Mmɛbusɛm 3
1 Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfiri me nkyerɛkyerɛ, kora me mmara yi wɔ wʼakoma mu,
My son, do not forget my commands and keep my teachings 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 they will add to you.
3 Mma adɔeɛ ne nokorɛ mfiri wo nkyɛn fa yane wo kɔn mu twerɛ gu wʼakoma ɛpono so.
Do not let covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness ever leave you, tie them together about 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 a good reputation in the sight of God and man.
5 Fa wʼakoma nyinaa to Awurade so na mmfa wo ho nto wʼankasa nteaseɛ so;
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and do not 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.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and turn away from evil.
8 Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo onipadua na ayɛ aduane ama wo nnompe.
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment for your body.
9 Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade animuonyam, ne wo nnɔbaeɛ a ɛdi ɛkan nyinaa;
Honor Yahweh with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce,
10 na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so, na nsã foforɔ abu afa wʼankorɛ so
and your storehouses will be filled up and your vats will be bursting, full of 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 despise Yahweh's instruction and do not hate his rebuke,
12 Ɛfiri sɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso, sɛdeɛ agya tene ɔba a ɔdɔ no so no.
for Yahweh disciplines those he loves, as a father deals with a son who pleases him.
13 Nhyira nka onipa a ɔhunu nyansa, onipa a ɔnya nteaseɛ,
The one who finds wisdom is blessed; he also gets understanding.
14 ɛfiri sɛ, nimdeɛ ho mfasoɔ sene dwetɛ, na deɛ ɛfiri mu ba sene sikakɔkɔɔ.
What you gain from wisdom is better than what silver will give in return and its profit is better than gold.
15 Ne boɔ yɛ dene sene bota; na worentumi mfa wʼapɛdeɛ biara ntoto ho.
Wisdom is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire can compare to her.
16 Nkwa tenten wɔ ne nsa nifa mu; ahonyadeɛ ne animuonyam wɔ ne nsa benkum mu.
She has length of days 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 kindness 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 those who take hold of it, those who hold on to it are happy.
19 Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem, na nteaseɛ mu na ɔde ɔsoro timii hɔ.
By wisdom Yahweh 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 broke open and the clouds dropped their dew.
21 Me ba, fa atemmuo pa ne nhunumu sie, na mma ɛmfiri wʼani so;
My son, keep sound judgment and discernment, and do not lose sight of them.
22 ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo, ahyehyɛdeɛ a ɛma wɔ kɔn nya animuonyam.
They will be life to your soul and an adornment of favor to wear around your neck.
23 Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo, na wo nan rensunti;
Then you will walk 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 lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu anaa ɔsɛeɛ a ɛba amumuyɛfoɔ so,
Do not be afraid of sudden terror or devastation caused by the wicked, when it comes,
26 Ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade bɛyɛ wʼawerɛhyɛm na ɔbɛkora wo nan afiri afidie mu.
for Yahweh will be on your side and will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
27 Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata, ɛberɛ a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in 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 say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have the money with you.
29 Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko ɛberɛ a ɔne wo te yie.
Do not make a plan to harm your neighbor— the one who lives close and trusts you.
30 Mfa ɛso nto obi so kwa ɛberɛ a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara.
Do not argue with a person without a reason, when he has done nothing to harm you.
31 Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfoɔ, na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
Do not envy a violent person or choose any of his ways.
32 ɛfiri sɛ Awurade kyiri basabasayɛfoɔ na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔteneneeni mu.
For the devious person is detestable to Yahweh, but he brings the upright person into his confidence.
33 Awurade nnome wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ efie so, na ɔhyira ɔteneneeni fie.
The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked person, but he blesses the home of righteous people.
34 Ɔdi fɛdifoɔ a wɔyɛ ahantan ho fɛ na ɔdom ahobrɛasefoɔ.
He mocks mockers, but he gives his favor to humble people.
35 Anyansafoɔ bɛnya animuonyam adi, nanso nkwaseafoɔ deɛ, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
Wise people inherit honor, but fools will be lifted up in their shame.
