Proverbs 8
1 You shall proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to you.
Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Nteaseɛ ma ne nne so.
2 For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
Ɛkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na ɛgyina,
3 For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
apono a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu ho, ɛteam wɔ aboboano hɔ sɛ,
4 You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
“Ao, mo mmarimma na meteam mefrɛ; meteam frɛ adasamma nyinaa.
5 O you simple, understand subtlety, and you that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, mo mma mo ani nte; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafoɔ, monnya nteaseɛ.
6 Listen to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
Montie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mebue mʼano ka deɛ ɛyɛ.
7 For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
Mʼano ka deɛ ɛyɛ nokorɛ, ɛfiri sɛ mʼanofafa kyiri amumuyɛsɛm.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
Mʼano mu nsɛm nyinaa yɛ pɛ; ebiara nni mu a ɛyɛ nkontompo anaa nnaadaasɛm.
9 They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
10 Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ amapa.
11 For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
Ɛfiri sɛ nimdeɛ som bo sene mmota, na wɔrentumi mfa deɛ wopɛ biara ntoto ho.
12 I wisdom have lived [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
“Me, nyansa, mene aniteɛ na ɛteɛ; nimdeɛ ne nhunumu wɔ me.
13 The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
Sɛ wɔsuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wɔkyiri bɔne; mekyiri ahantan ne ahomasoɔ, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
14 Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
Afotuo ne atemmuo pa wɔ me; mewɔ nteaseɛ ne tumi.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Me so na ahemfo nam di adeɛ na sodifoɔ nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
16 By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitire nyinaa a wɔdi asase so ɔhene.
17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hunu me.
18 Wealth and glory belong to me; yes, abundant possessions and righteousness.
Ahonyadeɛ ne animuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahodeɛ a ɛkyɛre ne yiedie nso saa ara.
19 [It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
Mʼaba yɛ sene sikakɔkɔɔ amapa; deɛ ɛfiri me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔne so so.
20 I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgment;
Tenenee akwan so na menam atɛntenenee akwan so,
21 that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember [also] to recount the things of old.
mede ahodeɛ ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan ma ma.
22 The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
“Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔdeɛ mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛɛ anim;
23 He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
ɔyii me sii hɔ firi tete, ansa na ewiase rehyɛ aseɛ.
24 even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ ɛpo kakraka no ansa na wɔreyɛ nsutire a nsuo ahyɛ no ma no;
25 before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
ansa na wɔde mmepɔ resisi hɔ, wɔwoo me ansa na nkokoɔ reba,
26 The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts of the world.
ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuo anaa dɔteɛ biara a ɛwɔ asase soɔ.
27 When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ soro, ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa hyeɛ too ebunu no ani no,
28 and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
ɛberɛ a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebunu mu nsutire tintim hɔ denden no,
29 decree. and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:
ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa hyeɛ maa ɛpo sɛdeɛ nsuo no rentra ne hyeɛ, ne ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa asase fapem no,
30 I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
na meyɛ odwumfoɔ a mete ne nkyɛn. Anigyeɛ hyɛɛ me ma daa na medii ahurisie wɔ nʼanim ɛberɛ biara,
31 For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.
na mʼani gye wɔ ne ewiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adasamma mu.
32 Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall listen to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
“Enti me mma, montie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnante mʼakwan so.
33 [Hear wisdom and be wise, and be not strangers to it. ]
Montie mʼakwankyerɛ na monhunu nyansa; mommu mo ani nngu so.
34 watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
Nhyira ne onipa a ɔtie me, ɔwɛn mʼaboboano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
35 For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favor from the Lord.
Na obiara a ɔhunu me no nya nkwa na ɔnya anisɔ firi Awurade nkyɛn.
36 But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.
Na deɛ woanhwehwɛ me no ha ne ho na wɔn a wɔtane me no dɔ owuo.”
