Awicyih 8
1 Cyihnaak ing khyy nawh, zaaksimnaak ing ak awi am yy nawh aw?
It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].
2 Lampyi hoeiawh, lampyi kengsam hoeiawh ce dyi hy.
Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.
3 Khawk khui lutnak vawng kengawh, vawngkawt kengawh ce dyi nawh thayy ing khyy hy.
[Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,
4 Aw nangmih thlanghqing khqi, nik khy khqi nyng, kak awi ve thlanghqing khqi ham ni.
“I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!
5 Aw nangmih thlangzap khqi, khingaihnaak ve toen lah uh; nangmih thlakqaw khqi aw, cyihnaak kawlung toen lah uh.
You people who do not know how to do things that are smart to do, get sound judgment; you foolish people, get good understanding!
6 Ngaih lah uh, nangmih ham awileek soeih kqawn hly nyng, kak awi kqawn boeih ve ak thyym boeih ni.
Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.
7 Ka huui ing awihthyym saa nawh, kam lai ing them amak leek ce maa hy.
I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.
8 Kam khaa awhkaw awilung boeih ve amak thyym ingkaw hoet ham kawi am awm hy.
Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].
9 Ak zaasiim ham dang pheng nawh, cyihnaak ak taa khqi ham a hqeenaak pynoet awm am awm hy.
My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
10 Ngun lakawh toelthamnaak ce tyk nawh, sui lakawh cyihnaak ce tyk lah.
[If someone offers you the kind of teaching I give] or offers you silver, choose my teaching. [If he offers to show you how to be wise] or offers you gold, choose to know how to be wise,
11 Cyihnaak taw suilung ang lakawh a phu tlo ngai nawh anih ingqawi myihteh ham kawi ak chang am awm voel hy.
because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.
12 Kai, cyihnak taw, ngaihtaaknaak ing awm haih nih nyng, cyihnaak ingkaw ngaihtaaknaak ce ta nyng.
I, wisdom, and understanding of what is smart to do, cannot be separated. We are like two people who live in the same house. I know how to be wise and how to make smart decisions.
13 Bawipa kqihchah taw amak leek them sawhnaak ni; oequnaak, hoelqunaak, khawboe seetnaak ingkaw amak thyym awikqawnnaak khqi ce sawh na nyng.
[All the people] who revere Yahweh hate evil. I, wisdom, hate [people who are] proud and [people] who think they are more important [than others]. I hate [people who] behave in an evil way and those who say things to deceive [others].
14 Khawkhannaak ak thyym ingkaw siimnaak ak thyym ce ka koe ni; simthainaak ingkaw saithainaak awm ka koe ni.
I give [people] good advice and I enable them to do things that are wise. I understand how things really are, and I am strong.
15 Kaih caming boeikhqi ing boei ngawihnaak awh ngawi unawh, ukkungkhqi ing ak thyymna awitlyk uhy.
When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.
16 Kaih caming sangpahrangkhqi ing awitlyk unawh, kyiqangkhqi ingkaw khawmdek ukkungkhqi boeih ing awm.
Rulers govern their people with the help of me, wisdom, and those who have authority decide things fairly/just with my help.
17 Kai a nik lungnaak thlangkhqi ce lungnak khqi nyng, kai a nik sui thlangkhqi ing ni hu kawm uh.
I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.
18 Khawhthem ingkaw boeimangnaak khqi ka venawh awm nawh, kyihcahnaak ingkaw dyngnaak khqi boeih awm ka venawh awm hy.
I enable [people] to become rich and to be honored; [I enable them to have] wealth that will last and to be successful.
19 Kak thaih taw sui lakawh a phu tlo nawh ngun ak leek soeih lakawh awm a phu tlo ngai hy.
What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.
20 Dyngnaak lampyi awh cet nyng, ak thyym lampyi ce tut nyng.
I always do what is righteous and just/fair.
21 Kai a nik lungnak thlangkhqi venawh khawh ing bee khqi nawh ami qo bawm ce kak bee nak pek khqi hamna.
I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.
22 Bawipa ing a theem syyn lammaacyk amyihna kai ni ta nawh, syynawh a them seh cyk awhkawng ce.
Yahweh created me, [wisdom], when he began [to create the world]; he created me [to do my work] before he created anything else.
23 Kumqui hamna, ak cyk soeihna syynna awm nyng, khawmdek a syyn hlan awh.
He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.
24 Tuicunlii a syyn hlannawh lawngcatui ang lawng hlanawh syynna awm hawh nyng.
I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.
25 Tlang khqi a awm hlannawh khawmcung khqi a awm hlanawh kai syyn hawh nyng.
I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;
26 Khawmdek ingkaw khawhyn khawqaam khqi a syyn hlannawh dekvaai awm a awm hlanawh kai syyn hawh nyng.
[I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.
27 Khan ce amah a hyynawh a taak nawh tuidung haaiawh lawnglam a sai hlanawh syyn hawh nyng.
I was there when Yahweh put the sky in place, when he marked the place [in the distance] where the sky and the oceans [seem to] come together.
28 A saangnak khan hyynawh ciingmaikhqi a sah sak nawh tuicunlii khuina ak lawng tuihawk khqi a sai huiawh,
I was there when Yahweh put the clouds above [the earth] and when he caused the water that is inside the earth to be secure.
29 Tui ing ak awipek ama poengnaak thai ham tuicunlii awhkaw langhak khqi, lawngca ang lawngnaak khawqii khqi a sai huiawh syyn awh nyngp
I was there when he fixed a boundary for the seas, so that the water in the seas would not go past those boundaries, and when he put down the foundations which support the earth.
30 Kutthoem thlang amyihna avenawh awm pe nyng, a awmhlynaakna awm nyng, a venawh awmhlynaak ing bee poepa lawt nyng.
I was at the side of Yahweh, the master worker (OR, as though I was his child). I caused him to be happy every day, and I was always rejoicing when I was with him.
31 A khawmdek saiawh awmhlynaak ta nyng saw thlanghqing khqi khanawh zeelmangnaak ta nyng.
I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.
32 Cedawngawh, ka ca khqi, kak awi ngai lah uh, ka lam ak tut khqi taw a zoseen thlang khqi ni.
So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.
33 Ka cawngpyinaak ve haana unawh cyi unawh koeh maa uh.
Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!
34 Kak chawmkeng awh qeh nawh, ka ipkhui kawtawh qeh nawh kak awi ak ngai ak zaa thlang taw a zoseen thlang ni.
[I am] pleased with those who listen to me, those who are outside my house every day, waiting [for me to come out].
35 Anik hu ak thlang boeih ing hqingnaak hu unawh, Khawsa huhhlynaak ce ham kawm uh.
Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.
36 Cehlai, kai anik hang ak thlang taw a hqingnaak ak khanawh kut ak thlaana awm kawm saw, kai anik sawhnaak ak thlang taw thihnaak ak lungnaak ak thlangna awm kaw.
But those who stray away from me [just] harm themselves. All those who hate me, [it is as though] [IRO] they are loving death.”
