Mmebusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
Does wisdom not call? And understanding give forth her voice?
2 Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
At the head of high places by the way, She has stood between the paths,
3 apon a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu no ho, ɛteɛ mu wɔ abobow ano hɔ se,
At the side of the gates, at the mouth of the city, The entrance of the openings, she cries aloud,
4 “Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
“To 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.
Understand, you simple ones, prudence, And you fools, understand the heart,
6 Muntie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mibue mʼano ka nea eye.
Listen, for I speak noble things, And the opening of my lips [is] uprightness.
7 Mʼano ka nea ɛyɛ nokware, efisɛ mʼanofafa kyi amumɔyɛsɛm.
For my mouth utters 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 sayings of my mouth [are] in righteousness, Nothing in them is contrary and perverse.
9 Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma nea ɔwɔ nhumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
All of them [are] plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding 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, Indeed, all delights are not comparable with it.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And I find out a knowledge of purposes.
13 Sɛ wosuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wokyi bɔne; mikyi ahantan ne ahomaso, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
The fear of YHWH [is] to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and an evil way, And a contrary mouth, I have hated.
14 Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
Counsel and substance [are] mine, I [am] understanding, I have might.
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 righteousness,
16 Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitiriw nyinaa a wodi asase so hene.
By me chiefs rule, and nobles, All judges of earth.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hu me.
I love those loving me, And those seeking me earnestly find me.
18 Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
Wealth and honor [are] with me, Lasting substance and righteousness.
19 Mʼaba ye sen sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa; nea efi me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔn so so.
My fruit [is] better than gold, even fine gold, And my increase than choice silver.
20 Trenee akwan so na menam, atɛntrenee akwan so,
I cause to walk in a path of righteousness, In midst of paths of judgment,
21 mede ahode ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan amaama.
To cause my lovers to inherit substance, Indeed, I fill their treasures.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔde mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛe anim;
YHWH possessed me—the beginning of His way, Before His works since then.
23 oyii me sii hɔ fi tete, ansa na wiase refi ase.
I was anointed from the age, from the first, From former states of the earth.
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ po kakraka no, ansa na wɔreyɛ nsuti a nsu ahyɛ no ma no,
In there being no depths, I was brought forth, In there being no fountains heavy [with] waters,
25 ansa na wɔde mmepɔw resisi hɔ; wɔwoo me ansa na nkoko reba,
Before mountains were sunk, Before heights, I was brought forth.
26 ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuw anaa dɔte biara a ɛwɔ asase so.
While He had not made the earth, and out-places, And the top of the dusts of the world.
27 Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ ɔsoro, bere a otwaa ɔhye too ebun no ani no,
In His preparing the heavens I [am] there, In His decreeing a circle on the face of the deep,
28 bere a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebun mu nsuti tintim hɔ dennen no;
In His strengthening clouds above, In His making strong fountains of the deep,
29 bere a otwaa ɔhye maa po sɛnea nsu no rentra ne hye, ne bere a otwaa asase fapem no,
In His setting for the sea its limit, And the waters do not transgress His command, In His decreeing the foundations of earth,
30 na meyɛ odwumfo a mete ne nkyɛn. Anigye hyɛɛ me ma daa na midii ahurusi wɔ nʼanim bere biara,
Then I am near Him, a workman, And I am a delight—day by day. Rejoicing before Him at all times,
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights [are] with the sons of men.
32 “Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
And now, you sons, listen to me, Indeed, blessed are they who keep my ways.
33 Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not slight.
34 Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
O the blessedness of the man listening to me, To watch at my doors day by day, To watch at the doorposts of my entrance.
35 Na obiara a ohu me no nya nkwa, na onya anisɔ fi Awurade nkyɛn.
For whoever is finding me, has found life, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
36 Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
And whoever is missing me, is wronging his soul, All hating me have loved death!”
