Nnwom 35
1 Dawid dwom. Awurade wo ne wɔn a wɔne me di asi no nni asi; ko tia wɔn a wɔko tia me.
Of David. Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me, do battle with those who do battle with me.
2 Fa wo nkatabo ne wʼakode; na sɔre bra bɛboa me.
Grasp shield and buckler, and rise up as my help.
3 Twe peaw ne abonnua wɔ wɔn a wɔtaa me no so. Ka kyerɛ me kra se, “Mene wʼagyenkwa.”
Draw spear and battle-axe, confront those who pursue me. Assure me that you will help me.
4 Wɔn a wɔpɛ sɛ wokum me no, ma wɔn anim ngu ase; wɔn a wɔbɔ me sɛe ho pɔw no, ma wɔmfa aniwu nsan wɔn akyi.
Dishonour and shame be on those who are seeking my life! Defeat and confusion on those who are planning my hurt!
5 Ma wɔnyɛ sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframa bɔ gu wɔn a Awurade bɔfo repam wɔn no.
As chaff before wind may they be, with the Lord’s angel pursuing them.
6 Ma wɔn akwan so nnuru sum na ɛso ɛnyɛ toro, na Awurade bɔfo ntaa wɔn.
Slippery and dark be their way, with his angel thrusting them on.
7 Esiane sɛ wɔde ɔtan sum me afiri kwa, na wotuu amoa maa me a menyɛɛ wɔn hwee no nti
For they wantonly hid their net for me, and dug a pit to destroy me.
8 ma ɔsɛe mmefu wɔn mu na ɔtan no a wɔde hintaw no nyi wɔn, na ma wɔnhwe amoa no mu nsɛe.
Upon them may ruin come unawares; may the net which they hid catch themselves, and into the pit may they fall.
9 Afei me kra ani begye wɔ Awurade mu na wasɛpɛw ne ho wɔ ne nkwagye mu.
Then I will exult in the Lord, and be joyful because of his help;
10 Me nipadua nyinaa bɛteɛ mu aka se, “Hena na ɔte sɛ wo, Awurade? Wugye ohiani fi ahoɔdenfo nsam, ne nea onni bi fi apoobɔfo nsam.”
and all my being will say, ‘Who, O Lord, is like you, who save the helpless from those too strong for them, the poor and the helpless from those who despoil them?’
11 Adansekurumfo sɔre; wobisa me nneɛma a minnim ho hwee ho asɛm.
Violent witnesses rise, and ask of me things that I know not.
12 Wɔde bɔne tua papa a meyɛ so ka na wɔma me kra yɛ basaa.
Evil for good they requite me, leaving me inwardly comfortless.
13 Nanso bere a wɔyaree no, mifuraa atweaatam na mede akɔnkyen brɛɛ me ho ase. Bere a me mpaebɔ ho mmuae nnya mmae no,
But when they were sick, I put on sackcloth, and chastened myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed low,
14 mekɔɔ so twaa adwo, sɛnea meyɛ ma mʼadamfo anaa onuabarima. Mede awerɛhow sii me ti ase te sɛ nea meregyam me na.
as if for my friend or my brother. I went about bowed and in mourning, as one who laments his mother.
15 Nanso bere a mihintiw no wɔde anigye boaa wɔn ho ano; afowfo twaa me ho hyiae a minnim, na wodii me ho nseku a wɔantwa so da.
When I stumbled, they gleefully gathered, strangers gathered around me, and tore at me without ceasing,
16 Wɔde adwemmɔne dii me ho fɛw te sɛ nnipa a wonni nyamesu, wɔtwɛree wɔn se guu me so.
impiously mocking and mocking, bearing their teeth at me.
17 Awurade, wobɛhwɛ wɔn akosi da bɛn? Gye me nkwa fi wɔn sɛe mu, gye me nkwa a ɛsom bo no fi saa gyata yi nsam.
How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their roaring, my precious life from the lions.
18 Na mɛda wo ase wɔ guabɔ kɛse ase; wɔ nnipa dodow mu na mɛkamfo wo.
I will then give you thanks in the great congregation, and praise you before many people.
19 Mma mʼatamfo a wɔtan me kwa no nhwɛ me haw nserew. Mma wɔn a menyɛɛ wɔn hwee nanso wɔtan me no mmfa adwene bɔne mmu me anikyiw.
Suffer not those to rejoice over me who are falsely my foes, suffer not those who without cause abhor me to wink with the eye.
20 Wɔnnkasa asomdwoe so, na mmom, wɔde ntwatoso tia nnipa a wɔmpɛ wɔn ho asɛm wɔ asase yi so.
For it is not peace that they speak of those who are quiet in the land; but treacherous charges they plot.
21 Wɔhwɛ me haw ka se, “Yiw! Yiw, yɛde yɛn ankasa ani ahu.”
With wide open mouths they shout, ‘Hurrah! Hurrah! With our own eyes we saw it.’
22 Awurade, woahu na mmua wʼano. Ntwe wo ho nkɔ akyiri, Awurade.
But you have seen, too, O Lord, keep not silence, O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Nyan, sɔre na bɛbɔ me ho ban! Ka bi ma me, me Nyankopɔn ne mʼAwurade.
Bestir you, awake, for my right my God, my Lord, for my cause.
24 Di mʼasɛm ma me wɔ wo trenee no mu, Awurade me Nyankopɔn; mma wɔnnhwɛ me haw nserew.
You are just, Lord: win for me justice, let them not rejoice over me,
25 Mma wɔnnwene nka se, “Yiw, nea yɛpɛ ni!” anaa wɔnnka se, “Yɛanya no.”
inwardly saying, ‘Hurrah! The desire of our hearts at last! Now we have swallowed him up.’
26 Ma wɔn a wɔhwɛ me haw serew me wɔ mʼahohiahia mu no nyinaa anim ngu ase na wɔnyɛ basaa; ma wɔn a wodi me so akokurokosɛm no nhyɛ aniwu ne animguase atade.
Shame and confusion together on those who rejoice at my hurt! Clothed with shame and dishonour be those who are haughty to me!
27 Ma wɔn a wodi ahurusi wɔ me bembu ho no mfa anigye ne ahosɛpɛw nteɛ mu bere nyinaa mu; ma wɔnka se, “Momma Awurade so, ɔno na nʼani gye ne somfo yiyedi ho.”
Let such as delight in my cause ring out their gladness, and say evermore, ‘Great is the Lord whose delight is the well-being of his servant.’
28 Me tɛkrɛma bɛka wo trenee, ne wʼayeyi, da mu nyinaa.
Then my tongue will tell of your justice, and all the day long of your praise.
