Proverbs 9
1 [It is as though] wisdom [is a woman who] has built a [big] house for herself, and has set up seven columns [to support the roof],
Nyansa asi ne fi; wasisi nʼafadum ason.
2 and has slaughtered an animal [and cooked the meat], and has mixed [nice spices] in the wine, and has put [the food] on the table.
Wasiesie ne nam de afra ne nsa, wato ne pon.
3 [It is as though then] she sent out her servant women to call out from the highest place in the town,
Wasoma ne mmaawa, na ɔfrɛ fi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ se,
4 “You people who need to understand more, come in!” And to those who are ignorant, [it is as though] she calls out,
“Momma ntetekwaafo nyinaa mmra ha!” Ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wonni atemmu se,
5 “Come and eat the food that I [have prepared], and drink the [good] wine that I have mixed!
“Mommra mmedi mʼaduan na monnom nsa a mafra no.
6 (Leave/Go away from) [other] foolish people, and [if you do that, you will continue to] live. Walk on the road that will enable you to (have knowledge/know what is true and what is not true).”
Munnyaw mo ntetekwaasɛm no na mubenya nkwa; monnantew ntease akwan so.”
7 If you rebuke someone who will not allow others to correct him, he will insult you. If you reprove/scold an evil man, he will hurt you.
Nea ɔteɛteɛ ɔfɛwdifo no frɛ ahohorabɔ; na nea ɔka amumɔyɛfo anim no nya ɔyaw.
8 Do not rebuke someone who will not allow others to (correct him/tell him what he has done is wrong), because he will hate you for doing that. [But] if you rebuke a wise person, he will respect you.
Ɛno nti, nka ɔfɛwdifo anim na ɔmmɛtan wo; ka onyansafo anim na ɔbɛdɔ wo.
9 If you give instruction to wise people, they will become wiser. And if you teach righteous people, they will learn more.
Ma onyansafo akwankyerɛ na ɔbɛkɔ so ahu nyansa; kyerɛkyerɛ ɔtreneeni na ɔde bɛka nʼadesua ho.
10 If you want to be wise, you must start by revering Yahweh, and if you know God, the Holy One, you will understand [which teachings are wise/true].
Awurade suro yɛ nyansa mfiase Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ yɛ ntease.
11 If you become wise, you will live many years [DOU].
Me mu na wo nna bɛdɔɔso, na wɔde mfe bɛka wo nkwa ho.
12 If you are wise, you are the one who will benefit from it; if you ridicule [becoming wise], you are the one who will suffer.
Sɛ woyɛ onyansafo a, wubenya wo nyansa so mfaso; sɛ woyɛ ɔfɛwdifo a, wo nko ara na wubehu amane.
13 Foolish women talk loudly; they are ignorant and are never ashamed [of the wrong things that they do].
Ɔbea ɔkwasea yɛ ɔkasafo; onni ahohyɛso na onni nimdeɛ.
14 They sit at the doors of their houses [or] they sit on the top [of the hills] in the town,
Ɔte ne fi pon ano, na ɔte akongua a esi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea,
15 and they call out to the men who are passing by, who are trying to be concerned with their own affairs,
na ɔfrɛfrɛ wɔn a wotwa mu wɔ hɔ, wɔn a wɔnam wɔn kwan so tee se,
16 “You people who need to understand more, come into [my house]!” And to those who are ignorant, they call out,
“Momma ntetekwaafo nyinaa mmra ha” ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wonni atemmu se,
17 “[Just as] water which you have stolen tastes very good and food that you eat by yourself tastes the best, [if you have sex secretly with someone to whom you are not married, you will enjoy it very much].”
“Nsu a wowia no yɛ fremfrem na aduan a wodi no ahintawee no yɛ dɛ!”
