< Mmɛbusɛm 8 >
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Nteaseɛ ma ne nne so.
Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
2 Ɛkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na ɛgyina,
On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
3 apono a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu ho, ɛteam wɔ aboboano hɔ sɛ,
Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
4 “Ao, mo mmarimma na meteam mefrɛ; meteam frɛ adasamma nyinaa.
“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
5 Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, mo mma mo ani nte; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafoɔ, monnya nteaseɛ.
You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
6 Montie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mebue mʼano ka deɛ ɛyɛ.
Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
7 Mʼano ka deɛ ɛyɛ nokorɛ, ɛfiri sɛ mʼanofafa kyiri amumuyɛsɛm.
For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting 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 just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
9 Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu; 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 amapa.
Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 Ɛfiri sɛ nimdeɛ som bo sene mmota, na wɔrentumi mfa deɛ wopɛ biara ntoto ho.
For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene aniteɛ na ɛteɛ; nimdeɛ ne nhunumu wɔ me.
I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 Sɛ wɔsuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wɔkyiri bɔne; mekyiri ahantan ne ahomasoɔ, 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 Afotuo ne atemmuo pa wɔ me; mewɔ nteaseɛ ne tumi.
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
15 Me so na ahemfo nam di adeɛ na sodifoɔ 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 atitire nyinaa a wɔdi asase so ɔhene.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hunu me.
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
18 Ahonyadeɛ ne animuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahodeɛ a ɛkyɛre ne yiedie nso saa ara.
With me are riches and honor, lasting 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, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
20 Tenenee akwan so na menam atɛntenenee akwan so,
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
21 mede ahodeɛ ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan ma ma.
As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔdeɛ mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛɛ anim;
Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
23 ɔyii me sii hɔ firi tete, ansa na ewiase rehyɛ aseɛ.
In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ ɛpo kakraka no ansa na wɔreyɛ nsutire a nsuo ahyɛ no ma no;
Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
25 ansa na wɔde mmepɔ resisi hɔ, wɔwoo me ansa na nkokoɔ reba,
Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
26 ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuo anaa dɔteɛ biara a ɛwɔ asase soɔ.
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 soro, ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa hyeɛ too ebunu no ani no,
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
28 ɛberɛ a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebunu mu nsutire tintim hɔ denden no,
I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
29 ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa hyeɛ maa ɛpo sɛdeɛ nsuo no rentra ne hyeɛ, ne ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa 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 odwumfoɔ a mete ne nkyɛn. Anigyeɛ hyɛɛ me ma daa na medii ahurisie wɔ nʼanim ɛberɛ 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 ewiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adasamma mu.
I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
32 “Enti me mma, montie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnante mʼakwan so.
Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
33 Montie mʼakwankyerɛ na monhunu nyansa; mommu mo ani nngu so.
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
34 Nhyira ne onipa a ɔtie me, ɔwɛn mʼaboboano 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 ɔhunu me no nya nkwa na ɔnya anisɔ firi Awurade nkyɛn.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
36 Na deɛ woanhwehwɛ me no ha ne ho na wɔn a wɔtane me no dɔ owuo.”
But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”