Psalmowo 49
1 Korah ƒe viwo ƒe ha na hɛnɔ la. Mi anyigbadzitɔwo katã, mise esia; mi xexemetɔwo katã miƒu to anyi,
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
2 mi ame dzodzrowo kple amegãwo, ame dahewo kple kesinɔtɔwo siaa.
both low and high, rich and poor alike.
3 Nye nu agblɔ nunya ƒe nyawo, eye nya siwo ado tso nye dzi me la ahe gɔmesese vɛ.
My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
4 Maƒu to anyi ɖe lododo ŋu, eye mato adzo kple nye kasaŋku.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
5 Nu ka ta mavɔ̃ ne ŋkeke vɔ̃wo va, ne ame vɔ̃ɖi, ameblelawo ƒo xlãm,
Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers surround me?
6 ame siwo ɖoa dzi ɖe woƒe kesinɔnuwo ŋu, eye wotsɔa woƒe nukpɔkpɔ gbogboawo nɔa adegbe ƒom ɖo?
They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
7 Ame aɖeke mate ŋu aɖe nɔvia ƒe agbe alo atsɔ ga aƒle etae le Mawu gbɔ o.
No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.
8 Agbeƒlega menye ga sue o, eye ga home aɖeke made enu be
For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,
9 amea nanɔ agbe tegbee, eye makpɔ ku o.
that he should live on forever and not see decay.
10 Ame sia ame kpɔe be nunyala kuna; bometsilawo kple abunɛtɔwo siaa tsrɔ̃na, eye wogblea woƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖi na ame bubuwo.
For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
11 Togbɔ be anyigbawo le wo si woŋlɔ woƒe ŋkɔwo ɖe wo dzi hã la, woƒe yɔdowo anye woƒe aƒe tegbee, eye woanye woƒe nɔƒe tso dzidzime yi dzidzime.
Their graves are their eternal homes— their dwellings for endless generations— even though their lands were their namesakes.
12 Togbɔ be kesinɔnu geɖewo le amegbetɔ si hã la, manɔ agbe tegbee o, ɖeko wòle abe gbemelã siwo tsrɔ̃na ene.
But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 Esia nye nu si dzɔna ɖe ame siwo ɖo ŋu ɖe wo ɖokuiwo ŋu la dzi. Aleae wòanɔ na wo yomedzela siwo dea woƒe nyagbɔgblɔwo dzi. (Sela)
This is the fate of the self-confident and their followers who endorse their sayings.
14 Woayi tsiẽƒe abe alẽwo ene, eye woanye nuɖuɖu na ku. Ame dzɔdzɔe aɖu wo dzi le ŋdi, woƒe ŋutilãwo aƒaƒã ɖe yɔdo me, eye woate ɖa xaa tso woƒe xɔ gã dranyiwo gbɔ. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode. (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. (Sheol h7585)
16 Ne ame aɖe zu kesinɔtɔ la, megawɔ moya na wò o, ne eƒe aƒe ƒe atsyɔ̃ dzi ɖe edzi la, megawɔ nuku na wò o,
Do not be amazed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
17 elabena ne eku la, matsɔ naneke ɖe asi o, eƒe atsyɔ̃ gɔ̃ hã mayi yɔ me kplii o.
For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
18 Togbɔ be ebu eɖokui ame si woyra, eye amewo kafui esi nu le edzi dzem nɛ hã la,
Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul— and men praise you when you prosper—
19 ayi aɖawɔ ɖeka kple fofoa ƒe dzidzime si magakpɔ agbe ƒe kekeli akpɔ o.
he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.
20 Ame si si kesinɔnuwo le, evɔ gɔmesese mele esi o la le abe gbemelã si tsrɔ̃ la ene.
A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
