Lamentations 3
1 I am the man that hath seen affliction under the rod of His wrath;
Mene ɔbarima a mahunu amane wɔ nʼabufuo abaa ano.
2 He hath led me and brought me into darkness, and not into light;
Wapam me afiri ne ho ama manante sum mu na ɛnyɛ hann mu;
3 Yea, against me doth he again and again turn his hand all the day long.
Ampa ara wama nsa so atia me mpɛn bebree, ɛda mu nyinaa.
4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
Wama me wedeɛ ne me nam anyini Na wabubu me nnompe.
5 He hath builded against me, and encompassed me with bitterness and woe.
Waka me ahyɛ mu, ɔde nwononwono ne ahokyere atwa me ho ahyia.
6 He hath set me in dark places, as those that have long been dead.
Wama matena esum mu sɛ wɔn a wɔawuwu dada no.
7 He hath hedged me about, so that I cannot get out; 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 aloud, he shutteth out my prayer.
Mpo sɛ mefrɛ anaasɛ mebɔ mpaeɛ srɛ mmoa a ɔsi me mpaeɛbɔ ano.
9 He blocketh up my way with hewn stone; he maketh my paths crooked.
Ɔde abotan asi me ɛkwan; wama mʼakwan ayɛ kɔntɔnkye.
10 A bear lying in wait hath he been to me, a lion in lurking-places.
Te sɛ sisi a ɔda hɔ retwɛn, te sɛ gyata a watɛ,
11 He hath turned aside my ways, and torn 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 sons of his quiver to pierce my reins.
Ɔde bɛmma a ɛfiri ne kotokuo mu hwiree mʼakoma mu.
14 I have been a laughing-stock to all my people, 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 made me drunk with wormwood.
Ɔde nhahan nwononwono ahyɛ me ma. Wama me bɔnwoma anom.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel-stones; He hath covered me with ashes.
Ɔde aboseaa abubu me se; na watiatia me so wɔ mfuturo mu.
17 Yea, thou hast removed my soul far from peace; I have forgotten prosperity.
Wɔama asomdwoeɛ abɔ me; na mewerɛ afiri yiedie.
18 And I say, “My confidence and my hope in Jehovah are gone!”
Enti mese, “Mʼanimuonyam asa, deɛ mede mʼani too so Awurade mu no nyinaa.”
19 Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall!
Mekae mʼamanehunu wɔ mʼakyinkyini mu, nwononwono ne bɔnwoma mu.
20 Yea, thou wilt remember them, for my soul sinketh 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 It is of the mercy of Jehovah that we are not consumed; yea, his compassion faileth not;
Awurade dɔ kɛseɛ enti yɛnnsɛeɛ. Nʼayamhyehyeɛ nni hwammɔ.
23 It is new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
Ɛyɛ foforɔ anɔpa biara; wo nokorɛdie yɛ kɛseɛ.
24 Jehovah is my portion, saith my soul, therefore do I hope in him.
Meka kyerɛ me ho sɛ, “Awurade yɛ me kyɛfa, enti mɛtwɛn no.”
25 Jehovah is good to them that trust in 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 hope, and quietly wait for salvation from Jehovah.
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 That he sit alone and keep silence, since He layeth it upon him;
Ma ɔntena ase komm, ɛfiri sɛ Awurade de ato no so.
29 That he put his mouth in the dust, [[saying to himself, ]] “Perhaps there may be hope!”
Ma ɔmfa nʼanim nsie wɔ mfuturo mu, ebia anidasoɔ wɔ hɔ.
30 That he offer his cheek to the smiter; that he be filled with reproach.
Ma ɔmfa nʼafono mma deɛ ɔpɛɛ sɛ ɔbɔ no na ɔnhyɛ no aniwuo.
31 For the Lord will not cast off forever;
Na Awurade nto nnipa ntwene koraa.
32 For though he cause grief, yet doth he have compassion according to his great mercy;
Ɛwom, ɔde awerɛhoɔ ba deɛ, nanso ɔbɛnya ayamhyehyeɛ. Ne dɔ kɛseɛ no to rentwa da.
33 For he doth not willingly afflict and grieve the children of men.
Ɔfiri amemenemfe mu de amanehunu anaa awerɛhoɔ brɛ nnipa mma.
34 Doth one trample under foot all the prisoners of the earth,
Sɛ wɔde wɔn nan dwerɛ nneduafoɔ a wɔwɔ asase no so a,
35 Doth he bend the right of a man before the face of the Most High,
sɛ wɔtiatia obi ahofadie so wɔ Ɔsorosoroni no anim a,
36 Doth he subvert a man in his cause, and shall not the Lord behold it?
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 hath not commanded?
Hwan na ɔbɛtumi aka na wama aba mu wɔ ɛberɛ a ɛnyɛ Awurade na ɔhyɛeɛ?
38 Cometh not evil, as well as good, from the mouth of the Most High?
Ɛnyɛ Ɔsorosoroni no anom na musuo ne nnepa firi anaa?
39 Wherefore then murmureth the living man? Let him murmur at his own sin!
Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ ɔteasefoɔ nwiinwii ɛberɛ a wɔatwe nʼaso wɔ ne bɔne ho?
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah!
Momma yɛnhwehwɛ yɛn akwan mu na yɛnsɔ nhwɛ, na yɛnsane nkɔ Awurade nkyɛn.
41 Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the heavens!
Momma yɛmma yɛn akoma ne yɛn nsa so, nkyerɛ Onyankopɔn wɔ ɔsoro, na yɛnka sɛ:
42 We have transgressed; we have rebelled; thou hast not forgiven!
“Yɛayɛ bɔne, na yɛate atua na woamfa ankyɛ.
43 Thou hast hidden thyself in anger, and hast pursued us; thou hast slain and hast not spared;
“Wode abufuo akata wo ho ataa yɛn; na wakunkum a woannya ahummɔborɔ.
44 Thou hast hidden thyself in a cloud, that our prayer may not pass through;
Wode wo ho asie omununkum mu enti mpaeɛbɔ biara nnuru wo nkyɛn.
45 Thou hast made us the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the nations.
Woayɛ yɛn atantanneɛ ne wira wɔ amanaman no mu.
46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us;
“Yɛn atamfoɔ nyinaa abae wɔn anom tɛtrɛɛ de tia yɛn.
47 Terror and the pit have come upon us, desolation and destruction;
Yɛabrɛ ne ahunahuna ne akukuruhweaseɛ, mmubuiɛ ne ɔsɛeɛ.”
48 Mine eye runneth down with streams of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Me nisuo sene sɛ asutene ɛfiri sɛ wɔasɛe me nkurɔfoɔ.
49 Mine eye trickleth down and ceaseth not, without any intermission,
Me nisuo bɛsene ara, na ɛrennyae,
50 Until Jehovah look down and behold from heaven.
kɔsi sɛ Awurade bɛhwɛ afiri ɔsoro, na wahu.
51 Mine eye is painful to me on account of all the daughters of my city.
Deɛ mehunu no ma me kra werɛ ho me kuropɔn no mu mmaa nyinaa enti.
52 They that are my enemies without cause hunt me down like a bird;
Mʼatamfoɔ a menyɛɛ wɔn hwee pampam me sɛ anomaa.
53 They take away my life in the dungeon; they cast a stone upon me;
Wɔpɛɛ sɛ wɔtwa me nkwa so na wɔsi me aboɔ wɔ amena mu;
54 Waters flow over my head; I say, “I am undone!”
nsuo bu faa me tiri so, na ɛyɛɛ me sɛdeɛ wɔrewie me.
55 I call upon thy name, O Jehovah, from the deep dungeon;
Mebɔɔ wo din, Ao Awurade firi amena no ase tɔnn.
56 Hear thou my voice! hide not thine ear from my cry for relief!
Wotee me sufrɛ: “Nsi wʼaso wɔ me gyeɛ sufrɛ ho.”
57 Be near to me, when I call upon thee! Say, “Fear not!”
Wotwe bɛnee me ɛberɛ a mefrɛɛ woɔ no, na wokaa sɛ, “Nsuro.”
58 Thou maintainest my cause, O Lord; thou redeemest my life!
Ao Awurade, wodii mʼasɛm maa me; na wogyee me nkwa.
59 Thou, O Jehovah, seest the wrong done to me; Maintain thou my cause!
Woahunu bɔne a wɔayɛ me, Ao Awurade. Di mʼasɛm ma me!
60 Thou seest all their vengeance, all their devices against me.
Woahunu wɔn aweretɔ no mu den, wɔn pɔ a wɔbɔ tia me no nyinaa.
61 Thou hearest their reproach, O Jehovah, all their devices against me,
Ao Awurade, woate wɔn sopa, wɔn pɔ a wɔbɔ tia me no nyinaa,
62 The words of my adversaries, and their machinations against me all the day long!
deɛ mʼatamfoɔ ka no sɛ asomusɛm na wɔka no brɛoo de tia me da mu nyinaa.
63 Behold 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 Render to them a recompense, O Jehovah, according to the work of their hands!
Fa deɛ ɛfata tua wɔn so ka, Ao Awurade, deɛ wɔn nsa ayɛ enti.
65 Give them blindness of mind! thy curse be upon them!
Pirim wɔn akoma, na ma wo nnome mmra wɔn so.
66 Pursue them in thine anger, and destroy them from under Jehovah's heaven!
Fa abufuo taa wɔn, na sɛe wɔn firi Awurade sorosoro ase.
