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 leader; for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence.

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

I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.

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 was kindled, till at last the words came to my tongue.

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

“Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient I am.

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

See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: (Selah)

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.

it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.”

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

And now, what wait I for, Lord? My hope is in you.

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

From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.

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

I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.

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

Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.

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

When you rebuke someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (Selah)

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; attend to my cry for help. Hold not your peace at my tears. For I am but a guest of yours, a stranger visiting, like all my ancestors.

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

Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.