Wisdom Bestows Well-Being
1My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.3:6 Or will direct your paths
7Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
8This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
9Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
12because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child
13Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
29Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
30Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
31Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.
32For the Lord detests the perverse
but takes the upright into his confidence.
33The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
Nyansa Ho Mfasoɔ Nkekaho
1Me ba, mma wo werɛ mfiri me nkyerɛkyerɛ,
kora me mmara yi wɔ wʼakoma mu,
2na ɛbɛma wo nkwa aware, mfeɛ bebree
na ɛde yiedie abrɛ wo.
3Mma adɔeɛ ne nokorɛ mfiri wo nkyɛn
fa yane wo kɔn mu
twerɛ gu wʼakoma ɛpono so.
4Na wobɛnya adom ne din pa
wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
5Fa wʼakoma nyinaa to Awurade so
na mmfa wo ho nto wʼankasa nteaseɛ so;
6hunu no wʼakwan nyinaa mu,
na ɔbɛtene wʼakwan.
7Nnye wo ho nni sɛ woyɛ onyansafoɔ
suro Awurade na kyiri bɔne.
8Ɛde ahoɔden bɛbrɛ wo onipadua
na ayɛ aduane ama wo nnompe.
9Fa wʼahonya hyɛ Awurade animuonyam,
ne wo nnɔbaeɛ a ɛdi ɛkan nyinaa;
10na ɛno na ɛbɛma wo pata ayɛ ma abu so,
na nsã foforɔ abu afa wʼankorɛ so
11Me ba, sɛ Awurade tene wo so a, tie no yie,
na sɛ ɔka wʼanim a, mpa aba,
12Ɛfiri sɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso,
sɛdeɛ agya tene ɔba a ɔdɔ no so no.
13Nhyira nka onipa a ɔhunu nyansa,
onipa a ɔnya nteaseɛ,
14ɛfiri sɛ, nimdeɛ ho mfasoɔ sene dwetɛ,
na deɛ ɛfiri mu ba sene sikakɔkɔɔ.
15Ne boɔ yɛ dene sene bota;
na worentumi mfa wʼapɛdeɛ biara ntoto ho.
16Nkwa tenten wɔ ne nsa nifa mu;
ahonyadeɛ ne animuonyam wɔ ne nsa benkum mu.
17Nʼakwan yɛ ahomeka,
na nʼasa nyinaa yɛ asomdwoeɛ.
18Ɔyɛ nkwa dua ma wɔn a wɔsɔ ne mu;
wɔn a wɔkura ne mu no bɛnya nhyira.
19Nyansa mu na Awurade yɛɛ asase fapem,
na nteaseɛ mu na ɔde ɔsoro timii hɔ.
20Ɛfiri ne nimdeɛ mu na ɔkyekyɛɛ ebunu mu,
na omununkum nso tɔɔ bosuo.
21Me ba, fa atemmuo pa ne nhunumu sie,
na mma ɛmfiri wʼani so;
22ɛbɛyɛ nkwa ama wo,
ahyehyɛdeɛ a ɛma wɔ kɔn nya animuonyam.
23Afei wo kwan so bɛyɛ wo dwoodwoo,
na wo nan rensunti;
24sɛ woda a worensuro;
sɛ woda a wʼani bɛkum.
25Nsuro mpofirim amanehunu
anaa ɔsɛeɛ a ɛba amumuyɛfoɔ so,
26Ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade bɛyɛ wʼawerɛhyɛm
na ɔbɛkora wo nan afiri afidie mu.
27Mfa ade pa nkame wɔn a wɔfata,
ɛberɛ a tumi wɔ wo nsam.
28Nka nkyerɛ wo yɔnko sɛ:
“Kɔ na bra; mede bɛma wo ɔkyena”
wɔ ɛberɛ a wowɔ no saa ɛberɛ no.
29Mpam ɔhaw mma wo yɔnko
ɛberɛ a ɔne wo te yie.
30Mfa ɛso nto obi so kwa
ɛberɛ a ɔnyɛɛ wo bɔne biara.
31Mma wʼani mmere basabasayɛfoɔ,
na mfa nʼakwan no mu biara,
32ɛfiri sɛ Awurade kyiri basabasayɛfoɔ
na ɔde ne werɛ hyɛ ɔteneneeni mu.
33Awurade nnome wɔ omumuyɛfoɔ efie so,
na ɔhyira ɔteneneeni fie.
34Ɔdi fɛdifoɔ a wɔyɛ ahantan ho fɛ
na ɔdom ahobrɛasefoɔ.
35Anyansafoɔ bɛnya animuonyam adi,
nanso nkwaseafoɔ deɛ, ɔma wɔn anim gu ase.
