Nnwom 12

1 Dawid dwom. Boa yɛn, Awurade, na nyamesurofo asa; nokwafo ayera wɔ nnipa mu.

For the chief musician; set to the Sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Yahweh, for the godly have disappeared; the faithful have vanished.

2 Obiara di atoro kyerɛ ne yɔnko; wɔn ano a ɛdɛfɛdɛfɛ no ka nnaadaasɛm.

Everyone says empty words to his neighbor; everyone speaks with flattering lips and a double heart.

3 Ma Awurade ntwa nnaadaa ano ne tɛkrɛma biara a ɛhoahoa ne ho nkyene;

Yahweh, cut off all flattering lips, every tongue declaring great things.

4 nea ɛka se, “Yɛde yɛn tɛkrɛma bedi nkonim; yɛn ano bedi ama yɛn, na hena na odi yɛn so tumi?”

These are those who have said, “With our tongues will we prevail. When our lips speak, who can be master over us?”

5 “Esiane ɔhyɛ a wɔde hyɛ mmɔborɔni ne ohiani apinisi no nti, mɛsɔre afei,” Awurade na ose. “Mɛbɔ wɔn ho ban afi wɔn a wɔhaw wɔn no ho.”

“Because of violence against the poor, because of the groans of the needy, I will arise,” says Yahweh. “I will provide the safety for which they long.”

6 Awurade asɛm yɛ nokware te sɛ dwetɛ a wɔasɔn so wɔ fononoo mu, na wɔahoa ho mpɛn ason.

The words of Yahweh are pure words, like silver purified in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.

7 Awurade, wobɛkora mmɔborɔni na woabɔ yɛn ho ban afi saa nnipa yi ho afebɔɔ.

You are Yahweh! You keep them. You preserve the godly people from this wicked generation and forever.

8 Amumɔyɛfo nenam sɛnea wɔpɛ, bere a adesamma de nidi ma afide. Wɔde ma dwonkyerɛfo.

The wicked walk on every side when evil is exalted among the children of mankind.