Nnwom 18
1 Awurade akoa Dawid dwom. Ɔtoo saa dwom yi maa Awurade, bere a ogyee no fii nʼatamfo nyinaa ne Saulo nsam no. Medɔ wo, Awurade, mʼahoɔden.
Yahweh, I love you, the one who enables me to be strong.
2 Awurade ne me botantim; mʼaban ne me gyefo; me Nyankopɔn yɛ me botan. Ne mu na minya me hintabea. Ɔyɛ me nkatabo, me nkwagye abɛn ne mʼabandennen.
Yahweh is like an [overhanging] rock [DOU, MET] [under which I can hide from my enemies]; he is like a strong fortress, the one who protects me; he protects me like a shield [MET] [protects a soldier]; he is the one to whom I go (for refuge/to be protected/safe), and he defends me by his great power [IDM].
3 Misu frɛ Awurade; ɔno na ayeyi sɛ no, efisɛ ogye me fi mʼatamfo nsam.
I called out to Yahweh, who deserves to be praised, and he rescued me from my enemies.
4 Owu nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn kyekyeree me; na ɔsɛe asorɔkye bu faa me so.
All around me were dangerous situations in which I might be killed [PRS]; it was as though there were huge waves [MET] that almost crashed on me and killed me.
[It was as though] the place where dead people are had ropes that were wrapped around me, or [it was as though] there was a trap [MET] that would [seize and] kill me. (Sheol h7585)
6 Mʼahohia mu, misu frɛɛ Awurade. Misu frɛɛ me Nyankopɔn hwehwɛɛ mmoa. Ofi nʼasɔrefi hɔ tee me nne; me sufrɛ baa nʼanim, na ɛkɔɔ nʼasom.
But when I was very distressed, I called out to Yahweh, and from his temple he heard me. He listened to me when I cried out [for help].
7 Asase wosowee na ehinhimii, na mmepɔw fapem wosowee wosuroe, efisɛ na ne bo afuw.
Then the earth quaked/shook strongly [DOU]; the mountains shook very strongly from their centers [DOU] because Yahweh was angry.
8 Wusiw fii ne hwene mu; ogyaframa fii nʼanom, na nnyansramma dɛw fii mu.
[It was as though] smoke poured out from his nostrils, and [as though] burning coals came out of his mouth.
9 Ofii ɔsoro baa fam; na omununkum kabii duruu nʼanan ase.
He opened the sky and came down with a black cloud under his feet.
10 Ɔte kerubim so tu kɔɔ soro; gyaagyaa ne ho wɔ mframa ntaban so.
He flew, riding on the back of a creature that had wings, traveling [fast], blown along by the wind.
11 Ɔde sum kataa ne ho, osu a amuna tumm atwa ne ho ahyia.
Darkness was all around him [like a blanket] [MET]; dark clouds, full of moisture, covered him [MET].
12 Hann kɛse hyerɛn wɔ nʼanim, na omununkum a mparuwbo ne anyinam wɔ mu fii ne ho hyerɛn mu bae.
Hailstones and flashes of lightning were around him; hail and burning coals fell from the sky.
13 Awurade bobɔɔ mu fii ɔsoro; Ɔsorosoroni no nne gyigyee bio.
Then Yahweh [spoke in a loud voice] from the sky, and [his enemies] heard his voice that sounded like thunder.
14 Ɔtow ne bɛmma no de bɔɔ atamfo no ahwete, ɔde anyinam a ano yɛn den pam wɔn.
He shot his arrows at them and caused them to scatter; His flashes of lightning caused them to become very confused (OR, to run away).
15 Po mu abon ho yiyii na asase nnyinaso ho daa hɔ, esiane wʼanimka ne ahomegu a efi wo hwene mu no nti, Awurade.
The bottom of the ocean became visible, and the foundations of the earth were uncovered, when Yahweh rebuked his enemies when he snorted.
16 Ofi soro baa fam besoo me mu; ɔtwee me fii nsu a mu dɔ mu.
[It was as though] he reached down from heaven and grabbed me and pulled me up out of the deep ocean.
17 Ogyee me fii me tamfo hoɔdenfo nsam, wɔn a wɔn ani sa me, na wɔn ho yɛ den dodo ma me no.
He rescued me from my strong enemies who hated me; they were very strong, with the result that I [could not defeat them].
18 Wɔbaa me so wɔ mʼamanehunu da mu, nanso Awurade maa me so,
When I (was distressed/had troubles), they attacked me, but Yahweh defended/protected me.
19 wode me baa baabi a hɔ trɛw; ogyee me, efisɛ nʼani sɔɔ me.
He led me to a place where I was safe; he rescued me because he was pleased with me.
20 Awurade ne me adi no sɛnea me trenee te; wahwɛ me nsa a ho tew so atua me ka.
Yahweh has rewarded me because I do what is right; he has blessed me because I (am innocent/have not done things that are wrong).
21 Manantew Awurade akwan so. Mentwee me ho mfii me Nyankopɔn ho nkɔyɛɛ bɔne ɛ.
I have obeyed Yahweh’s laws; I have not abandoned him.
22 Madi ne mmara nyinaa so: mimmuu nʼahyɛde so.
My behavior was directed by his rules; I have not stopped obeying them.
23 Me ho nni asɛm wɔ Onyankopɔn anim, na matwe me ho afi bɔne ho.
He knows that I have not done what is wrong; I have kept myself from sinning.
24 Awurade agyina me treneeyɛ ne me nsa a ho tew wɔ nʼanim no so atua me ka.
So he rewards me because I do what is right; he knows that I [SYN] have not committed sins.
25 Woda wo ho adi sɛ ɔnokwafo kyerɛ wɔn a wodi nokware, wɔn a wodi mu nso wokyerɛ wɔn sɛ wodi mu.
Yahweh, you are faithful to those who faithfully [do what you tell them to do]; you always do what is good/right to those who do what you want them to do.
26 Woyɛ kronkron ma wɔn a wɔyɛ kronkron, na amumɔyɛfo de, wukyi wɔn.
You are kind to those who are kind to others, but you act wisely toward those who (act perversely/do bad things).
27 Wugye ahobrɛasefo nkwa, na wobrɛ ahantanfo ase.
You save those who are humble, but you cause those who are proud to be humiliated/ashamed.
28 Awurade, woma me kanea hyerɛn. Yiw, woma me sum dan hann.
You give light to my [soul/spirit]; you take away the darkness of my soul.
29 Wʼahoɔden a wode ma me nti, mitumi ka asraafo gu; me Nyankopɔn nti, mitumi foro ɔfasu.
You enable me to be strong, with the result that I can run and attack a line of enemy soldiers; with your help I can (scale/climb up) the walls [that surround my enemies’ cities].
30 Onyankopɔn de, nʼakwan yɛ pɛ; Awurade bɔhyɛ nyinaa ba mu. Ɔyɛ nkatabo ma wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ bammɔ wɔ ne mu.
Everything that Yahweh my God does is perfect. We can depend on him to do what he promises. He is like a shield [MET] to protect all those who go to him for refuge.
31 Na hena na ɔyɛ Onyankopɔn ka Awurade ho? Hena na ɔyɛ Ɔbotan no? Gye sɛ yɛn Nyankopɔn no.
Yahweh is [RHQ] the only one who is God; only he is like an [overhanging] rock [under which we can be safe].
32 Ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn na ɔma me ahoɔden, na ɔma me kwan yɛ pɛ.
God is the one who enables me to be strong and who keeps me safe on the roads that I walk on.
33 Ɔma mʼanammɔn ho yɛ hare sɛ ɔforote de. Ɔma me gyina sorɔnsorɔmmea.
He enables me to [walk swiftly without stumbling], like a deer walks/runs in the mountains.
34 Osiesie me ma ɔko, na me basa tumi kuntun kɔbere mfrafrae tadua.
He teaches me how to use a strong/metal bow in order that I can use it to fight in battles.
35 Wode wo ogye boa me nkatabo, na wo nsa nifa ma me gyina. Wobrɛ wo ho ase ma meyɛ ɔkɛse.
Yahweh, you protect and save me with your shield; you have made me safe by your power [MTY]. I have become (strong/a great [king]) because you have helped me.
36 Woabɔ kwan tɛtrɛɛ ama mʼanan sɛnea me nkotodwe rengurow.
You have cleared the road for me, with the result that now I do not slip/stumble.
37 Metaa mʼatamfo kɔtoo wɔn; mansan mʼakyi kosii sɛ mesɛee wɔn.
I have pursued my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until I had defeated/killed them all.
38 Mɛdwerɛw wɔn, na wɔantumi ansɔre, wɔhwehwee ase wɔ mʼanan ase.
When I strike them, they are not able to get up again; they lie on the ground, defeated.
39 Wode akodi ahoɔden maa me; womaa mʼatamfo bɔɔ wɔn mu ase wɔ me nan ase.
You have enabled me to be strong in order that I can fight battles and defeat my enemies.
40 Womaa mʼatamfo dan wɔn ho guanee, na mesɛe wɔn a wɔtan me.
You caused my enemies to run away (OR, you enabled me to put my foot on my enemies’ necks [after I captured them and forced them to lie on the ground]); I have gotten rid of all those who hated me.
41 Wosu hwehwɛɛ mmoa, nanso obiara ammegye wɔn, wɔfrɛɛ Awurade, nanso wammua.
They called out for someone to help them, but no one saved them.
42 Meyam wɔn sɛ mfutuma a mframa bɔ gu; mihwiee wɔn guu sɛ mmɔnten so dontori.
I pulverize them, with the result that they become like [MET] the dust that the wind [blows away]; I throw them out like [SIM] [people throw] dirt out into the streets.
43 Woagye me afi nnipa no ɔfow mu, woayɛ me amanaman no ti; nnipa a minnim wɔn abɛyɛ mʼasomfo.
You enabled me to defeat those who fought against me, and appointed me to be the ruler of [many]; people whom I did not know about previously are now slaves [in my kingdom].
44 Wɔte me nka pɛ a, wɔyɛ osetie ma me; ananafo kotow mʼanim.
When foreigners hear about me, they (cringe/bow low before me) and they obey me.
45 Wɔn nyinaa botobotow; wofi wɔn abandennen mu ba ahopopo so.
They are no longer courageous, and from their forts [where they were hiding] they come [to me] trembling.
46 Awurade te ase! Ayeyi nka me Botan! Wɔmma Onyankopɔn, me Gyefo no din so!
Yahweh is alive! Praise the one who is like an [overhanging] rock [MET] [under which I am safe] Exalt the God who saves me!
47 Ɔno ne Onyankopɔn a ɔtɔ were ma me, ɔno na ɔka amanaman hyɛ mʼase,
He enables me to get revenge on my enemies; he causes me to defeat nations and to rule over them,
48 ɔno na ogye me fi mʼatamfo nsam. Wopagyaw me sii mʼatamfo so, wugyee me fii basabasayɛfo nsam.
and he rescues me from my enemies. He has lifted me up high so that violent men could not reach me [and harm me].
49 Ɛno nti, mɛkamfo wo wɔ amanaman mu, Ao Awurade. Mɛto ayeyi dwom ama wo din.
So I praise him [and I tell] the nations [the great things that he has done].
50 Wode nkonimdi akɛse ama wo hene; woda ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da adi kyerɛ nea woasra no ngo, wode kyerɛ Dawid, ne nʼasefo afebɔɔ. Wɔde ma dwonkyerɛfo.
He has enabled me, his king, to powerfully defeat my enemies; he faithfully loves me, David, the one he has chosen [to be king], and he will faithfully love my descendants forever.
