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.
To the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Melody of David. I said, [to myself, ] I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue, —I will put on my mouth a muzzle, So long as the lawless is before me.
2 Enti meyɛɛ komm a manka asɛm papa biara mpo nanso mʼapinisi mu yɛɛ den.
I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, afar from happiness, But, my pain had been stirred:
3 Me koma ho guan no wɔ me mu. Midwinnwen no, ogya dɛwee; afei mede me tɛkrɛma kasae se:
Hot was my heart within me, While I was musing, there was kindled a fire, I spake with my tongue!
4 “Awurade, ma minhu me nkwa awiei ne me nna dodow; ma minhu sɛnea me nkwa si twa mu ntɛm so.
Let me know, O Yahweh, mine end, And the measure of my days—what it is, I would know how short-lived 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.
Lo! as hand-breadths, hast thou granted my days, and my life-time, is as nothing before thee, —Surely, a mere breath, are all men, [even] such as stand firm. (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.
Surely as a shadow, doth every man wander, Surely in vain, do they bustle about, he heapeth things up, and knoweth not who shall gather them in.
7 “Afei Awurade, dɛn na merehwehwɛ? Mʼanidaso wɔ wo mu.
Now, therefore, for what have I waited, O My Lord? My hope, is, in thee.
8 Gye me fi me bɔne nyinaa mu; mma mennyɛ nkwaseafo aserewde.
From all my transgressions, rescue thou me, —The reproach of the base, oh do not make me!
9 Meyɛɛ komm, na mammue mʼano, efisɛ wo na woayɛ eyi.
I am dumb, I cannot open my mouth, for, thou, hast done it.
10 Yi wʼasotwe fi me so; wo nsa ano amanehunu amene me.
Remove from off me thy stroke, Because of the hostility of thy hand, am, I, consumed.
11 Woka nnipa anim, na wotwe wɔn aso wɔ wɔn bɔne ho; wosɛe wɔn ahonya te sɛ nwewee; onipa biara yɛ ɔhome kɛkɛ.
When, by rebukes for iniquity, thou hast corrected a man, Then hast thou consumed, as a moth, all that was delightful within him, Surely, a breath, are all men. (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 Yahweh, And, unto my cry for help, give ear, At my tears, do not be silent, —For, a sojourner, am, I, with thee, 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.
Look away from me that I may brighten up, Ere yet I depart and am no more.
