Mmɛbusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Nteaseɛ ma ne nne so.
Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
2 Ɛkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na ɛgyina,
On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
3 apono a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu ho, ɛteam wɔ aboboano hɔ sɛ,
Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
4 “Ao, mo mmarimma na meteam mefrɛ; meteam frɛ adasamma nyinaa.
Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
5 Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, mo mma mo ani nte; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafoɔ, monnya nteaseɛ.
Learn, O ye simple, to understand prudence: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Montie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mebue mʼano ka deɛ ɛyɛ.
Hear! for of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
7 Mʼano ka deɛ ɛyɛ nokorɛ, ɛfiri sɛ mʼanofafa kyiri amumuyɛsɛm.
For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
8 Mʼano mu nsɛm nyinaa yɛ pɛ; ebiara nni mu a ɛyɛ nkontompo anaa nnaadaasɛm.
In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
9 Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
10 Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ amapa.
Accept my correction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 Ɛfiri sɛ nimdeɛ som bo sene mmota, na wɔrentumi mfa deɛ wopɛ biara ntoto ho.
For wisdom is better than pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to her.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene aniteɛ na ɛteɛ; nimdeɛ ne nhunumu wɔ me.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
13 Sɛ wɔsuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wɔkyiri bɔne; mekyiri ahantan ne ahomasoɔ, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
14 Afotuo ne atemmuo pa wɔ me; mewɔ nteaseɛ ne tumi.
Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
15 Me so na ahemfo nam di adeɛ na sodifoɔ nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
16 Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitire nyinaa a wɔdi asase so ɔhene.
Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hunu me.
I indeed love those that love me: and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Ahonyadeɛ ne animuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahodeɛ a ɛkyɛre ne yiedie nso saa ara.
Riches and honor are with me, yea, 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, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
20 Tenenee akwan so na menam atɛntenenee akwan so,
On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst the paths of justice:
21 mede ahodeɛ ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan ma ma.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔdeɛ mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛɛ anim;
The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
23 ɔyii me sii hɔ firi tete, ansa na ewiase rehyɛ aseɛ.
From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ ɛpo kakraka no ansa na wɔreyɛ nsutire a nsuo ahyɛ no ma no;
When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
25 ansa na wɔde mmepɔ resisi hɔ, wɔwoo me ansa na nkokoɔ reba,
Before the mountains were yet sunk down, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuo anaa dɔteɛ biara a ɛwɔ asase soɔ.
While as yet he had not made the land and open fields, nor the chief of the dust of the world.
27 Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ soro, ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa hyeɛ too ebunu no ani no,
When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
28 ɛberɛ a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebunu mu nsutire tintim hɔ denden no,
When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
29 ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa hyeɛ maa ɛpo sɛdeɛ nsuo no rentra ne hyeɛ, ne ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa asase fapem no,
When he assigned to the sea his decree, that the waters should not transgress his order: when he established firmly 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 was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne ewiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adasamma mu.
Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
32 “Enti me mma, montie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnante mʼakwan so.
And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
33 Montie mʼakwankyerɛ na monhunu nyansa; mommu mo ani nngu so.
Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
34 Nhyira ne onipa a ɔtie me, ɔwɛn mʼaboboano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 Na obiara a ɔhunu me no nya nkwa na ɔnya anisɔ firi Awurade nkyɛn.
For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
36 Na deɛ woanhwehwɛ me no ha ne ho na wɔn a wɔtane me no dɔ owuo.”
But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
