Mmebusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
2 Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
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 crieth aloud:
4 “Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
'Unto 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 thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye 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 perverse or crooked 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 that understandeth, and right to them that 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 things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.
13 Sɛ wosuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wokyi bɔne; mikyi ahantan ne ahomaso, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
15 Me so na ahemfo nam di ade na sodifo nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitiriw nyinaa a wodi asase so hene.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hu me.
I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches 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 produce 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 that 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;
The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of 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, or ever 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 was I 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 showed their might,
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 His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed 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, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.
32 “Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
33 Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth to 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 whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
36 Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'
