In Praise of Wisdom
1 With great understanding,
Wisdom is calling out
2 as she stands at the crossroads
and on every hill.
3 She stands by the city gate
where everyone enters the city,
and she shouts:
4 “I am calling out
to each one of you!
5 Good sense and sound judgment
can be yours.
6 Listen, because what I say
is worthwhile and right.
7 I always speak the truth
and refuse to tell a lie.
8 Every word I speak is honest,
not one is misleading
or deceptive.
9 “If you have understanding,
you will see that my words
are just what you need.
10 Let instruction and knowledge
mean more to you than silver
or the finest gold.
11 Wisdom is worth much more
than precious jewels
or anything else you desire.”
Wisdom Speaks
12 I am Wisdom —Common Sense
is my closest friend;
I possess knowledge
and sound judgment.
13 If you respect the Lord,
you will hate evil.
I hate pride and conceit
and deceitful lies.
14 I am strong, and I offer
sensible advice
and sound judgment.
15 By my power kings govern,
and rulers make laws
that are fair.
16 Every honest leader rules
with help from me.
17 I love everyone who loves me,
and I will be found by all
who honestly search.
18 I can make you rich and famous,
important and successful.
19 What you receive from me
is more valuable
than even the finest gold
or the purest silver.
20 I always do what is right,
21 and I give great riches
to everyone who loves me.
22 From the beginning,
I was with the Lord.
I was there before he began
23 to create the earth.
At the very first,
the Lord gave life to me.
24 When I was born,
there were no oceans
or springs of water.
25 My birth was before
mountains were formed
or hills were put in place.
26 It happened long before God
had made the earth
or any of its fields
or even the dust.
27 I was there when the Lord
put the heavens in place
and stretched the sky
over the surface of the sea.
28 I was with him when he placed
the clouds in the sky
and created the springs
that fill the ocean.
29 I was there when he set
boundaries for the sea
to make it obey him,
and when he laid foundations
to support the earth.
30 I was right beside the Lord,
helping him plan and build.
I made him happy each day,
and I was happy at his side.
31 I was pleased with his world
and pleased with its people.
32 Pay attention, my children!
Follow my advice,
and you will be happy.
33 Listen carefully
to my instructions,
and you will be wise.
34 Come to my home each day
and listen to me.
You will find happiness.
35 By finding me, you find life,
and the Lord will be pleased
with you.
36 But if you don't find me,
you hurt only yourself,
and if you hate me,
you are in love with death.
Okutanga ounongo
1 Purateneye! Ounongo mau isana.
Ozondunge maze ravaere.
2 Kozondomba zozondundu meṋe yondjira
na pomapingasaneno wozondjira ounongo opu wa kurama.
3 Pomahitiro wotjihuro posi yomivero,
owo mau ravaere nomasa, mau tja
4 “Ami me ku ku eṋe, vandu;
me mu isana amuhe kombanda yehi.
5 Eṋe mbu mu hiya punga ozondunge,
ri hongeye kutja mu punge ozondunge.
Eṋe, mayova, rihongeye kutja mu kare nozondunge.
6 Purateneye komambo wandje omawa nomasemba;
avihe mbi me mu raere vi ri osemba,
7 mbi hungira ouatjiri nu mba tonda ouvi.
8 Omambo aehe ngu me hungire owo omasemba;
kape na nge ri posyo poo nge wovisa.
9 Ku ingwi ngu nozondunge owo omakahu;
ku ingwi ngu nondjiviro owo omasemba.
10 Toorora omahongero wandje moruveze rwosilveri;
nu u toorore ondjiviro pongoldo ongohoke.
11 “Ii, ounongo owo ounanḓengu
pomawe omahuze womosengo;
kape notjiṋa tjonḓengu ndji ṱeki poyandje.
12 Owami ounongo, nu mbi nozondunge;
mbi nondjiviro nomeripura omawa.
13 Ondira ku Muhona oyo okutonda ouvi;
ami mba tonda omeritongamisiro nourangaranga,
nongarero youvi nomambo wovizeze.
14 Mbi nozondando ozombwa
nounongo okuzeyenenisa;
mbi nondjiviro nu mbi nomasa.
15 Owami ngu mbi vatera ozombara okuhonapara,
novanane okutjita ozondyero ozosemba.
16 Ovanane avehe kombanda yehi ve
honapara puna ombatero yandje,
ovaingona novapangure ve horera ku ami.
17 Ami mba suvera imba mbe ndji suvera;
nu auhe ngu me ndji paha me ndji munu.
18 Mbi noutumbe nondjozikiro okuyandja,
nouṋingandu nondoṋeno wina.
19 Ovihape mbi mamu munu ku ami,
ovyo ovinanḓengu tjinene pongoldo
ongohoke na posilveri ongohoke.
20 Ami mbi ryanga mondjira yousemba,
nu mbi ramanga omirari vyousemba,
21 okuyandja outumbe ku imba mbe ndji suvera,
nokuurisa ovipwikiro vyawo vyovihuze.
22 “Muhona wa tenga po okundjimema pu avihe,
otja otjiṋa otjitenga tjoviungura vye oruveze orukuru,
23 Eye we ndji memene kombutiro rutengatenga,
ouye ngunda au hiya utwa.
24 Ngunda aku ha ri omakuvare notuharwi tomeva,
tjandje ami mba kwatwa.
25 Ozondundu ngunda aze hiya kara po,
novivanda ngunda avi hiya tuwa poṋa pavyo,
ami tjandje mba kwatwa,
26 Ndjambi ngunda e hiya
mema ehi nomaryo waro,
na indi ehi romakunino.
27 Ami opu mba ri eye tja
zika evaverwa poṋa paro,
na tandavarisa omuruko
weyuru kombanda yokuvare.
28 Ami opu mba ri eye tja
twa ovikamba kevaverwa,
na tja paturura otuharwi twokuvare,
29 na tja rakiza ozongazona kutja
aze ha tanana omikuro vyokuvare,
ami opu mba ri eye tja
zika omazikameno wehi.
30 Mba ri posi ye otja omuungure onongo,
mba ri enyando re eyuva arihe peke,
aruhe ame nyandere momurungu we,
31 ame nyandere apehe mouye we
nambi nondjoroka puna ovandu.
32 “Nambano, vanatje vandje,
purateneye ku ami!
Kareye nonḓuviro komambo wandje,
neṋe mamu rire ovaṋingandu.
33 Purateneye komahongero wandje
namu ye nakaura ko,
neṋe mamu rire ozonongo.
34 Ovaṋingandu imba mbe zuva ku ami,
mbe kara pomuvero wandje eyuva arihe peke,
amave ndji undjire pomahitiro wondjuwo yandje.
35 Ingwi ngu me ndji munu ma munu omuinyo,
nu Muhona ma kara nonyuṋe mu ye.
36 Nungwari omundu ngu he ndji
paha me rihihamisa omuini;
nu ngwe ndji tonda wa suvera onḓiro.”
