Mmɛbusɛm 9
1 Nyansa asi ne fie; watwa nʼafadum nson ho.
[It is as though] wisdom [is a woman who] has built a [big] house for herself, and has set up seven columns [to support the roof],
2 Wasiesie nʼaduane afra ne nsã wato ne ɛpono.
and has slaughtered an animal [and cooked the meat], and has mixed [nice spices] in the wine, and has put [the food] on the table.
3 Wasoma ne mmaawa, na ɔfrɛ firi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ sɛ,
[It is as though then] she sent out her servant women to call out from the highest place in the town,
4 “Momma ntetekwaafoɔ nyinaa mmra ha!” Ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔnni atemmuo sɛ,
“You people who need to understand more, come in!” And to those who are ignorant, [it is as though] she calls out,
5 “Mommra mmɛdi mʼaduane na monnom nsã a mafra no.
“Come and eat the food that I [have prepared], and drink the [good] wine that I have mixed!
6 Monnya mo ntetekwaasɛm no na mobɛnya nkwa; monnante nteaseɛ akwan so.”
(Leave/Go away from) [other] foolish people, and [if you do that, you will continue to] live. Walk on the road that will enable you to (have knowledge/know what is true and what is not true).”
7 Deɛ ɔtenetene ɔfɛdifoɔ no frɛ ahohorabɔ; na deɛ ɔka amumuyɛfoɔ anim no nya ɔyea.
If you rebuke someone who will not allow others to correct him, he will insult you. If you reprove/scold an evil man, he will hurt you.
8 Ɛno enti, nnka ɔfɛdifoɔ anim na ɔmmɛtane wo; ka onyansafoɔ anim na ɔbɛdɔ wo.
Do not rebuke someone who will not allow others to (correct him/tell him what he has done is wrong), because he will hate you for doing that. [But] if you rebuke a wise person, he will respect you.
9 Ma onyansafoɔ akwankyerɛ na ɔbɛkɔ so ahunu nyansa; kyerɛkyerɛ ɔteneneeni na ɔde bɛka nʼadesua ho.
If you give instruction to wise people, they will become wiser. And if you teach righteous people, they will learn more.
10 Awurade suro yɛ nyansa ahyɛaseɛ Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ yɛ nteaseɛ.
If you want to be wise, you must start by revering Yahweh, and if you know God, the Holy One, you will understand [which teachings are wise/true].
11 Me mu na wo nna bɛdɔɔso, na wɔde mfeɛ bɛka wo nkwa ho.
If you become wise, you will live many years [DOU].
12 Sɛ woyɛ onyansafoɔ a, wobɛnya wo nyansa ho mfasoɔ; sɛ woyɛ ɔfɛdifoɔ a, wo nko ara na ɛbɛhunu amane.
If you are wise, you are the one who will benefit from it; if you ridicule [becoming wise], you are the one who will suffer.
13 Ɔbaa ɔkwasea yɛ ɔkasafoɔ; ɔnni ahohyɛsoɔ na ɔnni nimdeɛ.
Foolish women talk loudly; they are ignorant and are never ashamed [of the wrong things that they do].
14 Ɔte ne fie ɛpono ano, na ɔte akonnwa a ɛsi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea,
They sit at the doors of their houses [or] they sit on the top [of the hills] in the town,
15 na ɔfrɛfrɛ wɔn a wɔtwam hɔ, wɔn a wɔnam wɔn kwan so tee sɛ,
and they call out to the men who are passing by, who are trying to be concerned with their own affairs,
16 “Momma ntetekwaafoɔ nyinaa mmra ha” ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔnni atemmuo sɛ,
“You people who need to understand more, come into [my house]!” And to those who are ignorant, they call out,
17 “Nsuo a wɔwia no yɛ fremfrem na aduane a wɔdi no ahintaeɛ no yɛ dɛ!”
“[Just as] water which you have stolen tastes very good and food that you eat by yourself tastes the best, [if you have sex secretly with someone to whom you are not married, you will enjoy it very much].”
