Mmebusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
Does not wisdom call out, and prudence bestow her voice?
2 Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
At the summits and the tops of exalted places, standing above the ways, in the midst of the paths,
3 apon a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu no ho, ɛteɛ mu wɔ abobow ano hɔ se,
beside the gates of the city, at the very doors, she speaks, saying:
4 “Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
“O men, to you I call out, 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 little ones, understand discernment. And you who are unwise, turn your souls.
6 Muntie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mibue mʼano ka nea eye.
Listen, for I will speak about great things, and my lips will be opened, so as to foretell what is right.
7 Mʼano ka nea ɛyɛ nokware, efisɛ mʼanofafa kyi amumɔyɛsɛm.
My throat shall practice truth, and my lips shall detest the impious.
8 Mʼanom nsɛm nyinaa yɛ pɛ; biara nni mu a ɛyɛ nkontompo anaa nnaadaasɛm.
All my words are just. There is no depravity in them, and no perversity.
9 Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma nea ɔwɔ nhumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
They are upright to those who understand, and equitable to those who discover knowledge.
10 Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa.
Accept my discipline, and not money. Choose the doctrine that is greater than gold.
11 Efisɛ nimdeɛ som bo sen bota, na worentumi mfa nea wopɛ biara ntoto no ho.
For wisdom is better than all that is most precious, and everything that is desirable cannot compare to her.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and I am inside learned thoughts.
13 Sɛ wosuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wokyi bɔne; mikyi ahantan ne ahomaso, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
The fear of the Lord hates evil. I detest arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
14 Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
Counsel is mine, and equity. Prudence is mine. Strength is mine.
15 Me so na ahemfo nam di ade na sodifo nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
Through me, kings reign and legislators decree just conditions.
16 Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitiriw nyinaa a wodi asase so hene.
Through me, princes rule and the powerful decree justice.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hu me.
I love those who love me. And those who stand watch for me until morning shall discover me.
18 Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
With me, are wealth and glory, superb riches and justice.
19 Mʼaba ye sen sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa; nea efi me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔn so so.
For my fruit is better than gold and precious stones, and my progeny better than choice silver.
20 Trenee akwan so na menam, atɛntrenee akwan so,
I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21 mede ahode ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan amaama.
so that I may enrich those who love me, and thus complete their treasures.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔde mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛe anim;
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made anything, from the beginning.
23 oyii me sii hɔ fi tete, ansa na wiase refi ase.
I was ordained from eternity, and out of antiquity, before the earth was formed.
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ po kakraka no, ansa na wɔreyɛ nsuti a nsu ahyɛ no ma no,
The abyss did not yet exist, and I was already conceived; neither had the fountains of waters yet erupted.
25 ansa na wɔde mmepɔw resisi hɔ; wɔwoo me ansa na nkoko reba,
The mountains, with their great mass, had not yet been established. Before the hills, I was brought forth.
26 ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuw anaa dɔte biara a ɛwɔ asase so.
Still he had not made the earth, and the rivers, and the poles of the globe of the earth.
27 Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ ɔsoro, bere a otwaa ɔhye too ebun no ani no,
I was already present: when he prepared the heavens; when, with a certain law and a circuit, he fortified the abyss;
28 bere a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebun mu nsuti tintim hɔ dennen no;
when he made firm the sky above, and set free the fountains of waters;
29 bere a otwaa ɔhye maa po sɛnea nsu no rentra ne hye, ne bere a otwaa asase fapem no,
when he encompassed the sea within its limits, and laid down a law for the waters, lest they transgress their limits; when he weighed 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,
I was with him in composing all things. And I was delighted, throughout every day, by playing in his sight at all times,
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
playing in globe of the earth. And my delight was to be with the sons of men.
32 “Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
Therefore, sons, hear me now. Blessed are those who preserve my ways.
33 Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
Listen to discipline, and become wise, and do not be willing to cast it aside.
34 Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, and who stands watch at my gates every day, and who observes at the posts of my doors.
35 Na obiara a ohu me no nya nkwa, na onya anisɔ fi Awurade nkyɛn.
He who finds me, finds life, and he will draw salvation from the Lord.
36 Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
But he who sins against me will wound his own soul. All who hate me love death.”
