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.

I said [to myself], “I will be careful not to sin by the things that I say [MTY]. I will not say anything [to complain] while wicked people are near to me [and can hear me].”

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

[So] I was completely silent [DOU], and I did not [even] talk about things that were good, but it was useless, because I began to suffer even more.

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

I became very anxious/worried [IDM]. As I thought [about my troubles], I became more worried. Then [finally] I said [MTY],

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

“Yahweh, show/tell me how long I will live. Tell me when I will die. Tell me how many years I will live!

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

[It seems that] you have caused me to live only a short time; (my lifetime/all the time that I have lived) seems like nothing to you. The time that all we humans live is [as short as] [MET] a puff of wind.

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.

Then we disappear like a shadow does. It seems that all that we do is for nothing/useless. We [sometimes] get a lot of money, but we do not know who will get it [after we die].

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

So now, Yahweh, if I expect [RHQ] [to receive blessings from other people], I will be disappointed. You are the [only] one from whom I confidently expect [to receive blessings].

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

Save me from [being punished for] all the sins that I have committed. And do not allow foolish people to make fun of me.

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

I did not say anything [when you punished me], because [I knew that] you were the one who caused [me to suffer].

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

But now, please stop punishing me! [If you do not do that], I am about to die because of the ways that you [SYN] have struck/afflicted me.

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 and punish him for the sin that he has committed, you destroy the things that (he loves/are precious to him), like moths’ [larva] destroy clothing. Our lives [disappear like] a puff of wind.

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.

Yahweh, listen to me while I pray; pay attention to me while I cry out to you. Help me while I am crying. I am here on the earth for only a short time, 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.

[Now] please leave me alone, [and do not punish me any more] in order that I may smile and be happy for a while before I die. [EUP, DOU]”