Psalms 12

1 “To the chief musician upon Sheminith, a psalm of David.” Help, O Lord; for the pious have ceased to be; for the truthful have failed from among the children of men.

Wɔde ma dwonkyerɛfo se wɔnto no wɔ “Seminit” sanku nne so. Dawid dwom. Boa yɛn, Awurade, na nyamesurofo asa; nokwafo ayera wɔ nnipa mu.

2 Deceptively do they speak every one with his neighbor, with flattering lips, with a double heart do they speak.

Obiara di atoro kyerɛ ne yɔnko; wɔn ano a ɛdɛfɛdɛfɛ no ka nnaadaasɛm.

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh boastful things:

Ma Awurade ntwa nnaadaa ano ne tɛkrɛma biara a ɛhoahoa ne ho nkyene;

4 Who have said, With our tongue will we be mighty; our lips are with us; who is Lord over us!

nea ɛka se, “Yɛde yɛn tɛkrɛma bedi nkonim; yɛn ano bedi ama yɛn, na hena na odi yɛn so tumi?”

5 Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord: I will grant safety to him for whom the other layeth a snare.

“Esiane ɔhyɛ a wɔde hyɛ mmɔborɔni ne ohiani apinisi no nti, mɛsɔre afei,” Awurade na ose. “Mɛbɔ wɔn ho ban afi wɔn a wɔhaw wɔn no ho.”

6 The words of the Lord are pure words, as silver refined in the crucible of earth, purified seven times.

Awurade asɛm yɛ nokware te sɛ dwetɛ a wɔasɔn so wɔ fononoo mu, na wɔahoa ho mpɛn ason.

7 Thou, O Lord, wilt preserve them; thou wilt guard them from this generation for ever.

Awurade, wobɛkora mmɔborɔni na woabɔ yɛn ho ban afi saa nnipa yi ho afebɔɔ.

8 On every side do the wicked walk about, when the vile are exalted over the sons of man.

Amumɔyɛfo nenam sɛnea wɔpɛ, bere a adesamma de nidi ma afide.