Nnwom 49
1 Koramma dwom. Muntie, mo saa nnipa yi nyinaa; monyɛ aso, mo a mowɔ wiase yi mu nyinaa,
Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.
2 nea ɔyɛ abomfiaa ne nea odi mu, adefo ne ahiafo nyinaa.
High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.
3 Mʼano bɛka anyansasɛm; nsɛm a efi me koma mu bɛma nhumu.
From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.
4 Mɛbrɛ mʼaso ase atie mmebusɛm; na sanku na mede bɛkyerɛ mʼabisae ase.
I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
5 Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ misuro, bere a nna bɔne aba, bere a amumɔyɛfo nnaadaafo atwa me ho ahyia,
What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?
6 wɔn a wɔde wɔn ho to wɔn ahonya so na wɔde wɔn ade dodow hoahoa wɔn ho?
Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.
7 Onipa biara rentumi nnye ne yɔnko nkwa na ɔrentumi mfa mpata biara mma Onyankopɔn,
Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;
8 nkwa ho mpata bo yɛ den, akatua biara renso,
(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)
9 sɛ ɛbɛma no atena ase afebɔɔ a ɔrenhu porɔwee.
So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.
10 Obiara nim pefee sɛ anyansafo wu; saa ara na nkwaseafo ne agyimifo nso wu, na wogyaw wɔn ahonya hɔ ma afoforo.
For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.
11 Wɔn nna bɛyɛ wɔn afi afebɔɔ, wɔn atenae wɔ awo ntoatoaso bere a enni awiei mu, ɛmfa ho sɛ wɔde wɔn din atoto nsase so.
The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.
12 Na onipa ahonya nyinaa akyi no, ɔrentena hɔ daa; ɔte sɛ mmoa a wowu no ara.
But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
13 Eyi ne nea ɛda hɔ ma wɔn a wogye wɔn ho di, ne wɔn akyidifo a wɔfoa wɔn nsɛm so.
This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah)
14 Wɔte sɛ nguan, na wɔbɛkɔ ɔda mu, na owu de wɔn bɛyɛ nʼaduan. Atreneefo bedi wɔn so anɔpa; wɔn nipadua bɛporɔw wɔ ɔda mu, na wɔne wɔn adan akɛse no ntam akwan bɛware. (Sheol h7585)
Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever. (Sheol h7585)
But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Sɛ onipa nya ne ho a, mma ɛnnhaw wo; na sɛ ne fi anigye yɛ bebree a, mma ɛnnhaw wo;
Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;
17 efisɛ, sɛ owu a ɔremmfa hwee nkɔ, nʼanuonyam ne no renkɔ amoa mu.
For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 Mpo ɔte ase no, ɔfaa no sɛ wɔahyira no, efisɛ wɔkamfo nnipa bere a wodi yiye,
Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,
19 nanso ɔbɛkɔ akɔka nʼagyanom ho, wɔn a wɔrenhu nkwa hann ara da no.
He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ ahonya na onni nhumu no te sɛ mmoa a wowu.
Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
