Mmebusɛm 9
1 Nyansa asi ne fi; wasisi nʼafadum ason.
Wisedome hath built her house, and hewen out her seuen pillars.
2 Wasiesie ne nam de afra ne nsa, wato ne pon.
She hath killed her vitailes, drawen her wine, and prepared her table.
3 Wasoma ne mmaawa, na ɔfrɛ fi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ se,
She hath sent forth her maydens and cryeth vpon the highest places of the citie, saying,
4 “Momma ntetekwaafo nyinaa mmra ha!” Ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wonni atemmu se,
Who so is simple, let him come hither, and to him that is destitute of wisedome, she sayth,
5 “Mommra mmedi mʼaduan na monnom nsa a mafra no.
Come, and eate of my meate, and drinke of the wine that I haue drawen.
6 Munnyaw mo ntetekwaasɛm no na mubenya nkwa; monnantew ntease akwan so.”
Forsake your way, ye foolish, and ye shall liue: and walke in the way of vnderstanding.
7 Nea ɔteɛteɛ ɔfɛwdifo no frɛ ahohorabɔ; na nea ɔka amumɔyɛfo anim no nya ɔyaw.
He that reproueth a scorner, purchaseth to himselfe shame: and he that rebuketh the wicked, getteth himselfe a blot.
8 Ɛno nti, nka ɔfɛwdifo anim na ɔmmɛtan wo; ka onyansafo anim na ɔbɛdɔ wo.
Rebuke not a scorner, least he hate thee: but rebuke a wise man, and he will loue thee.
9 Ma onyansafo akwankyerɛ na ɔbɛkɔ so ahu nyansa; kyerɛkyerɛ ɔtreneeni na ɔde bɛka nʼadesua ho.
Giue admonition to the wise, and he will be the wiser: teache a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 Awurade suro yɛ nyansa mfiase Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ yɛ ntease.
The beginning of wisedome is the feare of the Lord, and the knowledge of holy things, is vnderstanding.
11 Me mu na wo nna bɛdɔɔso, na wɔde mfe bɛka wo nkwa ho.
For thy dayes shalbe multiplied by me, and the yeeres of thy life shalbe augmented.
12 Sɛ woyɛ onyansafo a, wubenya wo nyansa so mfaso; sɛ woyɛ ɔfɛwdifo a, wo nko ara na wubehu amane.
If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thy selfe, and if thou be a scorner, thou alone shalt suffer.
13 Ɔbea ɔkwasea yɛ ɔkasafo; onni ahohyɛso na onni nimdeɛ.
A foolish woman is troublesome: she is ignorant, and knoweth nothing.
14 Ɔte ne fi pon ano, na ɔte akongua a esi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea,
But she sitteth at the doore of her house on a seate in the hie places of the citie,
15 na ɔfrɛfrɛ wɔn a wotwa mu wɔ hɔ, wɔn a wɔnam wɔn kwan so tee se,
To call them that passe by the way, that go right on their way, saying,
16 “Momma ntetekwaafo nyinaa mmra ha” ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wonni atemmu se,
Who so is simple, let him come hither, and to him that is destitute of wisedome, shee sayth also,
17 “Nsu a wowia no yɛ fremfrem na aduan a wodi no ahintawee no yɛ dɛ!”
Stollen waters are sweete, and hid bread is pleasant.
