Mmɛbusɛm 9
1 Nyansa asi ne fie; watwa nʼafadum nson ho.
Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
2 Wasiesie nʼaduane afra ne nsã wato ne ɛpono.
She has slaughtered her slaughter, She has mingled her wine, Indeed, she has arranged her table.
3 Wasoma ne mmaawa, na ɔfrɛ firi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ sɛ,
She has sent forth her girls, She cries on the tops of the high places of the city:
4 “Momma ntetekwaafoɔ nyinaa mmra ha!” Ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔnni atemmuo sɛ,
“Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” Whoever lacks heart: she has said to him,
5 “Mommra mmɛdi mʼaduane na monnom nsã a mafra no.
“Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
6 Monnya mo ntetekwaasɛm no na mobɛnya nkwa; monnante nteaseɛ akwan so.”
Forsake the simple and live, And be blessed in the way of understanding.”
7 Deɛ ɔtenetene ɔfɛdifoɔ no frɛ ahohorabɔ; na deɛ ɔka amumuyɛfoɔ anim no nya ɔyea.
The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it—shame, And a reprover of the wicked—his blemish.
8 Ɛno enti, nnka ɔfɛdifoɔ anim na ɔmmɛtane wo; ka onyansafoɔ anim na ɔbɛdɔ wo.
Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you, Give reproof to the wise, and he loves you.
9 Ma onyansafoɔ akwankyerɛ na ɔbɛkɔ so ahunu nyansa; kyerɛkyerɛ ɔteneneeni na ɔde bɛka nʼadesua ho.
Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increases learning.
10 Awurade suro yɛ nyansa ahyɛaseɛ Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ yɛ nteaseɛ.
The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of YHWH, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
11 Me mu na wo nna bɛdɔɔso, na wɔde mfeɛ bɛka wo nkwa ho.
For by me your days multiply, And years of life are added to you.
12 Sɛ woyɛ onyansafoɔ a, wobɛnya wo nyansa ho mfasoɔ; sɛ woyɛ ɔfɛdifoɔ a, wo nko ara na ɛbɛhunu amane.
If you have been wise, you have been wise for yourself, And you have scorned—you bear [it] alone.
13 Ɔbaa ɔkwasea yɛ ɔkasafoɔ; ɔnni ahohyɛsoɔ na ɔnni nimdeɛ.
A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and has not known what.
14 Ɔte ne fie ɛpono ano, na ɔte akonnwa a ɛsi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea,
And she has sat at the opening of her house, On a throne—the high places of the city,
15 na ɔfrɛfrɛ wɔn a wɔtwam hɔ, wɔn a wɔnam wɔn kwan so tee sɛ,
To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
16 “Momma ntetekwaafoɔ nyinaa mmra ha” ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔnni atemmuo sɛ,
“Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” And whoever lacks heart—she said to him,
17 “Nsuo a wɔwia no yɛ fremfrem na aduane a wɔdi no ahintaeɛ no yɛ dɛ!”
“Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.”
