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.
Ounongo wa kalelela alushe puKalunga tau shivi ovanhu
1 Ounongo itau ingida mbela, eendunge itadi yelula mbela ondaka yado? 2 Oo tau kala ofika koxulo yoikulundudu pondjila, pomatukaukilo omalila, 3 peemhito doshivelo shoshilando, moluvanda peenhu, oo tau ingida pombada: 4 “Ohandi mu ifana, nye ovalumenhu, ondaka yange tai lombwele ovana vovanhu. 5 Onye ovashima lilongeni eendunge, nomalai lilongeni okushiiva omayele. 6 Udeni, osheshi ame ohandi ka popya oinima iwaelela, ndele handi makulile omilungu dange kwaashi sha yuka. 7 Osheshi ondakona yange tai popi oshili, nouhenakalunga oo oixuna komilungu dange. 8 Eendjovo adishe dokanya kange oda yuka, mudo kamu na nande ekengelelo noipupulu, 9 odo adishe da yela da yelelela ovanaendunge, noda yuka kwaava va mona eshiivo. 10 Tambuleni outekuduliko wange, ndele haisiliveli; neshiivo ponhele yoshingoldoelela sha hoololwa. 11 Osheshi ounongo u dule okorali, noinima aishe i nondilo itai yelekwa nao. 12 Ame, Ounongo, nda koneka omayele, ame nda mona eshiivo nediladilo la yuka. 13 Etilo lokutila Omwene olo okutonda osho shii. Ame ohandi tondo elinenepeko nelitumbo, okweenda kwii nokanya koipupulu. 14 Ame ndi nepukululo nomayele. Aame eendunge. Eenghono odange! 15 Kekwafo lange eehamba tadi pangele, novapangeli tava pangele eemhangela da yuka. 16 Okekwafo lange ovapangeli nomalenga novatokoli aveshe kombada yedu tava pangele. 17 Ame ndi hole ava ve hole nge, naava hava kongo nge tava ka mona nge. 18 Oupuna nefimano li li pwaame, emona ihali xulu po nouyuki. 19 Oiimati yange i dule oshingoldo, heeno oshingoldoelela, neliko lange li dule oshisiliveli sha hoololwa. 20 Ame ohandi ende nondjila youyuki, pokati komalila oshili, 21 opo ndi pe ava ve hole nge efyuululo tali kalelele, ndele ndi yadife omalimba avo emona.
22 “Omwene okwa longekida nge ngaau wotete woilonga yaye, komesho yoilonga yaye, omafimbo ounyuni manga inaa shitwa. 23 Ye okwa ma nge moukwaalushe, opehoveloelela, komesho yomafimbo ounyuni, 24 omaule oposhi fimbo inaa kala po, ame nda dalwa, fimbo eefifiya di yadi omeva diha li ko, 25 eemhunda fimbo inadi dikwa mo komesho yoikulundudu ame nda dalwa, 26 fimbo Ye ina ninga natango edu nomapya neendwi adishe dounyuni. 27 Ye eshi a longekida eulu, ame nda li ko. Fimbo ina findila oule omufinda, 28 Ye eshi a pameka oilemo yopombada, eefifiya domokule eshi da mona eenghono, 29 Ye eshi a ningila efuta ongaba yalo, omeva aha tauluke oshipango shaye. Ye eshi a pameka omakanghameno edu, 30 opo nee ame nda li puye ngaashi omunongoelela, nda nyakukwa pombada efiku nefiku, ndele nda danauka moipafi yaye alushe, 31 ndele nda danauka kongonga yedu laye, ndele nda nyakukilwa ovana vovanhu.
32 “Ovamwange, pwilikinei nge hano, osheshi ovanelao ovovo hava diinine eendjila dange. 33 Pwilikineni outekuduliko ndele mu mone ounongo, ndele inamu u ekelashi. 34 Omunelao omunhu ou ta pwilikine nge, ou ta kala oupafi poivelo yange efiku nefiku, ou ta nangele peemhanga deenhu dange. 35 Osheshi ou ta mono nge, okwa mona omwenyo ndele te limonene okuhokwa kOmwene. 36 Ndelenee ou ta di pwaame, ota pongeke okukalamwenyo kwaye. Aveshe ovo hava tondo nge, ve hole efyo.”
