Mmɛbusɛm 3
1 Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfiri me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara yi wɔ wʼakoma mu,
My son, don’t forget my teaching; but keep my mitzvot ·instructions· in your heart:
2 na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfeɛ bebree na ɛde yiedie abrɛ wo.
for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.
3 Mma adɔeɛ ne nokorɛ mfiri wo nkyɛn fa yane wo kɔn mu twerɛ gu wʼakoma ɛpono so.
Don’t let chesed ·loving-kindness· and truth forsake 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.
So you will find chen ·grace·, 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 Adonai with all your heart, and don’t lean 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.
Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Adonai, and depart from evil.
8 Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo onipadua na ayɛ aduane ama wo nnompe.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade animuonyam, ne wo nnɔbaeɛ a ɛdi ɛkan nyinaa;
Honor Adonai with your substance, 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 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, don’t despise Adonai’s discipline, neither be despondent when he corrects you:
12 Ɛfiri sɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛdeɛ agya tene ɔba a ɔdɔ no so no.
for whom Adonai 'ahav ·affectionately loves·, he reproves; even as a father reproves his son in whom he delights.
13 Nhyira nka onipa a ɔhunu nyansa, onipa a ɔnya nteaseɛ,
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 ɛfiri sɛ, nimdeɛ ho mfasoɔ sene dwetɛ, na deɛ ɛfiri mu ba sene sikakɔkɔɔ.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her teshuvah ·complete return· 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. None of the things you can desire are 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. In her left hand are riches and kavod ·weighty glory·.
17 Nʼakwan yɛ ahomeka, na nʼasa nyinaa yɛ asomdwoeɛ.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. 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 those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na nteaseɛ mu na ɔde ɔsoro timii hɔ.
By wisdom Adonai founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 Ɛfiri ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebunu mu, na omununkum nso tɔɔ bosuo.
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies 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 your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, ahyehyɛdeɛ a ɛma wɔ kɔn nya animuonyam.
so they will be life to your soul, and chen ·grace· for your neck.
23 Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan rensunti;
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
24 sɛ woda a worensuro; sɛ woda a wʼani bɛkum.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛeɛ a ɛba amumuyɛfoɔ so,
Don’t be 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 Adonai will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, ɛberɛ a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
Don’t withhold good from those 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.
Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29 Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko ɛberɛ a ɔne wo te yie.
Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Mfa ɛso nto obi so kwa ɛberɛ a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara.
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfoɔ, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32 ɛfiri sɛ Awurade kyiri basabasayɛfoɔ na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔteneneeni mu.
For the perverse is an abomination to Adonai, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 Awurade nnome wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ efie so, na ɔhyira ɔteneneeni fie.
Adonai’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the upright.
34 Ɔdi fɛdifoɔ a wɔyɛ ahantan ho fɛ na ɔdom ahobrɛasefoɔ.
Surely he opposes the mockers, but he gives chen ·grace· to the humble.
35 Anyansafoɔ bɛnya animuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafoɔ deɛ, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
The wise will inherit kavod ·weighty glory·, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
