Mmebusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
Isn't wisdom calling? Isn't understanding raising her voice?
2 Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
On the top of the hill by the road, she stands up at the crossroads.
3 apon a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu no ho, ɛteɛ mu wɔ abobow ano hɔ se,
Beside the gates of the town, right there at the entrance, she cries out:
4 “Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
“I'm calling out to you, everyone! My call is to everyone in the whole world!
5 Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, momma mo ani ntew; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafo, munnya ntease.
If you're immature, learn how to grow up. If you're stupid, learn what makes good sense.
6 Muntie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mibue mʼano ka nea eye.
Listen to me because I have valuable things to explain to you.
7 Mʼano ka nea ɛyɛ nokware, efisɛ mʼanofafa kyi amumɔyɛsɛm.
I say what's right, because I tell the truth and I hate wickedness in all its forms.
8 Mʼanom nsɛm nyinaa yɛ pɛ; biara nni mu a ɛyɛ nkontompo anaa nnaadaasɛm.
All the words I say are true; none are false or misleading.
9 Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma nea ɔwɔ nhumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
My words are straightforward to anyone with understanding; they are correct to those who have knowledge.
10 Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa.
Choose my instruction over silver; choose knowledge over pure gold.
11 Efisɛ nimdeɛ som bo sen bota, na worentumi mfa nea wopɛ biara ntoto no ho.
For wisdom is more valuable than rubies; everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
12 “Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
I, wisdom, am at home with good decisions. I know how to find knowledge and discernment.
13 Sɛ wosuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wokyi bɔne; mikyi ahantan ne ahomaso, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
Honoring the Lord means hating evil. So I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behavior and telling lies.
14 Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
I have advice and good judgment; I know what makes sense, and I have power.
15 Me so na ahemfo nam di ade na sodifo nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
It's because of me that kings reign, and rulers issue fair decrees.
16 Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitiriw nyinaa a wodi asase so hene.
It's because of me that leaders and nobles govern—all who rule justly.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hu me.
I love those who love me, and those who really look for me will find me.
18 Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
With me go riches and honor, lasting wealth and prosperity.
19 Mʼaba ye sen sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa; nea efi me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔn so so.
The fruit I produce is better than gold, even pure gold, and my harvest is better than even the best silver.
20 Trenee akwan so na menam, atɛntrenee akwan so,
I live in a way that's right; I follow the paths of justice.
21 mede ahode ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan amaama.
I grant wealth to those who love me; I fill their treasure storehouses.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔde mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛe anim;
The Lord created me first of all; I was made before anything else.
23 oyii me sii hɔ fi tete, ansa na wiase refi ase.
I was formed a long time ago, at the first, before the world began.
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ po kakraka no, ansa na wɔreyɛ nsuti a nsu ahyɛ no ma no,
I was born when there were no ocean depths, when there were no springs pouring out water.
25 ansa na wɔde mmepɔw resisi hɔ; wɔwoo me ansa na nkoko reba,
I was born before the mountains or the hills had been formed,
26 ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuw anaa dɔte biara a ɛwɔ asase so.
when he hadn't made the earth and its fields or any of the earth's dust.
27 Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ ɔsoro, bere a otwaa ɔhye too ebun no ani no,
I was there when he placed the heavens in position, when he drew the horizon over the ocean,
28 bere a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebun mu nsuti tintim hɔ dennen no;
when he made the clouds in the sky above, when he created the springs of the oceans,
29 bere a otwaa ɔhye maa po sɛnea nsu no rentra ne hye, ne bere a otwaa asase fapem no,
when he set limits on the sea so that the waters would not go farther than he ordered, and when he laid 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 beside him as a master craftsman. I made him happy every day, and I was always full of joy in his presence.
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
I was so happy in the world he created, celebrating together with human beings.
32 “Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
And now, my sons, listen to me, for happy are those who follow my ways.
33 Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
Listen to my instruction and be wise—do not reject it.
34 Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me every day at my doors, waiting at my entrance way.
35 Na obiara a ohu me no nya nkwa, na onya anisɔ fi Awurade nkyɛn.
For those who find me, find life, and are accepted by the Lord.
36 Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
But those who don't find me hurt themselves; everyone who hates me loves death.”
