Lamentations 3
1 I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.
Mene ɔbarima a mahunu amane wɔ nʼabufuo abaa ano.
2 He hath led me and caused me to walk in darkness and not in light.
Wapam me afiri ne ho ama manante sum mu na ɛnyɛ hann mu;
3 Surely against me He turneth His hand again and again all the day.
Ampa ara wama nsa so atia me mpɛn bebree, ɛda mu nyinaa.
4 My flesh and my skin hath He worn out; He hath broken my bones.
Wama me wedeɛ ne me nam anyini Na wabubu me nnompe.
5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
Waka me ahyɛ mu, ɔde nwononwono ne ahokyere atwa me ho ahyia.
6 He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
Wama matena esum mu sɛ wɔn a wɔawuwu dada no.
7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot go forth; He hath made my chain heavy.
Wato ɔfasuo atwa me ho ahyia enti mentumi nnwane; wagu me nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn ama matɔ baha.
8 Yea, when I cry and call for help, He shutteth out my prayer.
Mpo sɛ mefrɛ anaasɛ mebɔ mpaeɛ srɛ mmoa a ɔsi me mpaeɛbɔ ano.
9 He hath enclosed my ways with hewn stone, He hath made my paths crooked.
Ɔde abotan asi me ɛkwan; wama mʼakwan ayɛ kɔntɔnkye.
10 He is unto me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in secret places.
Te sɛ sisi a ɔda hɔ retwɛn, te sɛ gyata a watɛ,
11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; He hath made me desolate.
ɔtwee me firi ɛkwan no mu dwerɛɛ me na ɔgyaa me a menni mmoa biara.
12 He hath bent His bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
Ɔkuntunuu ne tadua mu na ɔde ne bɛmma kyerɛɛ me so.
13 He hath caused the arrows of His quiver to enter into my reins.
Ɔde bɛmma a ɛfiri ne kotokuo mu hwiree mʼakoma mu.
14 I am become a derision to all my people, and their song all the day.
Meyɛɛ asredeɛ maa me nkurɔfoɔ nyinaa; wɔto akutia nnwom de di me ho fɛ ɛda mu nyinaa.
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, He hath sated me with wormwood.
Ɔde nhahan nwononwono ahyɛ me ma. Wama me bɔnwoma anom.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, He hath made me to wallow in ashes.
Ɔde aboseaa abubu me se; na watiatia me so wɔ mfuturo mu.
17 And my soul is removed far off from peace, I forgot prosperity.
Wɔama asomdwoeɛ abɔ me; na mewerɛ afiri yiedie.
18 And I said: 'My strength is perished, and mine expectation from the LORD.'
Enti mese, “Mʼanimuonyam asa, deɛ mede mʼani too so Awurade mu no nyinaa.”
19 Remember mine affliction and mine anguish, the wormwood and the gall.
Mekae mʼamanehunu wɔ mʼakyinkyini mu, nwononwono ne bɔnwoma mu.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is bowed down within me.
Mekae yie, na me kra aboto wɔ me mu.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
Nanso, mekae yei ne saa enti, mewɔ anidasoɔ.
22 Surely the LORD'S mercies are not consumed, surely His compassions fail not.
Awurade dɔ kɛseɛ enti yɛnnsɛeɛ. Nʼayamhyehyeɛ nni hwammɔ.
23 They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.
Ɛyɛ foforɔ anɔpa biara; wo nokorɛdie yɛ kɛseɛ.
24 'The LORD is my portion', saith my soul; 'Therefore will I hope in Him.'
Meka kyerɛ me ho sɛ, “Awurade yɛ me kyɛfa, enti mɛtwɛn no.”
25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.
Awurade yɛ ma wɔn a wɔn anidasoɔ wɔ ne mu, onipa a ɔhwehwɛ noɔ no;
26 It is good that a man should quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Ɛyɛ sɛ wɔyɛ komm de twɛn Awurade nkwagyeɛ.
27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
Ɛyɛ ma ɔbarima sɛ ɔsoa kɔnnua no wɔ ne mmeranteɛ ɛberɛ mu.
28 Let him sit alone and keep silence, because He hath laid it upon him.
Ma ɔntena ase komm, ɛfiri sɛ Awurade de ato no so.
29 Let him put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope.
Ma ɔmfa nʼanim nsie wɔ mfuturo mu, ebia anidasoɔ wɔ hɔ.
30 Let him give his cheek to him that smiteth him, let him be filled full with reproach.
Ma ɔmfa nʼafono mma deɛ ɔpɛɛ sɛ ɔbɔ no na ɔnhyɛ no aniwuo.
31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever.
Na Awurade nto nnipa ntwene koraa.
32 For though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.
Ɛwom, ɔde awerɛhoɔ ba deɛ, nanso ɔbɛnya ayamhyehyeɛ. Ne dɔ kɛseɛ no to rentwa da.
33 For He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.
Ɔfiri amemenemfe mu de amanehunu anaa awerɛhoɔ brɛ nnipa mma.
34 To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth,
Sɛ wɔde wɔn nan dwerɛ nneduafoɔ a wɔwɔ asase no so a,
35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High,
sɛ wɔtiatia obi ahofadie so wɔ Ɔsorosoroni no anim a,
36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
anaa sɛ wɔbu obi ntɛnkyea a, Awurade nhunu saa nneɛma yi anaa?
37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
Hwan na ɔbɛtumi aka na wama aba mu wɔ ɛberɛ a ɛnyɛ Awurade na ɔhyɛeɛ?
38 Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good?
Ɛnyɛ Ɔsorosoroni no anom na musuo ne nnepa firi anaa?
39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a strong man because of his sins?
Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ ɔteasefoɔ nwiinwii ɛberɛ a wɔatwe nʼaso wɔ ne bɔne ho?
40 Let us search and try our ways, and return to the LORD.
Momma yɛnhwehwɛ yɛn akwan mu na yɛnsɔ nhwɛ, na yɛnsane nkɔ Awurade nkyɛn.
41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
Momma yɛmma yɛn akoma ne yɛn nsa so, nkyerɛ Onyankopɔn wɔ ɔsoro, na yɛnka sɛ:
42 We have transgressed and have rebelled; Thou hast not pardoned.
“Yɛayɛ bɔne, na yɛate atua na woamfa ankyɛ.
43 Thou hast covered with anger and pursued us; Thou hast slain unsparingly.
“Wode abufuo akata wo ho ataa yɛn; na wakunkum a woannya ahummɔborɔ.
44 Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.
Wode wo ho asie omununkum mu enti mpaeɛbɔ biara nnuru wo nkyɛn.
45 Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the peoples.
Woayɛ yɛn atantanneɛ ne wira wɔ amanaman no mu.
46 All our enemies have opened their mouth wide against us.
“Yɛn atamfoɔ nyinaa abae wɔn anom tɛtrɛɛ de tia yɛn.
47 Terror and the pit are come upon us, desolation and destruction.
Yɛabrɛ ne ahunahuna ne akukuruhweaseɛ, mmubuiɛ ne ɔsɛeɛ.”
48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water, for the breach of the daughter of my people.
Me nisuo sene sɛ asutene ɛfiri sɛ wɔasɛe me nkurɔfoɔ.
49 Mine eye is poured out, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,
Me nisuo bɛsene ara, na ɛrennyae,
50 Till the LORD look forth, and behold from heaven.
kɔsi sɛ Awurade bɛhwɛ afiri ɔsoro, na wahu.
51 Mine eye affected my soul, because of all the daughters of my city.
Deɛ mehunu no ma me kra werɛ ho me kuropɔn no mu mmaa nyinaa enti.
52 They have chased me sore like a bird, that are mine enemies without cause.
Mʼatamfoɔ a menyɛɛ wɔn hwee pampam me sɛ anomaa.
53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast stones upon me.
Wɔpɛɛ sɛ wɔtwa me nkwa so na wɔsi me aboɔ wɔ amena mu;
54 Waters flowed over my head; I said: 'I am cut off.'
nsuo bu faa me tiri so, na ɛyɛɛ me sɛdeɛ wɔrewie me.
55 I called upon Thy name, O LORD, Out of the lowest dungeon.
Mebɔɔ wo din, Ao Awurade firi amena no ase tɔnn.
56 Thou heardest my voice; hide not Thine ear at my sighing, at my cry.
Wotee me sufrɛ: “Nsi wʼaso wɔ me gyeɛ sufrɛ ho.”
57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon Thee; Thou saidst: 'Fear not.'
Wotwe bɛnee me ɛberɛ a mefrɛɛ woɔ no, na wokaa sɛ, “Nsuro.”
58 O Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; Thou hast redeemed my life.
Ao Awurade, wodii mʼasɛm maa me; na wogyee me nkwa.
59 O LORD, Thou hast seen my wrong; judge Thou my cause.
Woahunu bɔne a wɔayɛ me, Ao Awurade. Di mʼasɛm ma me!
60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their devices against me.
Woahunu wɔn aweretɔ no mu den, wɔn pɔ a wɔbɔ tia me no nyinaa.
61 Thou hast heard their taunt, O LORD, and all their devices against me;
Ao Awurade, woate wɔn sopa, wɔn pɔ a wɔbɔ tia me no nyinaa,
62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their muttering against me all the day.
deɛ mʼatamfoɔ ka no sɛ asomusɛm na wɔka no brɛoo de tia me da mu nyinaa.
63 Behold Thou their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their song.
Hwɛ wɔn! Sɛ wɔgyinagyina hɔ anaa sɛ wɔtete hɔ, wɔto akutia nnwom de di me ho fɛw.
64 Thou wilt render unto them a recompense, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
Fa deɛ ɛfata tua wɔn so ka, Ao Awurade, deɛ wɔn nsa ayɛ enti.
65 Thou wilt give them hardness of heart, Thy curse unto them.
Pirim wɔn akoma, na ma wo nnome mmra wɔn so.
66 Thou wilt pursue them in anger, and destroy them from under the heavens of the LORD.
Fa abufuo taa wɔn, na sɛe wɔn firi Awurade sorosoro ase.
