Kwadwom 3
1 Mene ɔbarima a mahu amane wɔ nʼabufuw abaa ano.
I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.
2 Wapam me afi ne ho ama manantew sum mu na ɛnyɛ hann mu;
He hath led me and caused me to walk in darkness and not in light.
3 Ampa ara wama nsa so atia me mpɛn bebree, da mu nyinaa.
Surely against me He turneth His hand again and again all the day.
4 Wama me were ne me nam anyin Na wabubu me nnompe.
My flesh and my skin hath He worn out; He hath broken my bones.
5 Waka me ahyɛ mu, na watua me ano ɔde nweenwen ne ahokyere atwa me ho ahyia.
He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6 Wama matena sum mu sɛ wɔn a wɔawuwu dedaw no.
He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
7 Wato ɔfasu atwa me ho ahyia enti mintumi nguan; wagu me nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn ama matɔ beraw.
He hath hedged me about, that I cannot go forth; He hath made my chain heavy.
8 Mpo sɛ mefrɛ anaasɛ mebɔ mpae srɛ mmoa a osiw me mpaebɔ ano.
Yea, when I cry and call for help, He shutteth out my prayer.
9 Ɔde abotan asiw me kwan; wama mʼakwan ayɛ kɔntɔnkye.
He hath enclosed my ways with hewn stone, He hath made my paths crooked.
10 Te sɛ sisi a ɔda hɔ retwɛn, te sɛ gyata a watɛw,
He is unto me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in secret places.
11 ɔtwee me fii ɔkwan no mu bebaree me na ogyaw me a minni mmoa biara.
He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; He hath made me desolate.
12 Okuntun ne ta mu na ɔde ne bɛmma kyerɛɛ me so.
He hath bent His bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13 Ɔde bɛmma a efi ne kotoku mu hwirew me koma mu.
He hath caused the arrows of His quiver to enter into my reins.
14 Meyɛɛ akyiwade maa me nkurɔfo nyinaa; wɔto akutia nnwom de di me ho fɛw da mu nyinaa.
I am become a derision to all my people, and their song all the day.
15 Ɔde nhaban nweenwen ahyɛ me ma. Wama me bɔnwoma anom.
He hath filled me with bitterness, He hath sated me with wormwood.
16 Ɔde mmosea abubu me se; na watiatia me so wɔ mfutuma mu.
He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, He hath made me to wallow in ashes.
17 Wɔama asomdwoe abɔ me; na me werɛ afi yiyedi.
And my soul is removed far off from peace, I forgot prosperity.
18 Enti mise, “Mʼanuonyam asa, nea mede mʼani too so Awurade mu no nyinaa.”
And I said: 'My strength is perished, and mine expectation from the LORD.'
19 Mekae mʼamanehunu wɔ mʼakyinkyinakyinkyin mu, nweenwen ne bɔnwoma mu.
Remember mine affliction and mine anguish, the wormwood and the gall.
20 Mekae yiye, na me kra abotow wɔ me mu.
My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is bowed down within me.
21 Nanso midwen eyi ho; saa nti mewɔ anidaso.
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 Awurade dɔ kɛse nti yɛnsɛee ɛ. Nʼayamhyehye nni huammɔ.
Surely the LORD'S mercies are not consumed, surely His compassions fail not.
23 Ɛyɛ foforo anɔpa biara; wo nokwaredi yɛ kɛse.
They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.
24 Meka kyerɛ me ho se, “Awurade yɛ me kyɛfa, enti mɛtwɛn no.”
'The LORD is my portion', saith my soul; 'Therefore will I hope in Him.'
25 Awurade ye ma wɔn a wɔn anidaso wɔ ne mu, onipa a ɔhwehwɛ no no;
The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.
26 Eye sɛ wɔyɛ komm de twɛn Awurade nkwagye.
It is good that a man should quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
27 Eye ma ɔbarima sɛ ɔsoa konnua no wɔ ne mmerantebere mu.
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
28 Ma ɔntena ase komm, efisɛ Awurade de ato ne so.
Let him sit alone and keep silence, because He hath laid it upon him.
29 Ma ɔmfa nʼanim nsie wɔ mfutuma mu, ebia anidaso wɔ hɔ.
Let him put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope.
30 Ma ɔmfa nʼafono mma nea ɔpɛɛ sɛ ɔbɔ no no na ɔnhyɛ no aniwu.
Let him give his cheek to him that smiteth him, let him be filled full with reproach.
31 Na Awurade ntow onipa biara nkyene koraa.
For the Lord will not cast off for ever.
32 Ɛwɔ mu, ɔde awerɛhow ba de, nanso obenya ayamhyehye. Ne dɔ kɛse no to rentwa da.
For though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.
33 Ofi amemenemfe mu de amanehunu anaa awerɛhow brɛ nnipa mma.
For He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.
34 Sɛ wɔde wɔn nan dwerɛw nneduafo a wɔwɔ asase no so a,
To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth,
35 sɛ wotiatia obi ahofadi so wɔ Ɔsorosoroni no anim a,
To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High,
36 anaa sɛ wobu obi ntɛnkyew a, Awurade renhu saa nneɛma yi ana?
To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
37 Hena na obetumi aka na wama aba mu wɔ bere a ɛnyɛ Awurade na ɔhyɛe?
Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
38 Ɛnyɛ Ɔsorosoroni no anom na mmusu ne nnepa fi ana?
Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good?
39 Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ ɔteasefo nwiinwii bere a wɔatwe nʼaso wɔ ne bɔne ho?
Wherefore doth a living man complain, a strong man because of his sins?
40 Momma yɛnhwehwɛ yɛn akwan mu na yɛnsɔ nhwɛ, na yɛnsan nkɔ Awurade nkyɛn.
Let us search and try our ways, and return to the LORD.
41 Momma yɛmma yɛn koma ne yɛn nsa so, nkyerɛ Onyankopɔn wɔ ɔsoro, na yɛnka se:
Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
42 “Yɛayɛ bɔne, na yɛatew atua na wamfa ankyɛ.
We have transgressed and have rebelled; Thou hast not pardoned.
43 “Wode abufuw akata wo ho ataa yɛn; na woakunkum a woannya ahummɔbɔ.
Thou hast covered with anger and pursued us; Thou hast slain unsparingly.
44 Wode wo ho asie omununkum mu nti mpaebɔ biara nnu wo nkyɛn.
Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.
45 Woayɛ yɛn atantanne ne nwura wɔ amanaman no mu.
Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the peoples.
46 “Yɛn atamfo nyinaa abaa wɔn anom tɛtrɛɛ de tia yɛn.
All our enemies have opened their mouth wide against us.
47 Yɛabrɛ ne ahunahuna ne akukuruhwease, mmubui ne ɔsɛe.”
Terror and the pit are come upon us, desolation and destruction.
48 Me nusu sen sɛ asuten efisɛ wɔasɛe me nkurɔfo.
Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water, for the breach of the daughter of my people.
49 Me nusu bɛsen ara, na ɛrennyae,
Mine eye is poured out, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,
50 kosi sɛ Awurade bɛhwɛ afi ɔsoro, na wahu.
Till the LORD look forth, and behold from heaven.
51 Nea mihu no ma me kra werɛ how, me kuropɔn no mu mmea nyinaa nti.
Mine eye affected my soul, because of all the daughters of my city.
52 Mʼatamfo a menyɛɛ wɔn hwee pampam me sɛ anomaa.
They have chased me sore like a bird, that are mine enemies without cause.
53 Wɔpɛɛ sɛ wotwa me nkwa so na wosiw me abo wɔ amoa mu;
They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast stones upon me.
54 nsu bu faa me ti so, na ɛyɛɛ me sɛnea wɔrewie me.
Waters flowed over my head; I said: 'I am cut off.'
55 Mebɔɔ wo din, Awurade fii amoa no ase tɔnn.
I called upon Thy name, O LORD, Out of the lowest dungeon.
56 Wotee me sufrɛ: “Nsiw wʼaso wɔ me gye sufrɛ ho.”
Thou heardest my voice; hide not Thine ear at my sighing, at my cry.
57 Wutwiw bɛn me bere a mefrɛɛ wo no, na wokae se, “Nsuro.”
Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon Thee; Thou saidst: 'Fear not.'
58 Wo Awurade, wudii mʼasɛm maa me; na wugyee me nkwa.
O Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; Thou hast redeemed my life.
59 Woahu bɔne a wɔayɛ me, Awurade. Di mʼasɛm ma me!
O LORD, Thou hast seen my wrong; judge Thou my cause.
60 Woahu wɔn aweretɔ no mu den, wɔn pɔw a wɔbɔ tia me no nyinaa.
Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their devices against me.
61 Awurade, woate wɔn ntwirii, wɔn pɔw a wɔbɔ tia me no nyinaa,
Thou hast heard their taunt, O LORD, and all their devices against me;
62 nea mʼatamfo ka no asomsɛm na wɔka no brɛoo de tia me da mu nyinaa.
The lips of those that rose up against me, and their muttering against me all the day.
63 Hwɛ wɔn! Sɛ wogyinagyina hɔ anaasɛ wɔtete hɔ, wɔto akutia nnwom de di me ho fɛw.
Behold Thou their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their song.
64 Fa nea ɛfata tua wɔn so ka, Awurade, nea wɔn nsa ayɛ nti.
Thou wilt render unto them a recompense, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
65 Pirim wɔn koma, na ma wo nnome mmra wɔn so.
Thou wilt give them hardness of heart, Thy curse unto them.
66 Fa abufuw taa wɔn, na sɛe wɔn fi Awurade ɔsorosoro ase.
Thou wilt pursue them in anger, and destroy them from under the heavens of the LORD.
