Proverbs 8
1 Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
2 On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
3 Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
apon a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu no ho, ɛteɛ mu wɔ abobow ano hɔ se,
4 Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
“Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
5 Learn, O ye simple, to understand prudence: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, momma mo ani ntew; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafo, munnya ntease.
6 Hear! for of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
Muntie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mibue mʼano ka nea eye.
7 For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
Mʼano ka nea ɛyɛ nokware, efisɛ mʼanofafa kyi amumɔyɛsɛm.
8 In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
Mʼanom nsɛm nyinaa yɛ pɛ; biara nni mu a ɛyɛ nkontompo anaa nnaadaasɛm.
9 They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma nea ɔwɔ nhumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
10 Accept my correction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa.
11 For wisdom is better than pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to her.
Efisɛ nimdeɛ som bo sen bota, na worentumi mfa nea wopɛ biara ntoto no ho.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
“Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
Sɛ wosuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wokyi bɔne; mikyi ahantan ne ahomaso, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
14 Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
15 Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
Me so na ahemfo nam di ade na sodifo nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
16 Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitiriw nyinaa a wodi asase so hene.
17 I indeed love those that love me: and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hu me.
18 Riches and honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
19 My fruit is better than gold, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
Mʼaba ye sen sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa; nea efi me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔn so so.
20 On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst the paths of justice:
Trenee akwan so na menam, atɛntrenee akwan so,
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
mede ahode ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan amaama.
22 The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
“Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔde mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛe anim;
23 From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
oyii me sii hɔ fi tete, ansa na wiase refi ase.
24 When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ po kakraka no, ansa na wɔreyɛ nsuti a nsu ahyɛ no ma no,
25 Before the mountains were yet sunk down, before the hills was I brought forth:
ansa na wɔde mmepɔw resisi hɔ; wɔwoo me ansa na nkoko reba,
26 While as yet he had not made the land and open fields, nor the chief of the dust of the world.
ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuw anaa dɔte biara a ɛwɔ asase so.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ ɔsoro, bere a otwaa ɔhye too ebun no ani no,
28 When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
bere a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebun mu nsuti tintim hɔ dennen no;
29 When he assigned to the sea his decree, that the waters should not transgress his order: when he established firmly the foundations of the earth:
bere a otwaa ɔhye maa po sɛnea nsu no rentra ne hye, ne bere a otwaa asase fapem no,
30 Then was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
na meyɛ odwumfo a mete ne nkyɛn. Anigye hyɛɛ me ma daa na midii ahurusi wɔ nʼanim bere biara,
31 Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
32 And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
“Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
33 Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
34 Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
35 For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
Na obiara a ohu me no nya nkwa, na onya anisɔ fi Awurade nkyɛn.
36 But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
