Mmebusɛm 9
1 Nyansa asi ne fi; wasisi nʼafadum ason.
Wisdom, hath builded her house, hath hewn out her seven pillars;
2 Wasiesie ne nam de afra ne nsa, wato ne pon.
hath slaughtered her beasts, hath mingled her wine, hath even set in order her table;
3 Wasoma ne mmaawa, na ɔfrɛ fi kuropɔn no sorɔnsorɔmmea hɔ se,
hath sent forth her maidens, She crieth aloud, upon the tops of the heights of the city:
4 “Momma ntetekwaafo nyinaa mmra ha!” Ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wonni atemmu se,
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither, as for him that lacketh sense, she saith to him—
5 “Mommra mmedi mʼaduan na monnom nsa a mafra no.
Come, feed on my food, and drink of the wine I have mingled;
6 Munnyaw mo ntetekwaasɛm no na mubenya nkwa; monnantew ntease akwan so.”
Forsake the simple ones, and live, and advance in the way of understanding.
7 Nea ɔteɛteɛ ɔfɛwdifo no frɛ ahohorabɔ; na nea ɔka amumɔyɛfo anim no nya ɔyaw.
He that rebuketh a scoffer, getteth to himself contempt, and, he that reproveth a lawless man, [getteth to himself] his shame.
8 Ɛno nti, nka ɔfɛwdifo anim na ɔmmɛtan wo; ka onyansafo anim na ɔbɛdɔ wo.
Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate thee, Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Ma onyansafo akwankyerɛ na ɔbɛkɔ so ahu nyansa; kyerɛkyerɛ ɔtreneeni 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 mfiase Ɔkronkronni no ho nimdeɛ yɛ ntease.
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 mfe 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 onyansafo a, wubenya wo nyansa so mfaso; sɛ woyɛ ɔfɛwdifo a, wo nko ara na wubehu amane.
If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself, but, if thou scoff, alone, shalt thou bear it.
13 Ɔbea ɔkwasea yɛ ɔkasafo; onni ahohyɛso na onni nimdeɛ.
The woman Stupidity, is boisterous, so simple that she knoweth not what she would do;
14 Ɔte ne fi pon ano, na ɔte akongua a esi 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 wotwa mu wɔ hɔ, wɔn a wɔnam wɔn kwan so tee se,
To invite them who pass by the way, who are going straight on in their paths:
16 “Momma ntetekwaafo nyinaa mmra ha” ɔka kyerɛ wɔn a wonni atemmu se,
Whoso is simple, let him turn aside hither, and, as for him that lacketh sense, she saith to him:
17 “Nsu a wowia no yɛ fremfrem na aduan a wodi no ahintawee no yɛ dɛ!”
Stolen waters, will be sweet, —and a secret meal, will be pleasant;
