Mmebusɛm 5
1 Me ba, yɛ aso ma me nyansa; tie me nhumu nsɛm no yiye,
My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thy ear to my prudence.
2 sɛnea ɛbɛma woahwɛ yiye, na wʼano akora nimdeɛ.
That thou mayst keep thoughts, and thy lips may preserve instruction. Mind not the deceit of a woman.
3 Efisɛ ɔbea aguaman ano sosɔ ɛwo, na ne kasa yɛ fɔmm sen ngo;
For the lips of a harlot are like a honeycomb dropping, and her throat is smoother than oil.
4 nanso awiei no, ɛyɛ nwen sen bɔnwoma, ɛyɛ nam sɛ afoa anofanu.
But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down into death, and her steps go in as far as hell. (Sheol h7585)
6 Onsusuw ɔkwan a ɛkɔ nkwa mu ho; nʼakwan yɛ kɔntɔnkye, nanso onnim.
They walk not by the path of life, her steps are wandering, and unaccountable.
7 Enti afei, me mma, muntie me; Monntwe mo ho mmfi nea meka ho.
Now therefore, my son, hear me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
8 Ɔkwan a ɛmmɛn no no na momfa so; mommmɛn ne fi pon ano,
Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the doors of her house.
9 anyɛ saa a, mode mo ahoɔden bɛma afoforo na mode mo mfe ama otirimɔdenfo,
Give not thy honour to strangers, and thy years to the cruel.
10 anyɛ saa a, ahɔho bɛfom mo ahonyade na mo brɛ de ahonya akɔ afoforo fi.
Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours be in another man’s house,
11 Mo nkwanna akyi, mubesi apini, bere a mo honam ne mo nipadua asa no.
And thou mourn it the last, when thou shalt have spent thy flesh and thy body, and say:
12 Na moaka se, “Na mikyi ahohyɛso! Me koma ampɛ nteɛso!
Why have I hated instruction, and my heart consented not to reproof,
13 Manyɛ osetie amma mʼakyerɛkyerɛfo na mantie me kwankyerɛfo asɛm.
And have not heard the voice of them that taught me, and have not inclined my ear to masters?
14 Madu ɔsɛe ano wɔ asafo no nyinaa mu.”
I have almost been in all evil, in the midst of the church and of the congregation.
15 Nom nsu fi wʼankasa ahina mu, nsu a ɛteɛ fi wʼankasa abura mu.
Drink water out of thy own cistern, and the streams of thy own well:
16 So ɛsɛ sɛ wʼasuti yiri fa mmɔnten so na wo nsuwa kokɔ ɔman aguabɔbea ana?
Let thy fountains be conveyed abroad, and in the streets divide thy waters.
17 Ma ɛnyɛ wo nko ara de, a wo ne ahɔho nkyɛ da.
Keep them to thyself alone, neither let strangers be partakers with thee.
18 Nhyira nka wʼasubura na wʼani nnye wo mmrantebere mu yere ho.
Let thy vein be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of thy youth:
19 Ɔte sɛ ɔtwe bere dɔfo, ɔwansan nuonyamfo; ma ne nufu nsɔ wʼani daa na ne dɔ nkyekyere wo.
Let her be thy dearest hind, and most agreeable fawn: let her breasts inebriate thee at all times; he thou delighted continually with her love.
20 Me ba, adɛn nti na woma ɔbea aguaman kyekyere wo? Adɛn nti na woda ɔbarima foforo bi yere kokom?
Why art thou seduced, my son, by a strange woman, and art cherished in the bosom of another?
21 Awurade hu onipa akwan nyinaa, na ɔhwehwɛ ne nyinaa mu.
The Lord beholdeth the ways of man, and considereth all his steps.
22 Omumɔyɛfo nnebɔne sum no afiri; na ne bɔne ahama kyekyere no papee.
His own iniquities catch the wicked, and he is fast bound with the ropes of his own sins.
23 Wobewu, esiane ahohyɛso a wonni nti, na wɔayera, esiane wɔn agyennyentwisɛm nti.
He shall die, because he hath not received instruction, and in the multitude of his folly he shall be deceived.
