Mmebusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2 Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 apon a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu no ho, ɛteɛ mu wɔ abobow ano hɔ se,
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 “Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
“I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, momma mo ani ntew; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafo, munnya ntease.
You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
6 Muntie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mibue mʼano ka nea eye.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 Mʼano ka nea ɛyɛ nokware, efisɛ mʼanofafa kyi amumɔyɛsɛm.
For my mouth speaks truth. 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 righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse 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 him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
10 Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa.
Receive my instruction rather than silver, 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. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
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. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
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, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hu me.
I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 Mʼaba ye sen sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa; nea efi me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔn so so.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
20 Trenee akwan so na menam, atɛntrenee akwan so,
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
21 mede ahode ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan amaama.
that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔde mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛe anim;
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
23 oyii me sii hɔ fi tete, ansa na wiase refi ase.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ po kakraka no, ansa na wɔreyɛ nsuti a nsu ahyɛ no ma no,
When there were no depths, I was born, 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 in place, before the hills, I was born;
26 ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuw anaa dɔte biara a ɛwɔ asase so.
while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ ɔsoro, bere a otwaa ɔhye too ebun no ani no,
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 bere a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebun mu nsuti tintim hɔ dennen no;
when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
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 boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, 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 I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
32 “Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
34 Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
35 Na obiara a ohu me no nya nkwa, na onya anisɔ fi Awurade nkyɛn.
For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.
36 Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
