Lamentations 3
1 I am the man who has experienced suffering under the rod of God's anger.
Mene ɔbarima a mahunu amane wɔ nʼabufuo abaa ano.
2 He has driven me away, forcing me to walk in darkness instead of the light.
Wapam me afiri ne ho ama manante sum mu na ɛnyɛ hann mu;
3 In fact he hits me again and again all day long.
Ampa ara wama nsa so atia me mpɛn bebree, ɛda mu nyinaa.
4 He has worn me out; he has broken me in pieces.
Wama me wedeɛ ne me nam anyini Na wabubu me nnompe.
5 He has besieged me, surrounding me with bitterness and misery.
Waka me ahyɛ mu, ɔde nwononwono ne ahokyere atwa me ho ahyia.
6 He has forced me to live in darkness like those long dead.
Wama matena esum mu sɛ wɔn a wɔawuwu dada no.
7 He has built a wall around me so I can't escape; he has bound me with heavy chains.
Wato ɔfasuo atwa me ho ahyia enti mentumi nnwane; wagu me nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn ama matɔ baha.
8 Even when I keep on crying out for help, he refuses to listen to my prayer.
Mpo sɛ mefrɛ anaasɛ mebɔ mpaeɛ srɛ mmoa a ɔsi me mpaeɛbɔ ano.
9 He has put stone blocks in my way and sends me down crooked paths.
Ɔde abotan asi me ɛkwan; wama mʼakwan ayɛ kɔntɔnkye.
10 He is a bear that lies in wait for me, a lion in hiding ready to attack,
Te sɛ sisi a ɔda hɔ retwɛn, te sɛ gyata a watɛ,
11 He dragged me from my path and ripped me to pieces, leaving me helpless.
ɔtwee me firi ɛkwan no mu dwerɛɛ me na ɔgyaa me a menni mmoa biara.
12 He loaded his bow with an arrow and used me as his target,
Ɔkuntunuu ne tadua mu na ɔde ne bɛmma kyerɛɛ me so.
13 He shot me in my kidneys with his arrows.
Ɔde bɛmma a ɛfiri ne kotokuo mu hwiree mʼakoma mu.
14 Now everyone laughs at me, singing songs that mock me all day long.
Meyɛɛ asredeɛ maa me nkurɔfoɔ nyinaa; wɔto akutia nnwom de di me ho fɛ ɛda mu nyinaa.
15 He has filled me with bitterness; he has filled me up with bitter wormwood.
Ɔde nhahan nwononwono ahyɛ me ma. Wama me bɔnwoma anom.
16 He has broken my teeth with grit; he has trampled me in the dust.
Ɔde aboseaa abubu me se; na watiatia me so wɔ mfuturo mu.
17 Peace has been torn away from me; I've forgotten all that's good in life.
Wɔama asomdwoeɛ abɔ me; na mewerɛ afiri yiedie.
18 That's why I say, “My expectation of a long life is gone, along with all that I hoped for from Lord.
Enti mese, “Mʼanimuonyam asa, deɛ mede mʼani too so Awurade mu no nyinaa.”
19 Don't forget everything I've suffered in my wandering, as bitters as wormwood and poison.
Mekae mʼamanehunu wɔ mʼakyinkyini mu, nwononwono ne bɔnwoma mu.
20 I certainly haven't forgotten. I remember it all too well, so I sink into depression.
Mekae yie, na me kra aboto wɔ me mu.
21 But I still hope when I think about this:
Nanso, mekae yei ne saa enti, mewɔ anidasoɔ.
22 It's because of the Lord's trustworthy love that our lives are not finished, for through his merciful actions he never lets us down.
Awurade dɔ kɛseɛ enti yɛnnsɛeɛ. Nʼayamhyehyeɛ nni hwammɔ.
23 He renews them every morning. How wonderfully trustworthy you are, Lord!
Ɛyɛ foforɔ anɔpa biara; wo nokorɛdie yɛ kɛseɛ.
24 The Lord is all I need,” I tell myself, “so I will put my hope in him.”
Meka kyerɛ me ho sɛ, “Awurade yɛ me kyɛfa, enti mɛtwɛn no.”
25 The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to anyone who seeks to follow him.
Awurade yɛ ma wɔn a wɔn anidasoɔ wɔ ne mu, onipa a ɔhwehwɛ noɔ no;
26 It is good to wait quietly for the Lord's salvation.
Ɛyɛ sɛ wɔyɛ komm de twɛn Awurade nkwagyeɛ.
27 It is good for people to learn to patiently bear discipline while they're still young.
Ɛyɛ ma ɔbarima sɛ ɔsoa kɔnnua no wɔ ne mmeranteɛ ɛberɛ mu.
28 They should sit by themselves in silence, because it's God who has disciplined them.
Ma ɔntena ase komm, ɛfiri sɛ Awurade de ato no so.
29 They should bow low with their faces to the ground, for there may still be hope.
Ma ɔmfa nʼanim nsie wɔ mfuturo mu, ebia anidasoɔ wɔ hɔ.
30 They should turn a cheek to someone who wants to slap them; they should take the insults of others.
Ma ɔmfa nʼafono mma deɛ ɔpɛɛ sɛ ɔbɔ no na ɔnhyɛ no aniwuo.
31 For the Lord won't abandon us forever.
Na Awurade nto nnipa ntwene koraa.
32 Even though he may bring sadness, he shows us mercy because his trustworthy love is so great.
Ɛwom, ɔde awerɛhoɔ ba deɛ, nanso ɔbɛnya ayamhyehyeɛ. Ne dɔ kɛseɛ no to rentwa da.
33 For he doesn't willingly hurt people, or cause them grief.
Ɔfiri amemenemfe mu de amanehunu anaa awerɛhoɔ brɛ nnipa mma.
34 Whether it's mistreating all the prisoners of the land,
Sɛ wɔde wɔn nan dwerɛ nneduafoɔ a wɔwɔ asase no so a,
35 Or denying someone their rights as the Most High watches,
sɛ wɔtiatia obi ahofadie so wɔ Ɔsorosoroni no anim a,
36 Or cheating someone in their legal case—these things the Lord doesn't approve of.
anaa sɛ wɔbu obi ntɛnkyea a, Awurade nhunu saa nneɛma yi anaa?
37 Who spoke and it came into existence? Wasn't it the Lord who commanded it?
Hwan na ɔbɛtumi aka na wama aba mu wɔ ɛberɛ a ɛnyɛ Awurade na ɔhyɛeɛ?
38 When the Most High speaks it can be a disaster or a blessing.
Ɛnyɛ Ɔsorosoroni no anom na musuo ne nnepa firi anaa?
39 Why should any human being complain about the results of their sins?
Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ ɔteasefoɔ nwiinwii ɛberɛ a wɔatwe nʼaso wɔ ne bɔne ho?
40 We should look at ourselves, examine what we're doing, and return to the Lord.
Momma yɛnhwehwɛ yɛn akwan mu na yɛnsɔ nhwɛ, na yɛnsane nkɔ Awurade nkyɛn.
41 Let's not just hold up our hands to God in heaven, but our minds as well, saying,
Momma yɛmma yɛn akoma ne yɛn nsa so, nkyerɛ Onyankopɔn wɔ ɔsoro, na yɛnka sɛ:
42 “We are the ones who sinned; we are the ones who rebelled; and you haven't forgiven us!”
“Yɛayɛ bɔne, na yɛate atua na woamfa ankyɛ.
43 You have wrapped yourself in anger and chased us down, killing without mercy. You have killed without pity.
“Wode abufuo akata wo ho ataa yɛn; na wakunkum a woannya ahummɔborɔ.
44 You have wrapped yourself with a cloud that no prayer can penetrate.
Wode wo ho asie omununkum mu enti mpaeɛbɔ biara nnuru wo nkyɛn.
45 You have made us waste and refuse to the nations around.
Woayɛ yɛn atantanneɛ ne wira wɔ amanaman no mu.
46 All our enemies open their mouths to criticize us.
“Yɛn atamfoɔ nyinaa abae wɔn anom tɛtrɛɛ de tia yɛn.
47 We're terrified and trapped, devastated and destroyed.
Yɛabrɛ ne ahunahuna ne akukuruhweaseɛ, mmubuiɛ ne ɔsɛeɛ.”
48 Tears stream from my eyes over the death of my people.
Me nisuo sene sɛ asutene ɛfiri sɛ wɔasɛe me nkurɔfoɔ.
49 My eyes overflow with tears all the time. They won't stop
Me nisuo bɛsene ara, na ɛrennyae,
50 Until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees what's going on.
kɔsi sɛ Awurade bɛhwɛ afiri ɔsoro, na wahu.
51 What I've seen torments me because of what's happened to all the women in my city.
Deɛ mehunu no ma me kra werɛ ho me kuropɔn no mu mmaa nyinaa enti.
52 For no reason my enemies trapped me like a bird.
Mʼatamfoɔ a menyɛɛ wɔn hwee pampam me sɛ anomaa.
53 They tried to kill me by tossing me into a pit and throwing stones at me.
Wɔpɛɛ sɛ wɔtwa me nkwa so na wɔsi me aboɔ wɔ amena mu;
54 Water flooded over my head, and I thought I was going to die.
nsuo bu faa me tiri so, na ɛyɛɛ me sɛdeɛ wɔrewie me.
55 I called out for you, Lord, from deep inside the pit.
Mebɔɔ wo din, Ao Awurade firi amena no ase tɔnn.
56 You heard me when I prayed, “Please don't ignore my cry for help.”
Wotee me sufrɛ: “Nsi wʼaso wɔ me gyeɛ sufrɛ ho.”
57 You came to me when I called you, and you told me, “Don't be afraid!”
Wotwe bɛnee me ɛberɛ a mefrɛɛ woɔ no, na wokaa sɛ, “Nsuro.”
58 You have taken my case and defended me; you have saved my life!
Ao Awurade, wodii mʼasɛm maa me; na wogyee me nkwa.
59 Lord, you have seen the injustices done to me; please vindicate me!
Woahunu bɔne a wɔayɛ me, Ao Awurade. Di mʼasɛm ma me!
60 You have observed how vengeful they are and how often they've plotted against me.
Woahunu wɔn aweretɔ no mu den, wɔn pɔ a wɔbɔ tia me no nyinaa.
61 Lord, you have heard how they've insulted me, and what they've plotted against me,
Ao Awurade, woate wɔn sopa, wɔn pɔ a wɔbɔ tia me no nyinaa,
62 How my enemies talk against me and complain about me all the time!
deɛ mʼatamfoɔ ka no sɛ asomusɛm na wɔka no brɛoo de tia me da mu nyinaa.
63 Just look! Whether they're sitting down and or standing up, they go on making fun of me in their songs.
Hwɛ wɔn! Sɛ wɔgyinagyina hɔ anaa sɛ wɔtete hɔ, wɔto akutia nnwom de di me ho fɛw.
64 Pay them back as they deserve, Lord, for all they've done!
Fa deɛ ɛfata tua wɔn so ka, Ao Awurade, deɛ wɔn nsa ayɛ enti.
65 Give them a covering for their minds! May your curse be on them!
Pirim wɔn akoma, na ma wo nnome mmra wɔn so.
66 Chase them down in your anger, Lord, and get rid of them from the earth!
Fa abufuo taa wɔn, na sɛe wɔn firi Awurade sorosoro ase.
