Mmɛbusɛm 9
1 Nyansa asi ne fie; watwa nʼafadum nson ho.
Wisdom, hath builded her house, hath hewn out her seven pillars;
2 Wasiesie nʼaduane afra ne nsã wato ne ɛpono.
hath slaughtered her beasts, hath mingled her wine, hath even set in order her table;
3 Wasoma ne mmaawa, na ɔfrɛ firi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ sɛ,
hath sent forth her maidens, She crieth aloud, upon the tops of the heights of the city:
4 “Momma ntetekwaafoɔ nyinaa mmra ha!” Ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔnni atemmuo sɛ,
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither, as for him that lacketh sense, she saith to him—
5 “Mommra mmɛdi mʼaduane na monnom nsã a mafra no.
Come, feed on my food, and drink of the wine I have mingled;
6 Monnya mo ntetekwaasɛm no na mobɛnya nkwa; monnante nteaseɛ akwan so.”
Forsake the simple ones, and live, and advance in the way of understanding.
7 Deɛ ɔtenetene ɔfɛdifoɔ no frɛ ahohorabɔ; na deɛ ɔka amumuyɛfoɔ anim no nya ɔyea.
He that rebuketh a scoffer, getteth to himself contempt, and, he that reproveth a lawless man, [getteth to himself] his shame.
8 Ɛno enti, nnka ɔfɛdifoɔ anim na ɔmmɛtane wo; ka onyansafoɔ anim na ɔbɛdɔ wo.
Do not reprove a scoffer, 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.
Give to a wise man, and he will be wiser still, Inform a righteous man, and he will increase learning.
10 Awurade suro yɛ nyansa ahyɛaseɛ Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ yɛ nteaseɛ.
The beginning of wisdom, is the reverence of Yahweh, and, the knowledge of the Holy, is understanding;
11 Me mu na wo nna bɛdɔɔso, na wɔde mfeɛ bɛka wo nkwa ho.
For, by me, shall be multiplied—thy days, and there be added to thee—the years of life.
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, but, if thou scoff, alone, shalt thou bear it.
13 Ɔbaa ɔkwasea yɛ ɔkasafoɔ; ɔnni ahohyɛsoɔ na ɔnni nimdeɛ.
The woman Stupidity, is boisterous, so simple that she knoweth not what she would do;
14 Ɔte ne fie ɛpono ano, na ɔte akonnwa a ɛsi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea,
So she sitteth at the entrance of her house, upon a seat, in the heights of the city;
15 na ɔfrɛfrɛ wɔn a wɔtwam hɔ, wɔn a wɔnam wɔn kwan so tee sɛ,
To invite them who pass by the way, who are going straight on in their paths:
16 “Momma ntetekwaafoɔ nyinaa mmra ha” ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔnni atemmuo sɛ,
Whoso is simple, let him turn aside hither, and, as for him that lacketh sense, she saith to him:
17 “Nsuo a wɔwia no yɛ fremfrem na aduane a wɔdi no ahintaeɛ no yɛ dɛ!”
Stolen waters, will be sweet, —and a secret meal, will be pleasant;
