Mmebusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding put forth her voice?
2 Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 apon a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu no ho, ɛteɛ mu wɔ abobow ano hɔ se,
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she cries aloud:
4 “Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
To you, O men, I call. And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, momma mo ani ntew; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafo, munnya ntease.
O ye simple, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Muntie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mibue mʼano ka nea eye.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 Mʼano ka nea ɛyɛ nokware, efisɛ mʼanofafa kyi amumɔyɛsɛm.
For my mouth shall utter truth. And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 Mʼanom nsɛm nyinaa yɛ pɛ; biara nni mu a ɛyɛ nkontompo anaa nnaadaasɛm.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma nea ɔwɔ nhumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.
10 Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa.
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 Efisɛ nimdeɛ som bo sen bota, na worentumi mfa nea wopɛ biara ntoto no ho.
For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling, and find out knowledge and discretion.
13 Sɛ wosuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wokyi bɔne; mikyi ahantan ne ahomaso, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil. Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.
14 Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge. I am understanding, I have might.
15 Me so na ahemfo nam di ade na sodifo nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.
16 Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitiriw nyinaa a wodi asase so hene.
By me rulers rule, and ranking men, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hu me.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently shall find me.
18 Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
Riches and honor are with me, durable wealth and righteousness.
19 Mʼaba ye sen sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa; nea efi me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔn so so.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.
20 Trenee akwan so na menam, atɛntrenee akwan so,
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice,
21 mede ahode ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan amaama.
that I may cause those who love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔde mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛe anim;
Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 oyii me sii hɔ fi tete, ansa na wiase refi ase.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth was,
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ po kakraka no, ansa na wɔreyɛ nsuti a nsu ahyɛ no ma no,
when there were no depths. I was brought forth when there were no fountains abounding with water,
25 ansa na wɔde mmepɔw resisi hɔ; wɔwoo me ansa na nkoko reba,
before the mountains were settled, before the hills. I was brought forth
26 ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuw anaa dɔte biara a ɛwɔ asase so.
while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ ɔsoro, bere a otwaa ɔhye too ebun no ani no,
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28 bere a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebun mu nsuti tintim hɔ dennen no;
when he made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong,
29 bere a otwaa ɔhye maa po sɛnea nsu no rentra ne hye, ne bere a otwaa asase fapem no,
when he gave to the sea its bound that the waters should not transgress his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 na meyɛ odwumfo a mete ne nkyɛn. Anigye hyɛɛ me ma daa na midii ahurusi wɔ nʼanim bere biara,
then I was by him, a master workman. And I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him,
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
rejoicing in his habitable earth. And my delight was with the sons of men.
32 “Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
Now therefore, ye sons, hearken to me. For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not refuse it.
34 Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 Na obiara a ohu me no nya nkwa, na onya anisɔ fi Awurade nkyɛn.
For he who finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor of Jehovah.
36 Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.
