Mmebusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2 Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3 apon a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu no ho, ɛteɛ mu wɔ abobow ano hɔ se,
Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4 “Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, momma mo ani ntew; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafo, munnya ntease.
O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6 Muntie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mibue mʼano ka nea eye.
Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7 Mʼano ka nea ɛyɛ nokware, efisɛ mʼanofafa kyi amumɔyɛsɛm.
For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 Mʼanom nsɛm nyinaa yɛ pɛ; biara nni mu a ɛyɛ nkontompo anaa nnaadaasɛm.
All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9 Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma nea ɔwɔ nhumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa.
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 Efisɛ nimdeɛ som bo sen bota, na worentumi mfa nea wopɛ biara ntoto no ho.
For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 Sɛ wosuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wokyi bɔne; mikyi ahantan ne ahomaso, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14 Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15 Me so na ahemfo nam di ade na sodifo nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16 Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitiriw nyinaa a wodi asase so hene.
By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
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 early shall find me.
18 Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
With me are riches and honor, enduring 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, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20 Trenee akwan so na menam, atɛntrenee akwan so,
I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 mede ahode ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan amaama.
bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔde mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛe anim;
The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
23 oyii me sii hɔ fi tete, ansa na wiase refi ase.
From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ po kakraka no, ansa na wɔreyɛ nsuti a nsu ahyɛ no ma no,
When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing 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.
before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27 Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ ɔsoro, bere a otwaa ɔhye too ebun no ani no,
I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 bere a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebun mu nsuti tintim hɔ dennen no;
when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29 bere a otwaa ɔhye maa po sɛnea nsu no rentra ne hye, ne bere a otwaa asase fapem no,
when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, 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 a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32 “Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34 Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
35 Na obiara a ohu me no nya nkwa, na onya anisɔ fi Awurade nkyɛn.
For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36 Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
