Mmɛbusɛm 5
1 Me ba, yɛ aso ma me nyansa; tie me nhunumu nsɛm no yie,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom, and incline your ear to my prudence,
2 sɛdeɛ ɛbɛma woahwɛ yie, na wʼano akora nimdeɛ.
so that you may guard your thinking, and so that your lips may preserve discipline. Do not pay attention to the deceit of a woman.
3 Ɛfiri sɛ ɔbaa dwamanfoɔ ano sosɔ ɛwoɔ, na ne kasa kɔ yɛɛ sene ngo;
For the lips of a loose woman are like a dripping honeycomb, and her voice is smoother than oil.
4 nanso, awieeɛ no ɛyɛ nwono sene bɔnwoma, ɛyɛ nam sɛ akofena anofanu.
But in the end, she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet descend into death, and her steps reach even to Hell. (Sheol h7585)
6 Ɔnnwene ɛkwan a ɛkɔ nkwa mu ho; nʼakwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, nanso ɔnnim.
They do not walk along the path of life; her steps are wandering and untraceable.
7 Enti, afei, me mma, montie me; Monntwe mo ho mfiri deɛ meka ho.
Therefore, my son, listen to me now, and do not withdraw from the words of my mouth.
8 Ɛkwan a ɛmmɛn noɔ no na momfa so mommmɛn ne fie ɛpono ano,
Make your way at a distance from her, and do not approach the doors of her house.
9 anyɛ saa a, mode mo ahoɔden bɛma afoforɔ na mode mo mfeɛ ama otirimuɔdenfoɔ,
Do not give your honor to foreigners, and your years to the cruel.
10 anyɛ saa a, ahɔhoɔ bɛfom mo ahonyadeɛ na mobrɛ de ahonya akɔ afoforɔ fie.
Otherwise, outsiders may be filled with your strength, and your labors may be in a foreign house,
11 Mo nkwanna akyi, mobɛsi apinie ɛberɛ a mo honam ne mo onipadua asa no.
and you may mourn in the end, when you will have consumed your flesh and your body. And so you may say:
12 Na moaka sɛ, “Na mekyiri ahohyɛsoɔ! Mʼakoma ampɛ ntenesoɔ!
“Why have I detested discipline, and why has my heart not been quieted by correction?
13 Manyɛ ɔsetie amma mʼakyerɛkyerɛfoɔ na mantie mʼakwankyerɛfoɔ asɛm.
And why have I not listened to the voice of those who guided me? And why has my ear not inclined to my teachers?
14 Maduru ɔsɛeɛ ntɛntɛnoa wɔ asafo no nyinaa mu.”
I have almost been with all evil in the midst of the church and of the assembly.”
15 Nom nsuo firi wʼankasa ankorɛ mu, nsuo a ɛtene firi wʼankasa abura mu.
Drink water from your own cistern and from the springs of your own well.
16 Ɛsɛ sɛ wo nsutire yiri fa mmɔntene so na wo nsuwa kokɔ ɔman adwaberem anaa?
Let your fountains be diverted far and wide, and divide your waters in the streets.
17 Ma ɛnyɛ wo nko ara dea, a wone ahɔhoɔ nnkyɛ da.
Hold them for yourself alone, and do not let strangers be partakers with you.
18 Nhyira nka wʼasubura na wʼani nka wʼababunuberɛ mu yere ho.
Let your spring be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth:
19 Ɔte sɛ ɔtwe bereɛ dɔfoɔ, ɔwansane animuonyamfoɔ. Ma ne nufoɔ nsɔ wʼani daa na ne dɔ nkyekyere wo.
a beloved doe and most pleasing fawn. Let her breasts inebriate you at all times. Be delighted continually by her love.
20 Me ba, adɛn enti na woma ɔbaa dwamanfoɔ kyekyere wo? Adɛn enti na woda ɔbarima foforɔ bi yere kokom?
Why are you seduced, my son, by a strange woman, and why are you kept warm by the bosom of another?
21 Awurade hunu onipa akwan nyinaa, na ɔhwehwɛ ne nyinaa mu.
The Lord beholds the ways of man, and he considers all his steps.
22 Omumuyɛfoɔ nnebɔne sum no afidie; na ne bɔne nhoma kyekyere no papee.
His own iniquities take hold of the impious, and he is bound by the cords of his own sins.
23 Ɔbɛwu ɛsiane ahohyɛsoɔ a ɔnni enti, na wayera ɛsiane nʼagyegyentwisɛm enti.
He shall die, for he has not held to discipline. And by the multitude of his foolishness, he shall be deceived.
