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 end, a Song of David, to Idithun. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.
2 Enti meyɛɛ komm a manka asɛm papa biara mpo nanso mʼapinisi mu yɛɛ den.
I was dumb, and humbled myself, and kept silence from good [words]; and my grief was renewed.
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, and a fire would kindle in my (meditation) 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.
O Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack.
5 Woayɛ me nna sɛ nsateaa baako pɛ; na me mfe dodow nyɛ hwee wɔ wʼani so. Onipa nkwa yɛ ɔhome bi kɛkɛ.
Behold, you have made my days old; and my existence [is] as nothing before you: nay, every man living [is] altogether vanity. (Pause)
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 man walks in a shadow; nay, he is disquieted in vain: he lays up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them.
7 “Afei Awurade, dɛn na merehwehwɛ? Mʼanidaso wɔ wo mu.
And now what [is] my expectation? [is it] not the Lord? and my ground [of hope] is with you. (Pause)
8 Gye me fi me bɔne nyinaa mu; mma mennyɛ nkwaseafo aserewde.
Deliver me from all my transgressions: you have made me a reproach to the foolish.
9 Meyɛɛ komm, na mammue mʼano, efisɛ wo na woayɛ eyi.
I was dumb, and opened not my mouth; for you are he that made me.
10 Yi wʼasotwe fi me so; wo nsa ano amanehunu amene me.
Remove your scourges from me: I have fainted by reason of the strength 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 chasten man with rebukes for iniquity, and you make his life to consume away like a spider's web; nay, every man is disquieted in vain. (Pause)
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.
O Lord, listen to my prayer and my supplication: attend to my tears: be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers [were].
13 Yi wʼani fi me so na manya nkwa bio, ansa na mafi ha a mente ase bio.” Wɔde ma dwonkyerɛfo.
Spare me, that I may be refreshed, before I depart, and be no more.
