Mmebusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].
2 Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.
3 apon a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu no ho, ɛteɛ mu wɔ abobow ano hɔ se,
[Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,
4 “Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
“I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!
5 Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, momma mo ani ntew; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafo, munnya ntease.
You people who do not know how to do things that are smart to do, get sound judgment; you foolish people, get good understanding!
6 Muntie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mibue mʼano ka nea eye.
Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.
7 Mʼano ka nea ɛyɛ nokware, efisɛ mʼanofafa kyi amumɔyɛsɛm.
I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.
8 Mʼanom nsɛm nyinaa yɛ pɛ; biara nni mu a ɛyɛ nkontompo anaa nnaadaasɛm.
Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].
9 Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma nea ɔwɔ nhumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
10 Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa.
[If someone offers you the kind of teaching I give] or offers you silver, choose my teaching. [If he offers to show you how to be wise] or offers you gold, choose to know how to be wise,
11 Efisɛ nimdeɛ som bo sen bota, na worentumi mfa nea wopɛ biara ntoto no ho.
because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
I, wisdom, and understanding of what is smart to do, cannot be separated. We are like two people who live in the same house. I know how to be wise and how to make smart decisions.
13 Sɛ wosuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wokyi bɔne; mikyi ahantan ne ahomaso, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
[All the people] who revere Yahweh hate evil. I, wisdom, hate [people who are] proud and [people] who think they are more important [than others]. I hate [people who] behave in an evil way and those who say things to deceive [others].
14 Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
I give [people] good advice and I enable them to do things that are wise. I understand how things really are, and I am strong.
15 Me so na ahemfo nam di ade na sodifo nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.
16 Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitiriw nyinaa a wodi asase so hene.
Rulers govern their people with the help of me, wisdom, and those who have authority decide things fairly/just with my help.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hu me.
I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.
18 Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
I enable [people] to become rich and to be honored; [I enable them to have] wealth that will last and to be successful.
19 Mʼaba ye sen sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa; nea efi me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔn so so.
What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.
20 Trenee akwan so na menam, atɛntrenee akwan so,
I always do what is righteous and just/fair.
21 mede ahode ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan amaama.
I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔde mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛe anim;
Yahweh created me, [wisdom], when he began [to create the world]; he created me [to do my work] before he created anything else.
23 oyii me sii hɔ fi tete, ansa na wiase refi ase.
He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ po kakraka no, ansa na wɔreyɛ nsuti a nsu ahyɛ no ma no,
I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.
25 ansa na wɔde mmepɔw resisi hɔ; wɔwoo me ansa na nkoko reba,
I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;
26 ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuw anaa dɔte biara a ɛwɔ asase so.
[I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.
27 Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ ɔsoro, bere a otwaa ɔhye too ebun no ani no,
I was there when Yahweh put the sky in place, when he marked the place [in the distance] where the sky and the oceans [seem to] come together.
28 bere a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebun mu nsuti tintim hɔ dennen no;
I was there when Yahweh put the clouds above [the earth] and when he caused the water that is inside the earth to be secure.
29 bere a otwaa ɔhye maa po sɛnea nsu no rentra ne hye, ne bere a otwaa asase fapem no,
I was there when he fixed a boundary for the seas, so that the water in the seas would not go past those boundaries, and when he put down the foundations which support the earth.
30 na meyɛ odwumfo a mete ne nkyɛn. Anigye hyɛɛ me ma daa na midii ahurusi wɔ nʼanim bere biara,
I was at the side of Yahweh, the master worker (OR, as though I was his child). I caused him to be happy every day, and I was always rejoicing when I was with him.
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.
32 “Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.
33 Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!
34 Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
[I am] pleased with those who listen to me, those who are outside my house every day, waiting [for me to come out].
35 Na obiara a ohu me no nya nkwa, na onya anisɔ fi Awurade nkyɛn.
Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.
36 Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
But those who stray away from me [just] harm themselves. All those who hate me, [it is as though] [IRO] they are loving death.”
