Mmɛbusɛm 7
1 Me ba, fa me nsɛm sie na kora mʼahyɛdeɛ wɔ wo mu.
My son, accept what I say and value my instructions.
2 Di mʼahyɛdeɛ so na wobɛnya nkwa; bɔ me nkyerɛkyerɛ ho ban sɛ deɛ wodɔ noɔ.
Do what I tell you and you will live. Observe my teachings, valuing them as your main focus in life.
3 Kyekyere bɔ wo nsateaa ho; twerɛ no yie gu wʼakoma ɛpono so.
Tie them to your fingers; write them in your mind.
4 Ka kyerɛ nyansa sɛ, “Wo yɛ me nuabaa,” na frɛ nteaseɛ wo busuani;
Tell wisdom, “You're my sister,” and call insight your best friend.
5 Wɔbɛtwe wo afiri ɔbaawaresɛefoɔ ho, afiri ɔbaawarefoɔ sansani nsɛmmɔdɛ ho.
They will protect you from the immoral woman, from the prostitute with her seductive words.
6 Me fie mpomma ano mede mʼani faa ntokua mu.
One time I looked through the lattice of the window in my house,
7 Mehunuu wɔ ntetekwaafoɔ mu, mehyɛɛ mmeranteɛ no mu baako nso, ɔbabunu a ɔnni adwene.
and I saw among the immature young men one who had no sense at all.
8 Na ɔnam borɔno a ɛbɛn ɔbaa no fie so a nʼani kyerɛ ɔbaa no fie
He was walking down the street near the corner where she lived and took the road passing her house.
9 ɛberɛ a ɔnwunu redwoɔ, na animu rebiribiri no.
It was at dusk in the evening, as the light was fading and the dark night closed in.
10 Afei ɔbaa bi firi bɛhyiaa no a wasiesie ne ho sɛ odwamanfoɔ a nnaadaa wɔ nʼakomam.
Then out came a woman came to meet him. She was dressed as a prostitute and had deceptive intentions.
11 (Ɔyɛ hyirenn na hwee mfa ne ho, ɔntena efie koraa;
(She was loud and provocative, never wanting to stay at home.
12 ɛnnɛ wɔhunu no mmɔntene so, ɔkyena na ɔte adwaberem, ɔtetɛ wɔ mmantwea mmantwea.)
One moment she'd be walking the streets, the next she'd be there in the town squares, loitering at every corner.)
13 Ɔsɔɔ ne mu fee nʼano wamfɛre, na ɔkaa sɛ,
She grabbed hold of him and kissed him, and with a bold face she told him,
14 “Mewɔ ayɔnkofa ayɛyɛdeɛ wɔ efie; ɛnnɛ madi me bɔhyɛ so.
“I sacrificed my peace offering today, and paid my vows.
15 Enti mebaeɛ sɛ merebɛhyia wo; mehwehwɛɛ wo na mahunu wo!
That's why I came out to meet you. I was looking for you and now I've found you!
16 Mato me mpa mede nwera a wɔahyɛ no aduro a ɛfiri Misraim.
My bed is made, covered with colorful linens from Egypt.
17 Mede nnuhwam apete me mpa so: kurobo, pɛperɛ ne sinamon.
I've sprinkled perfume on my bed—myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Bra, ma yɛmfa ɔdɔ mmɔ ɔdɔ mu nkɔsi anɔpa;
Come with me, let's make love until the morning. Let's enjoy one another in our love-making!
19 Me kunu nni efie; watu kwan na ɔbɛkyɛre.
My husband isn't home; he's gone on a long trip.
20 Ɔde sika a ɛdɔɔso hyɛɛ ne sikabɔtɔ ma na ɔremma kɔsi ɔsrane no korokumatwa berɛ mu.”
He took a bag of money with him, and he won't be coming back until the full moon.”
21 Ɔde akorɔkorɔ bɔɔ no asɔn; ɔde nnaadaa nyaa no ne no daeɛ.
She convinced him with all that she said; she seduced him with her smooth talking.
22 Ɔdii nʼakyi prɛko pɛ te sɛ nantwie a ɔrekɔ akumiiɛ, anaa ɔwansane a ɔde ne tiri rekɔhyɛ hankrafidie mu
He followed her right away, like an ox to the slaughter. Like a stag that's caught in a snare
23 kɔsi sɛ bɛmma bɛhwire ne brɛboɔ mu, te sɛ anomaa a ɔrekɔtɔ anomaa afidie mu na ɔnnim sɛ ɔbɛhwere ne nkwa.
until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird flying into a trap, he's unaware he will pay with his life.
24 Na afei, me mma, montie me; monyɛ aso mma deɛ meka.
So now listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to what I'm saying.
25 Mommma mo akoma mpatere nkɔ ne so na mommane mfa nʼakwan so.
Don't even think about following her. Don't stray down her road.
26 Bebree na wɔnam ne so ahwehwe ase; wɔn a wakum wɔn dɔɔso pa ara.
For she has brought down and destroyed a lot of men; she's killed so many.
