Mmɛbusɛm 9
1 Nyansa asi ne fie; watwa nʼafadum nson ho.
Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars.
2 Wasiesie nʼaduane afra ne nsã wato ne ɛpono.
She hath killed her fatlings; She hath mingled her wine; Yea, she hath furnished her table.
3 Wasoma ne mmaawa, na ɔfrɛ firi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ sɛ,
She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth aloud upon the highest places of the city:
4 “Momma ntetekwaafoɔ nyinaa mmra ha!” Ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔnni atemmuo sɛ,
“Whoever 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 of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled!
6 Monnya mo ntetekwaasɛm no na mobɛnya nkwa; monnante nteaseɛ akwan so.”
Forsake folly, and live! And go forward in the way of understanding!
7 Deɛ ɔtenetene ɔfɛdifoɔ no frɛ ahohorabɔ; na deɛ ɔka amumuyɛfoɔ anim no nya ɔyea.
“He who correcteth a scoffer Bringeth shame upon himself; And he who rebuketh the wicked Bringeth upon himself a stain.
8 Ɛno enti, nnka ɔfɛdifoɔ anim na ɔmmɛtane wo; ka onyansafoɔ anim na ɔbɛdɔ wo.
Rebuke not a scoffer, lest he hate thee; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Ma onyansafoɔ akwankyerɛ na ɔbɛkɔ so ahunu nyansa; kyerɛkyerɛ ɔteneneeni na ɔde bɛka nʼadesua ho.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
10 Awurade suro yɛ nyansa ahyɛaseɛ Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ yɛ nteaseɛ.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Most Holy is understanding.
11 Me mu na wo nna bɛdɔɔso, na wɔde mfeɛ bɛka wo nkwa ho.
Yea, through me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
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 art wise for thyself; And if thou art a scoffer, thou alone must bear it.”
13 Ɔbaa ɔkwasea yɛ ɔkasafoɔ; ɔnni ahohyɛsoɔ na ɔnni nimdeɛ.
The foolish woman is clamorous; She is very simple, and careth for nothing.
14 Ɔte ne fie ɛpono ano, na ɔte akonnwa a ɛsi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea,
She sitteth at the door of her house, Upon 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 aloud to those that pass by, Who go straight forward in their ways,
16 “Momma ntetekwaafoɔ nyinaa mmra ha” ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔnni atemmuo sɛ,
“Whoever 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 water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
