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