Mmebusɛm 1
1 Dawid babarima Salomo, Israelhene, mmebusɛm ni:
The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2 Ne botae ne sɛ ɛbɛkyerɛ nnipa nyansa ne ahohyɛso; ne sɛ ɛbɛboa ama wɔate nsɛm a emu dɔ ase;
To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the words of understanding.
3 sɛ wobenya akwankyerɛ wɔ abrabɔ pa mu, a ɛbɛma wɔayɛ ade pa, nea ɛteɛ na ho nni asɛm;
To receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity.
4 sɛ ɛbɛma nea nʼadwene mu nnɔ anya nyansa na mmabun anya nimdeɛ ne adwene,
To give shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to the young man.
5 anyansafo ntie na wɔmfa nka nea wonim ho, na nea ɔwɔ nhumu nya akwankyerɛ a
A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will attain to sound counsel.
6 ɛbɛma wate mmɛ ne kasammebu, anyansafo nsɛnka ne abisaa ase.
To understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
7 Awurade suro yɛ nimdeɛ mfiase, na nkwaseafo bu nyansa ne ahohyɛso animtiaa.
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Me ba, tie wʼagya akwankyerɛ na mpo wo na nkyerɛkyerɛ.
My son, listen to your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching:
9 Ɛbɛyɛ wo ti anuonyam abotiri ne wo kɔn mu atweaban.
for they will be a garland to grace your head, and a necklace around your neck.
10 Me ba, sɛ nnebɔneyɛfo twetwe wo a, mma wɔn ho kwan.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
11 Sɛ wɔka se, “Bra ma yɛnkɔ; ma yɛnkɔtetɛw na yenkum obi, ma yɛnkɔtɛw ntwɛn mmɔborɔni bi;
If they say, "Come with us, Let's lie in wait for blood; let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
let's swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 yebenya nneɛma a ɛsom bo ahorow na yɛde asade ahyɛ yɛn afi ma;
We'll find all valuable wealth. We'll fill our houses with spoil.
14 fa wo ho bɛhyɛ mu, na wubenya wo kyɛfa wɔ ahonyade no mu.”
Throw in your lot with us. We'll all have one purse."
15 Me ba, wo ne wɔn nnantew, mfa wo nan nsi wɔn akwan so;
My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path,
16 Wɔn anan de ntɛmpɛ kɔ bɔne mu, na wɔde ahoɔhare ka mogya gu.
for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
17 So nni mfaso sɛ obi besum nnomaafiri wɔ beae a anomaa biara hu!
For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:
18 Saa nnipa yi tetɛw pɛ wɔn ankasa mogya; wɔtetɛw wɔn ankasa wɔn ho!
but these lie in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 Saa na wɔn a wodi akorɔnne akyi no awiei te; ɛma wɔhwere wɔn nkwa!
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
20 Nyansa teɛ mu wɔ mmɔnten so, ɔma ne nne so wɔ aguabɔbea,
Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
21 ɔteɛ mu wɔ afasu no atifi, ɔkasa wɔ kuropɔn no apon ano se,
She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
22 “Mo adwenharefo, mobɛyɛ adwenhare akosi da bɛn? Fɛwdifo bedi fɛw akosi da bɛn? Nkwaseafo bekyi nimdeɛ akosi da bɛn?
"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Sɛ mutiee mʼanimka a, anka mekaa me koma mu nsɛm nyinaa kyerɛɛ mo ma muhuu me nsusuwii.
Turn at my reproof. Look, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
24 Nanso sɛ muyii mo aso, bere a mefrɛɛ mo na amfa obiara ho, bere a meteɛɛ me nsa mu,
Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25 sɛ mopoo mʼafotu, na moampɛ mʼanimka nti,
but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
26 me nso mɛserew mo wɔ mo amanehunu mu; sɛ abɛbrɛsɛ bi bu fa mo so a, midi mo ho fɛw,
I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;
27 sɛ abɛbrɛsɛ bi bu fa mo so te sɛ ahum, na amanehunu bi bɔ fa mo so sɛ mfɛtɛ, na awerɛhow ne ɔhaw mene mo a,
when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.
28 “Afei wɔbɛfrɛ me, nanso meremmua; wɔbɛhwehwɛ me, nanso wɔrenhu me.
Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
29 Esiane sɛ wokyii nimdeɛ na wɔampɛ sɛ wobesuro Awurade,
because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Jehovah.
30 sɛ wɔpoo mʼafotu, na wobuu me nteɛso animtiaa nti,
They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
31 wobedi wɔn akwan so aba; na wɔn nhyehyɛe mu aduan bɛmee wɔn.
Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
32 Na ntetekwaafo asoɔden bekum wɔn, na nkwaseafo tirimudɛ bɛsɛe wɔn;
For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33 Nanso obiara a obetie me no, ɔbɛtena ase asomdwoe mu na ne ho bɛtɔ no a ɔrensuro ɔhaw biara.”
But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm."
