< Psalms 17 >
1 “A prayer of David.” Hear, O Lord, [the cause of] righteousness, attend unto my entreaty, give ear unto my prayer, coming from lips without deceit.
David ƒe gbedodoɖa. See, O! Yehowa, ɖo to nye ɣlidodo kple nye dzɔdzɔenyenye ƒe kukuɖeɖe. Ƒu to anyi ɖe nye gbedodoɖa si metso alakpanuyiwo me o.
2 Let from thy presence my sentence come forth; let thy eyes behold what is right.
Afiatsotso nam netso gbɔwò, eye na wò ŋkuwo nakpɔ nu si le dzɔdzɔe.
3 Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast thought of me in the night; thou hast refined me—thou couldst find nothing: my purpose doth not pass beyond [the words of] my mouth.
Togbɔ be èdzro nye dzi me eye nèlé ŋku ɖe ŋunye tsitotsito le zã me; ne èdom kpɔ hã la, màkpɔ naneke le menye o. Meɖoe kplikpaa be nye nu mawɔ nu vɔ̃ o.
4 Among the deeds of men did I observe, by the word of thy lips, the paths of the dissolute.
Le amegbetɔwo ƒe nuwɔnawo me la, metsɔ wò numenya kpɔ ɖokuinye dzii be, nyemage ɖe ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe mɔwo dzi o.
5 My steps held firmly to thy tracks, [and] my footsteps did not slip.
Nye afɔɖeɖewo li ɖe wò toƒewo, eye nye afɔ meɖiɖi o.
6 I call on thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: incline thy ear unto me, hear my speech.
Mele yɔwòm, O! Mawu, elabena àtɔ nam; ƒu to anyi ɖe ŋunye, eye nàse nye gbedodoɖa.
7 Show marvelously thy loving-kindnesses, O thou that savest those who put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them] by thy right hand.
Ɖe wò lɔlɔ̃ gã la ƒe nukunu fia, wò ame si tsɔa wò nuɖusi ɖea ame siwo si wò tso, tso woƒe futɔwo ƒe asi me.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; conceal me under the shadow of thy wings,
Kpɔ tanye abe wò ŋku ƒe gadaglamakui ene, eye nàɣlam ɖe wò aʋala ƒe vɔvɔli te,
9 From the wicked that despoil me, my enemies, who, to take my life, compass me about.
ɖem tso ame vɔ̃ɖi siwo le funyafunya wɔmem kple futɔ siwo ɖe to ɖem la ƒe asi me.
10 They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
Wotu woƒe ŋutasẽdziwo, eye wotsɔa woƒe nuwo gblɔa dadanyawoe.
11 On our steps they now encompass us: they direct their eyes to turn aside in the land.
Wodo afɔ nam, eye azɔ la, woɖe to ɖem, woƒe ŋkuwo le te ne woaxlãm ɖe anyigba.
12 Every man is just like a lion that is greedy to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in a covert.
Wole abe dzata dɔwui si le nu dim be yealé, hele adeklo dzi le avekɔe me ene.
13 Arise, O Lord, prevent him, cast him down; deliver my soul from the wicked, who is thy sword, —
O! Yehowa, tso, kpe akɔ kpli wo, he wo ƒu anyi, eye tsɔ wò yi nàɖem le ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe asi me.
14 From these men—thy hand—O Lord, from the men of this world, whose portion is in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hidden treasure: they have children in plenty, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
O! Yehowa, tsɔ wò asi ɖem le ame siawo tɔgbi kple xexemetɔ siawo ƒe asi me, ame siwo ƒe fetu le agbe sia me. Ètsia ame siwo nèlɔ̃ vevie la ƒe dɔwuame nu; wo viŋutsuwo kpɔ nu nyui geɖe, eye wodzraa kesinɔnuwo ɖo ɖi na wo viwo.
15 As for me, in righteousness shall I behold thy face: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with contemplating thy likeness.
Ke nye la, makpɔ wò ŋkume le dzɔdzɔenyenye me, eye ne menyɔ hekpɔ wò nɔnɔme ko la, maɖi ƒo.