Lamentations 3
1 [ALEPH-BET] I [am] the man [who] has seen affliction By the rod of His wrath.
Mene ɔbarima a mahu amane wɔ nʼabufuw abaa ano.
2 He has led me, and causes to go [in] darkness, and without light.
Wapam me afi ne ho ama manantew sum mu na ɛnyɛ hann mu;
3 Surely against me He turns back, He turns His hand all the day.
Ampa ara wama nsa so atia me mpɛn bebree, da mu nyinaa.
4 He has worn out my flesh and my skin. He has broken my bones.
Wama me were ne me nam anyin Na wabubu me nnompe.
5 He has built up against me, And sets around poverty and weariness.
Waka me ahyɛ mu, na watua me ano ɔde nweenwen ne ahokyere atwa me ho ahyia.
6 In dark places He has caused me to dwell, As the dead of old.
Wama matena sum mu sɛ wɔn a wɔawuwu dedaw no.
7 He has hedged me in, and I do not go out, He has made heavy my chain.
Wato ɔfasu atwa me ho ahyia enti mintumi nguan; wagu me nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn ama matɔ beraw.
8 Also when I call and cry out, He has shut out my prayer.
Mpo sɛ mefrɛ anaasɛ mebɔ mpae srɛ mmoa a osiw me mpaebɔ ano.
9 He has hedged my ways with hewn work, My paths He has made crooked.
Ɔde abotan asiw me kwan; wama mʼakwan ayɛ kɔntɔnkye.
10 A bear lying in wait He [is] to me, A lion in secret hiding places.
Te sɛ sisi a ɔda hɔ retwɛn, te sɛ gyata a watɛw,
11 My ways He is turning aside, and He pulls me in pieces, He has made me a desolation.
ɔtwee me fii ɔkwan no mu bebaree me na ogyaw me a minni mmoa biara.
12 He has bent His bow, And sets me up as a mark for an arrow.
Okuntun ne ta mu na ɔde ne bɛmma kyerɛɛ me so.
13 He has caused to enter into my reins The sons of His quiver.
Ɔde bɛmma a efi ne kotoku mu hwirew me koma mu.
14 I have been a derision to all my people, Their song all the day.
Meyɛɛ akyiwade maa me nkurɔfo nyinaa; wɔto akutia nnwom de di me ho fɛw da mu nyinaa.
15 He has filled me with bitter things, He has filled me [with] wormwood.
Ɔde nhaban nweenwen ahyɛ me ma. Wama me bɔnwoma anom.
16 And He breaks with gravel my teeth, He has covered me with ashes.
Ɔde mmosea abubu me se; na watiatia me so wɔ mfutuma mu.
17 And You cast off my soul from peace, I have forgotten prosperity.
Wɔama asomdwoe abɔ me; na me werɛ afi yiyedi.
18 And I say, My strength and my hope have perished from YHWH.
Enti mise, “Mʼanuonyam asa, nea mede mʼani too so Awurade mu no nyinaa.”
19 Remember my affliction and my mourning, Wormwood and gall!
Mekae mʼamanehunu wɔ mʼakyinkyinakyinkyin mu, nweenwen ne bɔnwoma mu.
20 Remember well, and my soul bows down in me.
Mekae yiye, na me kra abotow wɔ me mu.
21 This I turn to my heart—therefore I hope.
Nanso midwen eyi ho; saa nti mewɔ anidaso.
22 The kindnesses of YHWH! For we have not been consumed, For His mercies have not ended.
Awurade dɔ kɛse nti yɛnsɛee ɛ. Nʼayamhyehye nni huammɔ.
23 New every morning, abundant [is] Your faithfulness.
Ɛyɛ foforo anɔpa biara; wo nokwaredi yɛ kɛse.
24 My portion [is] YHWH, my soul has said, Therefore I hope for Him.
Meka kyerɛ me ho se, “Awurade yɛ me kyɛfa, enti mɛtwɛn no.”
25 YHWH [is] good to those waiting for Him, To the soul [that] seeks Him.
Awurade ye ma wɔn a wɔn anidaso wɔ ne mu, onipa a ɔhwehwɛ no no;
26 [It is] good when one stays and stands still For the salvation of YHWH.
Eye sɛ wɔyɛ komm de twɛn Awurade nkwagye.
27 [It is] good for a man that he bears a yoke in his youth.
Eye ma ɔbarima sɛ ɔsoa konnua no wɔ ne mmerantebere mu.
28 He sits alone, and is silent, For He has laid [it] on him.
Ma ɔntena ase komm, efisɛ Awurade de ato ne so.
29 He puts his mouth in the dust, if so be, there is hope.
Ma ɔmfa nʼanim nsie wɔ mfutuma mu, ebia anidaso wɔ hɔ.
30 He gives to his striker the cheek, He is filled with reproach.
Ma ɔmfa nʼafono mma nea ɔpɛɛ sɛ ɔbɔ no no na ɔnhyɛ no aniwu.
31 For the Lord does not cast off for all time.
Na Awurade ntow onipa biara nkyene koraa.
32 For though He afflicted, yet He has pitied, According to the abundance of His kindness.
Ɛwɔ mu, ɔde awerɛhow ba de, nanso obenya ayamhyehye. Ne dɔ kɛse no to rentwa da.
33 For He has not afflicted with His heart, Nor does He grieve the sons of men.
Ofi amemenemfe mu de amanehunu anaa awerɛhow brɛ nnipa mma.
34 To bruise under one’s feet any bound ones of earth,
Sɛ wɔde wɔn nan dwerɛw nneduafo a wɔwɔ asase no so a,
35 To turn aside the judgment of a man, Before the face of the Most High,
sɛ wotiatia obi ahofadi so wɔ Ɔsorosoroni no anim a,
36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord has not approved.
anaa sɛ wobu obi ntɛnkyew a, Awurade renhu saa nneɛma yi ana?
37 Who [is] this—he has spoken, and it is, [And] the Lord has not commanded [it]?
Hena na obetumi aka na wama aba mu wɔ bere a ɛnyɛ Awurade na ɔhyɛe?
38 From the mouth of the Most High does not go forth the evils and the good.
Ɛnyɛ Ɔsorosoroni no anom na mmusu ne nnepa fi ana?
39 Why does a living man sigh habitually, A man for his sin?
Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ ɔteasefo nwiinwii bere a wɔatwe nʼaso wɔ ne bɔne ho?
40 We search our ways, and investigate, And turn back to YHWH.
Momma yɛnhwehwɛ yɛn akwan mu na yɛnsɔ nhwɛ, na yɛnsan nkɔ Awurade nkyɛn.
41 We lift up our heart on the hands to God in the heavens.
Momma yɛmma yɛn koma ne yɛn nsa so, nkyerɛ Onyankopɔn wɔ ɔsoro, na yɛnka se:
42 We have transgressed and been rebellious, You have not forgiven.
“Yɛayɛ bɔne, na yɛatew atua na wamfa ankyɛ.
43 You have covered Yourself with anger, And pursue us; You have slain—You have not pitied.
“Wode abufuw akata wo ho ataa yɛn; na woakunkum a woannya ahummɔbɔ.
44 You have covered Yourself with a cloud, So that prayer does not pass through.
Wode wo ho asie omununkum mu nti mpaebɔ biara nnu wo nkyɛn.
45 Outcast and refuse You make us In the midst of the peoples.
Woayɛ yɛn atantanne ne nwura wɔ amanaman no mu.
46 Opened against us their mouth have all our enemies.
“Yɛn atamfo nyinaa abaa wɔn anom tɛtrɛɛ de tia yɛn.
47 Fear and a snare has been for us, Desolation and destruction.
Yɛabrɛ ne ahunahuna ne akukuruhwease, mmubui ne ɔsɛe.”
48 Streams of water go down my eye, For the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Me nusu sen sɛ asuten efisɛ wɔasɛe me nkurɔfo.
49 My eye is poured out, And does not cease without intermission,
Me nusu bɛsen ara, na ɛrennyae,
50 Until YHWH looks and sees from the heavens,
kosi sɛ Awurade bɛhwɛ afi ɔsoro, na wahu.
51 My eye affects my soul, Because of all the daughters of my city.
Nea mihu no ma me kra werɛ how, me kuropɔn no mu mmea nyinaa nti.
52 Hunting—my enemies have hunted me without cause like the bird.
Mʼatamfo a menyɛɛ wɔn hwee pampam me sɛ anomaa.
53 They have cut off my life in a pit, And they cast a stone against me.
Wɔpɛɛ sɛ wotwa me nkwa so na wosiw me abo wɔ amoa mu;
54 Waters have flowed over my head, I have said, I have been cut off.
nsu bu faa me ti so, na ɛyɛɛ me sɛnea wɔrewie me.
55 I called Your Name, O YHWH, from the lower pit.
Mebɔɔ wo din, Awurade fii amoa no ase tɔnn.
56 You have heard my voice, do not hide Your ear at my breathing—at my cry.
Wotee me sufrɛ: “Nsiw wʼaso wɔ me gye sufrɛ ho.”
57 You have drawn near in the day I call You, You have said, Do not fear.
Wutwiw bɛn me bere a mefrɛɛ wo no, na wokae se, “Nsuro.”
58 You have pleaded, O Lord, the pleadings of my soul, You have redeemed my life.
Wo Awurade, wudii mʼasɛm maa me; na wugyee me nkwa.
59 You have seen, O YHWH, my overthrow, Judge my cause.
Woahu bɔne a wɔayɛ me, Awurade. Di mʼasɛm ma me!
60 You have seen all their vengeance, All their thoughts of me.
Woahu wɔn aweretɔ no mu den, wɔn pɔw a wɔbɔ tia me no nyinaa.
61 You have heard their reproach, O YHWH, All their thoughts against me,
Awurade, woate wɔn ntwirii, wɔn pɔw a wɔbɔ tia me no nyinaa,
62 The lips of my withstanders, Even their meditation against me all the day.
nea mʼatamfo ka no asomsɛm na wɔka no brɛoo de tia me da mu nyinaa.
63 Their sitting down, and their rising up, Behold attentively, I [am] their song.
Hwɛ wɔn! Sɛ wogyinagyina hɔ anaasɛ wɔtete hɔ, wɔto akutia nnwom de di me ho fɛw.
64 You return to them the deed, O YHWH, According to the work of their hands.
Fa nea ɛfata tua wɔn so ka, Awurade, nea wɔn nsa ayɛ nti.
65 You give to them a covered heart, Your curse to them.
Pirim wɔn koma, na ma wo nnome mmra wɔn so.
66 You pursue in anger, and destroy them, From under the heavens of YHWH!
Fa abufuw taa wɔn, na sɛe wɔn fi Awurade ɔsorosoro ase.
