Mmebusɛm 4
1 Me mma, muntie me, muntie agya nkyerɛkyerɛ; monyɛ aso na moanya ntease.
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 Mema mo adesua a ɛkɔ anim, enti munnnyaa me nkyerɛkyerɛ mu.
for I give you sound learning. Do not forsake my law.
3 Efisɛ na me nso, meyɛ mʼagya babarima, meda so yɛ akokoaa no, na me na ani gye me ho.
For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4 Na ɔkyerɛkyerɛɛ me se, “Ma me nsɛm nni wo koma mu dɛm, di me nkyerɛkyerɛ so na wubenya nkwa.
He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Nya nyansa, nya ntease; mma wo werɛ mfi me nsɛm anaa ntwe wo ho mfi ho.
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Do not forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
6 Nnyaw nyansa hɔ, na ɛbɛbɔ wo ho ban; dɔ no, na ɛbɛhwɛ wo so.
Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Nyansa boro biribiara so; enti hwehwɛ nyansa. Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ne bo te sɛ wʼahode nyinaa de, nanso nya ntease.
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Di no ni na ɛbɛma wo so; yɛ no atuu, na ɛbɛhyɛ wo anuonyam.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
9 Ɔde nkonimdi nhwiren hankare begu wo ti so na wama wo ahenkyɛw a ɛyɛ fɛ.”
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you."
10 Me ba, tie na fa nea meka no, na wo nkwanna bɛyɛ bebree.
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 Mɛkyerɛ wo nyansa kwan so na mede wo afa akwan a ɛteɛ so.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 Sɛ wonantew a, wʼanammɔntu bɛkɔ waa na sɛ wutu mmirika a, worenhintiw.
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Di nkyerɛkyerɛ so; na nnyaa mu, bɔ ho ban yiye, efisɛ ɛyɛ wo nkwa.
Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Ntu wo nan nsi amumɔyɛfo kwan so na nnantew abɔnefo kwan so.
Do not enter into the path of the wicked. Do not walk in the way of evil men.
15 Kwati no, ntu kwan mfa so; dan fi so na kɔ wo kwan.
Avoid it, and do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 Efisɛ wɔnyɛɛ bɔne a wontumi nna; na wɔn nna tew yera kosi sɛ wɔbɛma obi ahwe ase.
For they do not sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17 Wodi amumɔyɛsɛm brodo, na wɔnom kitikitiyɛ nsa.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 Atreneefo kwan te sɛ adekyee hann a edi kan, ɛkɔ so hyerɛn yiye kodu awia ketee.
But the path of the righteous is like a shining light, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
19 Nanso amumɔyɛfo kwan te sɛ sum kabii; wonnim nea ɛma wohintiw.
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what they stumble over.
20 Me ba, yɛ aso ma nea meka; tie me nsɛm no yiye.
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Mma emfi wʼani so, fa sie wo koma mu;
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 efisɛ, ɛyɛ nkwa ma wɔn a wohu ne akwahosan ma nipadua no nyinaa.
For they are life to him who finds them, and health to all of his body.
23 Ne nyinaa akyi, bɔ wo koma ho ban, efisɛ, ɛno ne wo nkwa asuti.
Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Mma oburu kasa mfi wʼano; mma nkontomposɛm mmɛn wʼano koraa.
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Hwɛ wʼanim tee, na ma wʼani nkɔ nea ɛwɔ wʼanim no so.
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Bɔ ɔkwan tamaa ma wʼanan na fa akwan a atim so.
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Mman mfa nifa anaa benkum; twe wo nan fi bɔne ho.
Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
