Mmebusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
2 Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
3 apon a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu no ho, ɛteɛ mu wɔ abobow ano hɔ se,
Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
4 “Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
5 Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, momma mo ani ntew; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafo, munnya ntease.
You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
6 Muntie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mibue mʼano ka nea eye.
Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
7 Mʼano ka nea ɛyɛ nokware, efisɛ mʼanofafa kyi amumɔyɛsɛm.
For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8 Mʼanom nsɛm nyinaa yɛ pɛ; biara nni mu a ɛyɛ nkontompo anaa nnaadaasɛm.
All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
9 Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma nea ɔwɔ nhumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
10 Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa.
Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 Efisɛ nimdeɛ som bo sen bota, na worentumi mfa nea wopɛ biara ntoto no ho.
For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 Sɛ wosuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wokyi bɔne; mikyi ahantan ne ahomaso, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
14 Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
15 Me so na ahemfo nam di ade na sodifo nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
16 Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitiriw nyinaa a wodi asase so hene.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hu me.
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
18 Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth 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; my produce is better than pure silver.
20 Trenee akwan so na menam, atɛntrenee akwan so,
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
21 mede ahode ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan amaama.
As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔde mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛe anim;
Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
23 oyii me sii hɔ fi tete, ansa na wiase refi ase.
In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ po kakraka no, ansa na wɔreyɛ nsuti a nsu ahyɛ no ma no,
Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
25 ansa na wɔde mmepɔw resisi hɔ; wɔwoo me ansa na nkoko reba,
Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
26 ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuw anaa dɔte biara a ɛwɔ asase so.
I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.
27 Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ ɔsoro, bere a otwaa ɔhye too ebun no ani no,
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
28 bere a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebun mu nsuti tintim hɔ dennen no;
I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
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 made his limit for the sea, so the waters should not spread beyond his command, and when there was set the limit for the foundations of the dry land.
30 na meyɛ odwumfo a mete ne nkyɛn. Anigye hyɛɛ me ma daa na midii ahurusi wɔ nʼanim bere biara,
I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
32 “Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
33 Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
34 Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
The one who listens to me will be blessed. He will be watching every day at my doors, waiting beside the posts of my doors.
35 Na obiara a ohu me no nya nkwa, na onya anisɔ fi Awurade nkyɛn.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
36 Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
