, And moisture to thy bones.
9 Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade animuonyam, ne wo nnɔbaeɛ a ɛdi ɛkan nyinaa;
Honor the LORD with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thy increase;
10 na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so, na nsã foforɔ abu afa wʼankorɛ so
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats 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, despise not the correction of the LORD, Nor be impatient under his chastisement!
12 Ɛfiri sɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛdeɛ agya tene ɔba a ɔdɔ no so no.
For whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth, Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Nhyira nka onipa a ɔhunu nyansa, onipa a ɔnya nteaseɛ,
Happy the man who findeth wisdom; Yea, the man who getteth understanding!
14 ɛfiri sɛ, nimdeɛ ho mfasoɔ sene dwetɛ, na deɛ ɛfiri mu ba sene sikakɔkɔɔ.
For the profit thereof is greater than that of silver, And the gain thereof than that of fine gold.
15 Ne boɔ yɛ dene sene bota; na worentumi mfa wʼapɛdeɛ biara ntoto ho.
More precious is she than pearls, And none of thy jewels is to be compared with 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; In her left hand are 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 of her, And happy is every one who hath her in his grasp.
19 Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na nteaseɛ mu na ɔde ɔsoro timii hɔ.
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he framed the heavens.
20 Ɛfiri ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebunu mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ bosuo.
By his knowledge the deep waters were cleft, And the clouds drop down the dew.
21 Me ba, fa atemmuo pa ne nhunumu sie, na mma ɛmfiri wʼani so;
My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion!
22 ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, ahyehyɛdeɛ a ɛma wɔ kɔn nya animuonyam.
For they shall be life to thy soul, And grace to thy neck.
23 Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan rensunti;
Then shalt thou go on thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble;
24 sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bɛkum.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛeɛ a ɛba amumuyɛfoɔ so,
Be not thou afraid of sudden alarm, Nor of the storm that is for the wicked, when it cometh;
26 Ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade bɛyɛ wʼawerɛhyɛm na ɔbɛkora wo nan afiri afidie mu.
For the LORD shall be thy confidence; Yea, he will keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, ɛberɛ a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
Withhold not kindness from those who need it, When it is in the power of thy 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 thy neighbor, “Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give to thee,” when thou hast it by thee.
29 Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko ɛberɛ a ɔne wo te yie.
Devise not evil against thy neighbor, While he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Mfa ɛso nto obi so kwa ɛberɛ a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara.
Contend not with a man without cause, When he hath done thee no harm.
31 Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfoɔ, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
Envy not the oppressor, And choose none of his ways.
32 ɛfiri sɛ Awurade kyiri basabasayɛfoɔ na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔteneneeni mu.
For the perverse man is the abomination of the LORD, But he is in friendship with the upright.
33 Awurade nnome wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ efie so, na ɔhyira ɔteneneeni fie.
The curse of the LORD is upon the house of the wicked, But he blesseth the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Ɔdi fɛdifoɔ a wɔyɛ ahantan ho fɛ na ɔdom ahobrɛasefoɔ.
Surely the scorners he treadeth scornfully, But giveth favor to the lowly.
35 Anyansafoɔ bɛnya animuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafoɔ deɛ, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
The wise shall obtain honor, But fools shall bear off shame.
