Lamentations 5
1 Lord, please remember what's happened to us. Look at us and see how we've been humiliated!
Ao Awurade, kae deɛ aba yɛn so; hwɛ, na hunu yɛn animguaseɛ.
2 The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.
Wɔadane yɛn agyapadeɛ ama ahɔhoɔ, wɔde yɛn afie ama ananafoɔ.
3 We have lost our fathers, and our mothers are widows.
Yɛayɛ nwisiaa na yɛnni agyanom, yɛn maamenom ayɛ sɛ akunafoɔ.
4 The water we drink we have to pay for; our firewood comes at a price.
Ɛsɛ sɛ yɛtɔ nsuo a yɛnom; yɛbɛnya nnyina a, gye sɛ yɛtɔ.
5 Like animals we're driven along with harnesses around our necks; we're worn out but don't find any rest.
Wɔn a wɔtaa yɛn no abɛn yɛn pɛɛ; Yɛabrɛ na yɛnnya ahomegyeɛ.
6 We allied ourselves with Egypt and Assyria so we could have plenty of food.
Yɛde yɛn ho maa Misraim ne Asiria sɛdeɛ yɛbɛnya aduane a ɛbɛso yɛn.
7 Our forefathers sinned and they're gone, but we're being punished for their sins.
Yɛn agyanom yɛɛ bɔne, na wɔnni hɔ bio, na yɛn na wɔn asotwe abɛda yɛn so.
8 Servants of our conqueror rule over us; no one can save us from their power.
Nkoa di yɛn so, na obiara nni hɔ a ɔbɛgye yɛn afiri wɔn nsam.
9 We take our lives in our hands when we look for food, because of the armed raiders in the desert.
Yɛde yɛn nkwa bɔ afɔdeɛ de pɛ yɛn anoduane, akofena a ɛwɔ ɛserɛ so no enti.
10 Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever caused by hunger.
Yɛn honam adɔ sɛ fononoo. Ɛkɔm ama huraeɛ abɔ yɛn.
11 They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
Wɔato mmaa monnaa wɔ Sion, ne mmaabunu a wɔwɔ Yuda nkuro so.
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands; they show elders no respect.
Wɔkyekyere mmapɔmma nsa na wɔasɛn wɔn; wɔmmfa anidie mma mpanimfoɔ.
13 Young men are forced to work at hand-mills; boys stagger under bundles of wood.
Mmeranteɛ yɛ adwuma den wɔ ayuoyammoɔ so; na mmerantewaa nan toto wɔ nnyina duruduru ase.
14 The elders have abandoned their places at the city gate; the young men have given up playing their music.
Mpanimfoɔ ntena kuropɔn apono ano bio; mmeranteɛ agyae wɔn nnwontoɔ.
15 There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.
Ahosɛpɛ afiri yɛn akoma mu; yɛn asa adane agyaadwotwa.
16 The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!
Ahenkyɛ afiri yɛn tiri so. Yɛn ara, yɛnnue sɛ yɛayɛ bɔne!
17 Because of all this, we're sick at heart; because of all these things, we can hardly look;
Yei enti yɛn akoma atɔ piti, yeinom enti yɛn ani so ayɛ kusuu
18 Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.
wɔ Sion bepɔ a ada mpan na sakraman nenam soɔ no enti.
19 But you, Lord, live forever! You rule for all generations!
Wo, Ao Awurade, di ɔhene afebɔɔ; wʼahennwa firi awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ kɔsi awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ.
20 So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?
Adɛn enti na wo werɛ firi yɛn daa yi? Adɛn enti na wagya yɛn mmerɛ tenten mu yi?
21 Bring us back to you, Lord, so we can be with you again. Please remake our lives like they used to be.
Ka yɛn bata wo ho bio, Ao, Awurade, na yɛatumi aba wo nkyɛn; yɛ yɛn nna foforɔ sɛ tete no
22 Or have you have completely rejected us? Are you still really furious with us?
agye sɛ wapo yɛn koraa anaa sɛ wo bo afu yɛn mmorosoɔ.
