Get Wisdom at Any Cost
1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get get understanding.
8Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”
10Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
20My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26Give careful thought to the4:26 Or Make level paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
Pere Hwehwɛ Nyansa
1Me mma, muntie me, muntie agya nkyerɛkyerɛ;
monyɛ aso na moanya ntease.
2Mema mo adesua a ɛkɔ anim,
enti munnnyaa me nkyerɛkyerɛ mu.
3Efisɛ na me nso, meyɛ mʼagya babarima,
meda so yɛ akokoaa no, na me na ani gye me ho.
4Na ɔkyerɛkyerɛɛ me se,
“Ma me nsɛm nni wo koma mu dɛm,
di me nkyerɛkyerɛ so na wubenya nkwa.
5Nya nyansa, nya ntease;
mma wo werɛ mfi me nsɛm anaa ntwe wo ho mfi ho.
6Nnyaw nyansa hɔ, na ɛbɛbɔ wo ho ban;
dɔ no, na ɛbɛhwɛ wo so.
7Nyansa boro biribiara so; enti hwehwɛ nyansa.
Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ne bo te sɛ wʼahode nyinaa de, nanso nya ntease.
8Di no ni na ɛbɛma wo so;
yɛ no atuu, na ɛbɛhyɛ wo anuonyam.
9Ɔde nkonimdi nhwiren hankare begu wo ti so
na wama wo ahenkyɛw a ɛyɛ fɛ.”
10Me ba, tie na fa nea meka no,
na wo nkwanna bɛyɛ bebree.
11Mɛkyerɛ wo nyansa kwan so
na mede wo afa akwan a ɛteɛ so.
12Sɛ wonantew a, wʼanammɔntu bɛkɔ waa
na sɛ wutu mmirika a, worenhintiw.
13Di nkyerɛkyerɛ so; na nnyaa mu,
bɔ ho ban yiye, efisɛ ɛyɛ wo nkwa.
14Ntu wo nan nsi amumɔyɛfo kwan so
na nnantew abɔnefo kwan so.
15Kwati no, ntu kwan mfa so;
dan fi so na kɔ wo kwan.
16Efisɛ wɔnyɛɛ bɔne a wontumi nna;
na wɔn nna tew yera kosi sɛ wɔbɛma obi ahwe ase.
17Wodi amumɔyɛsɛm brodo,
na wɔnom kitikitiyɛ nsa.
18Atreneefo kwan te sɛ adekyee hann a edi kan,
ɛkɔ so hyerɛn yiye kodu awia ketee.
19Nanso amumɔyɛfo kwan te sɛ sum kabii;
wonnim nea ɛma wohintiw.
20Me ba, yɛ aso ma nea meka;
tie me nsɛm no yiye.
21Mma emfi wʼani so,
fa sie wo koma mu;
22efisɛ, ɛyɛ nkwa ma wɔn a wohu
ne akwahosan ma nipadua no nyinaa.
23Ne nyinaa akyi, bɔ wo koma ho ban,
efisɛ, ɛno ne wo nkwa asuti.
24Mma oburu kasa mfi wʼano;
mma nkontomposɛm mmɛn wʼano koraa.
25Hwɛ wʼanim tee,
na ma wʼani nkɔ nea ɛwɔ wʼanim no so.
26Bɔ ɔkwan tamaa ma wʼanan
na fa akwan a atim so.
27Mman mfa nifa anaa benkum;
twe wo nan fi bɔne ho.
