Mmɛbusɛm 9
1 Nyansa asi ne fie; watwa nʼafadum nson ho.
Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
2 Wasiesie nʼaduane afra ne nsã wato ne ɛpono.
she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;
3 Wasoma ne mmaawa, na ɔfrɛ firi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ sɛ,
she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,
4 “Momma ntetekwaafoɔ nyinaa mmra ha!” Ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔnni atemmuo sɛ,
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,
5 “Mommra mmɛdi mʼaduane na monnom nsã a mafra no.
Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled.
6 Monnya mo ntetekwaasɛm no na mobɛnya nkwa; monnante nteaseɛ akwan so.”
Forsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence.
7 Deɛ ɔtenetene ɔfɛdifoɔ no frɛ ahohorabɔ; na deɛ ɔka amumuyɛfoɔ anim no nya ɔyea.
He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked [man] [getteth] to himself a blot.
8 Ɛno enti, nnka ɔfɛdifoɔ anim na ɔmmɛtane wo; ka onyansafoɔ anim na ɔbɛdɔ wo.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise [man], and he will love thee.
9 Ma onyansafoɔ akwankyerɛ na ɔbɛkɔ so ahunu nyansa; kyerɛkyerɛ ɔteneneeni na ɔde bɛka nʼadesua ho.
Impart to a wise [man], and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous [man], and he will increase learning.
10 Awurade suro yɛ nyansa ahyɛaseɛ Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ yɛ nteaseɛ.
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is intelligence.
11 Me mu na wo nna bɛdɔɔso, na wɔde mfeɛ bɛka wo nkwa ho.
For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.
12 Sɛ woyɛ onyansafoɔ a, wobɛnya wo nyansa ho mfasoɔ; sɛ woyɛ ɔfɛdifoɔ a, wo nko ara na ɛbɛhunu amane.
If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13 Ɔbaa ɔkwasea yɛ ɔkasafoɔ; ɔnni ahohyɛsoɔ na ɔnni nimdeɛ.
The foolish woman is clamorous; she is stupid, and knoweth nothing.
14 Ɔte ne fie ɛpono ano, na ɔte akonnwa a ɛsi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea,
And she sitteth at the entry of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 na ɔfrɛfrɛ wɔn a wɔtwam hɔ, wɔn a wɔnam wɔn kwan so tee sɛ,
to call passers-by who go right on their ways:
16 “Momma ntetekwaafoɔ nyinaa mmra ha” ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔnni atemmuo sɛ,
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
17 “Nsuo a wɔwia no yɛ fremfrem na aduane a wɔdi no ahintaeɛ no yɛ dɛ!”
Stolen waters are sweet, and the bread of secrecy is pleasant.
