Mmebusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
You shall proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to you.
2 Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
3 apon a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu no ho, ɛteɛ mu wɔ abobow ano hɔ se,
For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
4 “Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
5 Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, momma mo ani ntew; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafo, munnya ntease.
O you simple, understand subtlety, and you that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
6 Muntie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mibue mʼano ka nea eye.
Listen to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
7 Mʼano ka nea ɛyɛ nokware, efisɛ mʼanofafa kyi amumɔyɛsɛm.
For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
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 in them wrong or perverse.
9 Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma nea ɔwɔ nhumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
10 Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa.
Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
11 Efisɛ nimdeɛ som bo sen bota, na worentumi mfa nea wopɛ biara ntoto no ho.
For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
I wisdom have lived [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
13 Sɛ wosuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wokyi bɔne; mikyi ahantan ne ahomaso, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
14 Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength 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 nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hu me.
I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
18 Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
Wealth and glory belong to me; yes, abundant possessions and righteousness.
19 Mʼaba ye sen sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa; nea efi me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔn so so.
[It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
20 Trenee akwan so na menam, atɛntrenee akwan so,
I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgment;
21 mede ahode ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan amaama.
that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember [also] to recount the things of old.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔde mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛe anim;
The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
23 oyii me sii hɔ fi tete, ansa na wiase refi ase.
He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ po kakraka no, ansa na wɔreyɛ nsuti a nsu ahyɛ no ma no,
even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
25 ansa na wɔde mmepɔw resisi hɔ; wɔwoo me ansa na nkoko reba,
before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
26 ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuw anaa dɔte biara a ɛwɔ asase so.
The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts of the world.
27 Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ ɔsoro, bere a otwaa ɔhye too ebun no ani no,
When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
28 bere a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebun mu nsuti tintim hɔ dennen no;
and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
29 bere a otwaa ɔhye maa po sɛnea nsu no rentra ne hye, ne bere a otwaa asase fapem no,
decree. and when he strengthened 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 by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.
32 “Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall listen to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
33 Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
[Hear wisdom and be wise, and be not strangers to it. ]
34 Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
35 Na obiara a ohu me no nya nkwa, na onya anisɔ fi Awurade nkyɛn.
For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favor from the Lord.
36 Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.
