Mmebusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
Doth not wisdom cry aloud, And understanding put forth her voice?
2 Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
Upon the top of the high places, By the wayside, In the cross-ways, She taketh her station.
3 apon a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu no ho, ɛteɛ mu wɔ abobow ano hɔ se,
By the side of the gates, In the entrance of the city, In the approaches to the doors, she crieth aloud.
4 “Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
“To you, O men! do 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 simple ones! learn wisdom, 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 speak excellent things, And my lips utter that which is right.
7 Mʼano ka nea ɛyɛ nokware, efisɛ mʼanofafa kyi amumɔyɛsɛm.
For my mouth speaketh 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 uprightness; There is nothing crooked or deceitful 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 the man of understanding, And right to those who 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 pearls, And no precious things are to be compared with her.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out the knowledge of sagacious counsels.
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 arrogance, and the evil way, And the deceitful mouth, do I hate.
14 Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
Counsel is mine, and sound reason; I am understanding; I have strength.
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 they who seek me early shall find me.
18 Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable riches and prosperity.
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 revenue 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 equity.
21 mede ahode ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan amaama.
I cause those who love me to possess substance; Yea, I fill their treasuries.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔde mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛe anim;
“The LORD created me, the firstling of his course, Before his works, of old;
23 oyii me sii hɔ fi tete, ansa na wiase refi ase.
I was anointed from everlasting, From the beginning, even before the earth was made.
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ po kakraka no, ansa na wɔreyɛ nsuti a nsu ahyɛ no ma no,
When as yet there were no deeps, I was brought forth. When there were no springs, abounding with water.
25 ansa na wɔde mmepɔw resisi hɔ; wɔwoo me ansa na nkoko reba,
Before the mountains were settled, Yea, before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuw anaa dɔte biara a ɛwɔ asase so.
Ere yet he had made the land and the wastes, And the first of the clods of the earth.
27 Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ ɔsoro, bere a otwaa ɔhye too ebun no ani no,
When he framed the heavens, I was there; When he drew 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 sky above, And the fountains of the deep rushed forth;
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 its bounds, that the waters should not pass their border; When he marked 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 was I by him as a master-builder; I was his delight day by day, Exulting before him at all times;
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
Exulting in the habitable part of his earth, And my delight was with the sons of men.
32 “Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
“Now, therefore, ye children, hearken to me! For happy are they who keep my ways!
33 Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
Hear instruction, and be wise! Yea, reject it not!
34 Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
Happy the man who hearkeneth to me, Who watcheth day by day at my gates, Who waiteth at the posts of my doors;
35 Na obiara a ohu me no nya nkwa, na onya anisɔ fi Awurade nkyɛn.
For he that findeth me findeth life, And obtaineth favor from the LORD;
36 Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
But he who misseth me doeth violence to himself; All they who hate me love death.”
