Proverbs 8
1 It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].
Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Nteaseɛ ma ne nne so.
2 Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.
Ɛkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na ɛgyina,
3 [Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,
apono a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu ho, ɛteam wɔ aboboano hɔ sɛ,
4 “I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!
“Ao, mo mmarimma na meteam mefrɛ; meteam frɛ adasamma nyinaa.
5 You people who do not know how to do things that are smart to do, get sound judgment; you foolish people, get good understanding!
Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, mo mma mo ani nte; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafoɔ, monnya nteaseɛ.
6 Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.
Montie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mebue mʼano ka deɛ ɛyɛ.
7 I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.
Mʼano ka deɛ ɛyɛ nokorɛ, ɛfiri sɛ mʼanofafa kyiri amumuyɛsɛm.
8 Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].
Mʼano mu nsɛm nyinaa yɛ pɛ; ebiara nni mu a ɛyɛ nkontompo anaa nnaadaasɛm.
9 My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
10 [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,
Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ amapa.
11 because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.
Ɛfiri sɛ nimdeɛ som bo sene mmota, na wɔrentumi mfa deɛ wopɛ biara ntoto ho.
12 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.
“Me, nyansa, mene aniteɛ na ɛteɛ; nimdeɛ ne nhunumu wɔ me.
13 [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].
Sɛ wɔsuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wɔkyiri bɔne; mekyiri ahantan ne ahomasoɔ, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
14 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.
Afotuo ne atemmuo pa wɔ me; mewɔ nteaseɛ ne tumi.
15 When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.
Me so na ahemfo nam di adeɛ na sodifoɔ nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
16 Rulers govern their people with the help of me, wisdom, and those who have authority decide things fairly/just with my help.
Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitire nyinaa a wɔdi asase so ɔhene.
17 I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.
Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hunu me.
18 I enable [people] to become rich and to be honored; [I enable them to have] wealth that will last and to be successful.
Ahonyadeɛ ne animuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahodeɛ a ɛkyɛre ne yiedie nso saa ara.
19 What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.
Mʼaba yɛ sene sikakɔkɔɔ amapa; deɛ ɛfiri me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔne so so.
20 I always do what is righteous and just/fair.
Tenenee akwan so na menam atɛntenenee akwan so,
21 I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.
mede ahodeɛ ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan ma ma.
22 Yahweh created me, [wisdom], when he began [to create the world]; he created me [to do my work] before he created anything else.
“Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔdeɛ mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛɛ anim;
23 He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.
ɔyii me sii hɔ firi tete, ansa na ewiase rehyɛ aseɛ.
24 I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.
Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ ɛpo kakraka no ansa na wɔreyɛ nsutire a nsuo ahyɛ no ma no;
25 I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;
ansa na wɔde mmepɔ resisi hɔ, wɔwoo me ansa na nkokoɔ reba,
26 [I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.
ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuo anaa dɔteɛ biara a ɛwɔ asase soɔ.
27 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.
Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ soro, ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa hyeɛ too ebunu no ani no,
28 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.
ɛberɛ a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebunu mu nsutire tintim hɔ denden no,
29 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.
ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa hyeɛ maa ɛpo sɛdeɛ nsuo no rentra ne hyeɛ, ne ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa asase fapem no,
30 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.
na meyɛ odwumfoɔ a mete ne nkyɛn. Anigyeɛ hyɛɛ me ma daa na medii ahurisie wɔ nʼanim ɛberɛ biara,
31 I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.
na mʼani gye wɔ ne ewiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adasamma mu.
32 So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.
“Enti me mma, montie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnante mʼakwan so.
33 Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!
Montie mʼakwankyerɛ na monhunu nyansa; mommu mo ani nngu so.
34 [I am] pleased with those who listen to me, those who are outside my house every day, waiting [for me to come out].
Nhyira ne onipa a ɔtie me, ɔwɛn mʼaboboano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
35 Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.
Na obiara a ɔhunu me no nya nkwa na ɔnya anisɔ firi Awurade nkyɛn.
36 But those who stray away from me [just] harm themselves. All those who hate me, [it is as though] [IRO] they are loving death.”
Na deɛ woanhwehwɛ me no ha ne ho na wɔn a wɔtane me no dɔ owuo.”
