Proverbs 8
1 Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
Tie: Nyansa refrɛ. Ntease ma ne nne so.
2 On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
Ɔkwan no so, sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ, nkwantanan no so, ɛhɔ na egyina,
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
apon a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no mu no ho, ɛteɛ mu wɔ abobow ano hɔ se,
4 “I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
“Ao, mo nnipa na meteɛ mu refrɛ; meteɛ mu frɛ adesamma nyinaa.
5 You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
Mo a moyɛ ntetekwaa, momma mo ani ntew; mo a moyɛ nkwaseafo, munnya ntease.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
Muntie, na mewɔ nsɛm pa bi ka kyerɛ mo; mibue mʼano ka nea eye.
7 For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Mʼano ka nea ɛyɛ nokware, efisɛ mʼanofafa kyi amumɔyɛsɛm.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
Mʼanom nsɛm nyinaa yɛ pɛ; biara nni mu a ɛyɛ nkontompo anaa nnaadaasɛm.
9 They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
Ne nyinaa mu da hɔ ma nea ɔwɔ nhumu; ɛho nni asɛm ma wɔn a wɔwɔ nimdeɛ.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
Mompo dwetɛ na momfa mʼakwankyerɛ, momfa nimdeɛ na mompo sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
Efisɛ nimdeɛ som bo sen bota, na worentumi mfa nea wopɛ biara ntoto no ho.
12 “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
“Me, nyansa, mene anitew na ɛte; nimdeɛ ne nhumu wɔ me.
13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
Sɛ wosuro Awurade ɛne sɛ wokyi bɔne; mikyi ahantan ne ahomaso, ɔbra bɔne ne nnaadaasɛm.
14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
Afotu ne atemmu pa wɔ me; mewɔ ntease ne tumi.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Me so na ahemfo nam di ade na sodifo nam me so hyehyɛ mmara a ɛyɛ pɛ;
16 By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
Mmapɔmma de me bu ɔman ne atitiriw nyinaa a wodi asase so hene.
17 I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
Medɔ wɔn a wɔdɔ me, na wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ me no hu me.
18 With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
Ahonyade ne anuonyam wɔ me nkyɛn, ahode a ɛkyɛ ne yiyedi nso saa ara.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
Mʼaba ye sen sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa; nea efi me mu boro dwetɛ a wɔasɔn so so.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
Trenee akwan so na menam, atɛntrenee akwan so,
21 that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
mede ahode ma wɔn a wɔdɔ me na mehyɛ wɔn adekoradan amaama.
22 “Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
“Awurade bɔɔ me sɛ nʼabɔde mu abakan dii ne tete nneyɛe anim;
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
oyii me sii hɔ fi tete, ansa na wiase refi ase.
24 When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
Wɔwoo me ansa na wɔrebɔ po kakraka no, ansa na wɔreyɛ nsuti a nsu ahyɛ no ma no,
25 Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
ansa na wɔde mmepɔw resisi hɔ; wɔwoo me ansa na nkoko reba,
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
ansa na ɔbɔɔ asase ne ne mfuw anaa dɔte biara a ɛwɔ asase so.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
Mewɔ hɔ ansa na wɔbɔɔ ɔsoro, bere a otwaa ɔhye too ebun no ani no,
28 when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
bere a ɔbɔɔ omununkum wɔ soro na ɔde ebun mu nsuti tintim hɔ dennen no;
29 when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
bere a otwaa ɔhye maa po sɛnea nsu no rentra ne hye, ne bere a otwaa asase fapem no,
30 then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
na meyɛ odwumfo a mete ne nkyɛn. Anigye hyɛɛ me ma daa na midii ahurusi wɔ nʼanim bere biara,
31 rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
na mʼani gye wɔ ne wiase nyinaa mu na mʼani ka wɔ adesamma mu.
32 “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
“Enti me mma, muntie me; nhyira ne wɔn a wɔnantew mʼakwan so.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
Muntie mʼakwankyerɛ na munhu nyansa; mummmu mo ani ngu so.
34 Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
Nhyira ne onipa a otie me, ɔwɛn mʼabobow ano daa, na ɔtwɛn wɔ hɔ.
35 For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
Na obiara a ohu me no nya nkwa, na onya anisɔ fi Awurade nkyɛn.
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
Na nea wanhwehwɛ me no haw ne ho na wɔn a wɔtan me no dɔ owu.”
