Mmɛbusɛm 6
1 Me ba, sɛ woadi akagyinamu ama ɔyɔnko bi, sɛ wode wo biribi asi awowa ama obi,
My son, if thou hast become surety for another, If thou hast stricken hands for another,
2 sɛ deɛ wokaeɛ ayi ka ama wo na sɛ wʼano asɛm afidie ayi wo a,
If thou hast become ensnared by the words of thy mouth, If thou hast been caught by the words of thy mouth,
3 ɛnneɛ yɛ yei, me ba, na fa tete wo ho, sɛ ɔyɔnko nsa aka woɔ no nti: fa ahobrɛaseɛ kɔ nʼanim; na kɔ so pa wo yɔnko no kyɛw!
Do this now, my son, and rescue thyself, —Since thou hast fallen into the hands of thy neighbor, —Go, prostrate thyself, and be urgent with thy neighbor!
4 Mma wʼani nkum na nntɔ nko.
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids;
5 Gye wo ho, sɛdeɛ ɔforoteɛ dwane firi ɔbɔmmɔfoɔ nsam anaa sɛdeɛ anomaa dwane firi fidisumfoɔ afidie mu.
Rescue thyself, as a roe from the hand, And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Ɔkwadwofoɔ, kɔ atɛtea nkyɛn; hwɛ nʼakwan, na hunu nyansa!
Go to the ant, O sluggard! Consider her ways, and be wise!
7 Ɔnni ɔsahene, ɔnni ɔhwɛfoɔ anaa sodifoɔ bi,
She hath no governor, Nor overseer, nor ruler;
8 nanso, ɔde aduane sie wɔ ahuhuro ɛberɛ mu ɔboaboa nnuane ano wɔ twaberɛ.
Yet she prepareth in the summer her food, She gathereth in the harvest her meat.
9 Wo, ɔkwadwofoɔ, wobɛda akɔsi da bɛn? Wɔbɛnyane ɛberɛ bɛn?
How long wilt thou lie in bed, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise from thy sleep?
10 Nna kakra, nkotɔ kakra, nsa a woabobɔ de rehome kakra,
“A little sleep, —a little slumber, —A little folding of the hands to rest:”
11 ɛbɛma ohia aba wo so sɛ ɔkwanmukafoɔ na ahokyere ato ahyɛ wo so sɛ deɛ ɔkura tuo.
So shall thy poverty come upon thee like a robber, Yea, thy want, as an armed man!
12 Onipa teta ne ohuhuni a ɔde atorɔ kyini,
A worthless wretch is the unrighteous man, Who walketh with a deceitful mouth;
13 deɛ ɔbu nʼani, na ɔde ne nan yɛ nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ na ɔde ne nsateaa kyerɛkyerɛ adeɛ,
Who winketh with his eyes, Speaketh with his feet, And teacheth with his fingers.
14 deɛ ɔde nʼakoma mu nnaadaa bɔ ɛpɔ bɔne, na ɔde mpaapaemu ba ɛberɛ biara.
Fraud is in his heart; He deviseth mischief continually; He scattereth contentions.
15 Ɛno enti amanehunu bɛba ne so prɛko pɛ; wɔbɛsɛe no mpofirim, a wɔrenya ano aduro.
Therefore shall calamity come upon him suddenly; In a moment shall he be destroyed, and that without remedy;
16 Nneɛma nsia na Awurade mpɛ, nneɛma nson na ɛyɛ nʼakyiwadeɛ:
These six things doth the LORD hate; Yea, seven are an abomination to him:
17 ani a ɛtra ntɔn, atorɔ tɛkrɛma, nsa a ɛka mogya a ɛdi bem guo,
Lofty eyes, a false tongue, And hands which shed innocent blood;
18 akoma a ɛdwene amumuyɛ ho, nan a ɛtutu mmirika kɔyɛ bɔne,
A heart that contriveth wicked devices; Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
19 Ɔdansekurumni a ɔdi atorɔ ne onipa a ɔde mpaapaemu ba anuanom mu.
A false witness, that uttereth lies, And him that soweth discord among brethren.
20 Me ba, tie wʼagya ahyɛdeɛ na nnyaa wo maame nkyerɛkyerɛ mu.
Keep, O my son! the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the precepts of thy mother!
21 Fa kyekyere wʼakoma ho daa; na fa kyekyere wɔ kɔn mu.
Bind them continually to thy heart, Tie them around thy neck!
22 Wonante a, ɛbɛkyerɛ wo ɛkwan; sɛ woda a, ɛbɛwɛn wo; sɛ wonyane a, ɛbɛkasa akyerɛ wo.
When thou goest forth, they shall guide thee; When thou sleepest, they shall watch over thee; And, when thou awakest, they shall talk with thee.
23 Na saa ahyɛdeɛ yi yɛ kanea; saa nkyerɛkyerɛ yi yɛ hann, na ahohyɛsoɔ ntenesoɔ yi yɛ nkwa kwan,
For the commandment is a lamp, and instruction a light; Yea, the rebukes of correction lead to life.
24 ɛtwe wo firi ɔbaa a ɔnni suban pa no ho, firi ɔbaawarefoɔ sansani tɛkrɛmadɛ ho.
They shall guard thee from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the unchaste woman.
25 Mma wo kɔn nnɔ nʼahoɔfɛ mma nʼani akyideda no ntwetwe wo,
Desire not her beauty in thy heart, Nor let her catch thee with her eyelids;
26 ɛfiri sɛ, odwamanfoɔ de animguaseɛ bɛbrɛ wo, na obi yere gyegye wo kɔ owuo mu.
For by a harlot a man is brought to a morsel of bread, And the adulteress layeth snares for the precious life.
27 Obi bɛtumi asɔ ogya agu ne srɛ so a ɛnhye nʼatadeɛ anaa?
Can a man take fire into his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
28 Obi bɛtumi anante gyasramma so a mpumpunnya mmobɔ ne nan ho anaa?
Can one walk upon burning coals, And his feet not be scorched?
29 Saa na ɔbarima a ɔne ɔbarima foforɔ yere da no teɛ obiara a ɔde ne nsa bɛka noɔ no remfa ne ho nni da.
So is it with him who goeth in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever toucheth her shall not go unpunished.
30 Nnipa mmu ɔkorɔmfoɔ a wakɔwia adeɛ animtiaa sɛ ɛkɔm de no na ɔde rekɔdwodwo ano enti.
Men do not overlook a thief, Though he steal to satisfy his appetite, when he is hungry;
31 Mmom sɛ wɔkyere no a, ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtua ka mmɔho nson; sɛ ɛhia sɛ wɔtɔn ne fie agyapadeɛ nyinaa mpo a, ɛsɛ sɛ wɔtɔn.
If found, he must repay sevenfold, And give up all the substance of his house.
32 Ɔbarima a ɔsɛe awadeɛ no nni adwene; obiara a ɔyɛ saa no sɛe ne ho.
Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding; He that doeth it destroyeth himself;
33 Ɔboro ne animguaseɛ na ɔbɛnya, na nʼahohora rempepa da.
Blows and dishonor shall he get, And his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34 Ninkunutweɛ hwanyane okunu abufuo na sɛ ɔtɔ were a, ahummɔborɔ biara nni mu.
For jealousy is the fury of a man; He will not spare in the day of vengeance;
35 Ɔrennye mpata biara; na ɔbɛpo adanmudeɛ, sɛ ɛso sɛ ɛdeɛn mpo a.
And he will not pay regard to any ransom, Nor be content, though thou offer many gifts.
