Mmɛbusɛm 8
1 Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Nteaseɛ ma ne nne so.
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 Ɛkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na ɛgyina,
She standeth on the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 apono a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu ho, ɛteam wɔ aboboano hɔ sɛ,
She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors.
4 “Ao, mo mmarimma na meteam mefrɛ; meteam frɛ adasamma nyinaa.
To you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.
5 Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, mo mma mo ani nte; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafoɔ, monnya nteaseɛ.
O ye simple, understand wisdom: 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 I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.
7 Mʼano ka deɛ ɛyɛ nokorɛ, ɛfiri sɛ mʼanofafa kyiri amumuyɛsɛm.
For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination 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] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.
9 Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma deɛ ɔwɔ nhunumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ amapa.
Receive my instruction, 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 rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 “Me, nyansa, mene aniteɛ na ɛteɛ; nimdeɛ ne nhunumu wɔ me.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of ingenious inventions.
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 froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Afotuo ne atemmuo pa wɔ me; mewɔ nteaseɛ ne tumi.
Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.
15 Me so na ahemfo nam di adeɛ na sodifoɔ nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitire nyinaa a wɔdi asase so ɔhene.
By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
17 Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hunu me.
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 Ahonyadeɛ ne animuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahodeɛ a ɛkyɛre ne yiedie nso saa ara.
Riches and honor [are] with me; durable riches and righteousness.
19 Mʼaba yɛ sene sikakɔkɔɔ amapa; deɛ ɛfiri me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔne so so.
My fruit [is] better than gold, yes, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20 Tenenee akwan so na menam atɛntenenee akwan so,
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment.
21 mede ahodeɛ ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan ma ma.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22 “Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔdeɛ mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛɛ anim;
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 ɔyii me sii hɔ firi tete, ansa na ewiase rehyɛ aseɛ.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ ɛpo kakraka no ansa na wɔreyɛ nsutire a nsuo ahyɛ no ma no;
When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
25 ansa na wɔde mmepɔ resisi hɔ, wɔwoo me ansa na nkokoɔ reba,
Before the mountains were settled, 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 earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part 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 set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 ɛberɛ a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebunu mu nsutire tintim hɔ denden no,
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa hyeɛ maa ɛpo sɛdeɛ nsuo no rentra ne hyeɛ, ne ɛberɛ a ɔtwaa asase fapem no,
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed 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 by him, [as] one brought up [with him]: and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 na mʼani gye wɔ ne ewiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adasamma mu.
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
32 “Enti me mma, montie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnante mʼakwan so.
Now therefore hearken to me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.
33 Montie mʼakwankyerɛ na monhunu nyansa; mommu mo ani nngu so.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Nhyira ne onipa a ɔtie me, ɔwɛn mʼaboboano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily 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 whoever findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain 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 wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
