Nnwom 39

1 Dawid dwom. Mekae se, “Mɛhwɛ mʼakwan yiye na mamfa me tɛkrɛma anyɛ bɔne; mɛto mʼano nnareka bere a amumɔyɛfo bɛn me yi.

For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”

2 Enti meyɛɛ komm a manka asɛm papa biara mpo nanso mʼapinisi mu yɛɛ den.

I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred.

3 Me koma ho guan no wɔ me mu. Midwinnwen no, ogya dɛwee; afei mede me tɛkrɛma kasae se:

My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Awurade, ma minhu me nkwa awiei ne me nna dodow; ma minhu sɛnea me nkwa si twa mu ntɛm so.

“Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 Woayɛ me nna sɛ nsateaa baako pɛ; na me mfe dodow nyɛ hwee wɔ wʼani so. Onipa nkwa yɛ ɔhome bi kɛkɛ.

You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath.

6 Onipa redi akɔneaba nyinaa no, ɔte sɛ sunsuma bi kwa; ɔhaw ne ho nanso ɔyɛ kwa; ɔboa ahonya ano na onnim nea ɛbɛyɛ ne de.

Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

7 “Afei Awurade, dɛn na merehwehwɛ? Mʼanidaso wɔ wo mu.

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.

8 Gye me fi me bɔne nyinaa mu; mma mennyɛ nkwaseafo aserewde.

Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of fools.

9 Meyɛɛ komm, na mammue mʼano, efisɛ wo na woayɛ eyi.

I have become mute; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.

10 Yi wʼasotwe fi me so; wo nsa ano amanehunu amene me.

Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing by the force of Your hand.

11 Woka nnipa anim, na wotwe wɔn aso wɔ wɔn bɔne ho; wosɛe wɔn ahonya te sɛ nwewee; onipa biara yɛ ɔhome kɛkɛ.

You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor.

12 “Awurade, tie me mpaebɔ, tie me sufrɛ; nsiw wʼaso wɔ me su ho. Me ne wo te hɔ sɛ ɔnanani, sɛnea na mʼagyanom nyinaa te no.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.

13 Yi wʼani fi me so na manya nkwa bio, ansa na mafi ha a mente ase bio.” Wɔde ma dwonkyerɛfo.

Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”