Mmɛbusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Nteaseɛ ma ne nne so.
Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2 Ɛkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na ɛgyina,
On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3 apono a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu ho, ɛteam wɔ aboboano hɔ sɛ,
Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4 “Ao, mo mmarimma na meteam mefrɛ; meteam frɛ adasamma nyinaa.
“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, mo mma mo ani nte; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafoɔ, monnya nteaseɛ.
O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6 Montie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mebue mʼano ka deɛ ɛyɛ.
Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7 Mʼano ka deɛ ɛyɛ nokorɛ, ɛfiri sɛ mʼanofafa kyiri amumuyɛsɛm.
For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 Mʼano mu nsɛm nyinaa yɛ pɛ; ebiara nni mu a ɛyɛ nkontompo anaa nnaadaasɛm.
All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9 Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ amapa.
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 Ɛfiri sɛ nimdeɛ som bo sene mmota, na wɔrentumi mfa deɛ wopɛ biara ntoto ho.
For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene aniteɛ na ɛteɛ; nimdeɛ ne nhunumu wɔ me.
I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 Sɛ wɔsuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wɔkyiri bɔne; mekyiri ahantan ne ahomasoɔ, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14 Afotuo ne atemmuo pa wɔ me; mewɔ nteaseɛ ne tumi.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15 Me so na ahemfo nam di adeɛ na sodifoɔ nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16 Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitire nyinaa a wɔdi asase so ɔhene.
By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hunu me.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18 Ahonyadeɛ ne animuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahodeɛ a ɛkyɛre ne yiedie nso saa ara.
With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 Mʼaba yɛ sene sikakɔkɔɔ amapa; deɛ ɛfiri me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔne so so.
My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20 Tenenee akwan so na menam atɛntenenee akwan so,
I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 mede ahodeɛ ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan ma ma.
bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔdeɛ mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛɛ anim;
The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
23 ɔyii me sii hɔ firi tete, ansa na ewiase rehyɛ aseɛ.
From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ ɛpo kakraka no ansa na wɔreyɛ nsutire a nsuo ahyɛ no ma no;
When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
25 ansa na wɔde mmepɔ resisi hɔ, wɔwoo me ansa na nkokoɔ reba,
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuo anaa dɔteɛ biara a ɛwɔ asase soɔ.
before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27 Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ soro, ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa hyeɛ too ebunu no ani no,
I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 ɛberɛ a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebunu mu nsutire tintim hɔ denden no,
when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29 ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa hyeɛ maa ɛpo sɛdeɛ nsuo no rentra ne hyeɛ, ne ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa asase fapem no,
when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 na meyɛ odwumfoɔ a mete ne nkyɛn. Anigyeɛ hyɛɛ me ma daa na medii ahurisie wɔ nʼanim ɛberɛ biara,
Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne ewiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adasamma mu.
I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32 “Enti me mma, montie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnante mʼakwan so.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Montie mʼakwankyerɛ na monhunu nyansa; mommu mo ani nngu so.
Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34 Nhyira ne onipa a ɔtie me, ɔwɛn mʼaboboano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
35 Na obiara a ɔhunu me no nya nkwa na ɔnya anisɔ firi Awurade nkyɛn.
For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36 Na deɛ woanhwehwɛ me no ha ne ho na wɔn a wɔtane me no dɔ owuo.”
But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
