< Nnwom 49 >

1 Koramma dwom. Muntie, mo saa nnipa yi nyinaa; monyɛ aso, mo a mowɔ wiase yi mu nyinaa,
[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.] Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 nea ɔyɛ abomfiaa ne nea odi mu, adefo ne ahiafo nyinaa.
both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 Mʼano bɛka anyansasɛm; nsɛm a efi me koma mu bɛma nhumu.
My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
4 Mɛbrɛ mʼaso ase atie mmebusɛm; na sanku na mede bɛkyerɛ mʼabisae ase.
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
5 Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ misuro, bere a nna bɔne aba, bere a amumɔyɛfo nnaadaafo atwa me ho ahyia,
Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who deceive me surrounds me?
6 wɔn a wɔde wɔn ho to wɔn ahonya so na wɔde wɔn ade dodow hoahoa wɔn ho?
They trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches.
7 Onipa biara rentumi nnye ne yɔnko nkwa na ɔrentumi mfa mpata biara mma Onyankopɔn,
Truly these cannot redeem a person, nor give to God a ransom for him.
8 nkwa ho mpata bo yɛ den, akatua biara renso,
For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 sɛ ɛbɛma no atena ase afebɔɔ a ɔrenhu porɔwee.
that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.
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 die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth 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.
Their tombs are their homes forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
12 Na onipa ahonya nyinaa akyi no, ɔrentena hɔ daa; ɔte sɛ mmoa a wowu no ara.
But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish.
13 Eyi ne nea ɛda hɔ ma wɔn a wogye wɔn ho di, ne wɔn akyidifo a wɔfoa wɔn nsɛm so.
This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. (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)
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. (Sheol h7585)
15 Nanso Onyankopɔn begye me afi ɔda mu; ampa ara, ɔde me bɛkɔ ne nkyɛn. (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Sɛ onipa nya ne ho a, mma ɛnnhaw wo; na sɛ ne fi anigye yɛ bebree a, mma ɛnnhaw wo;
Do not be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.
17 efisɛ, sɛ owu a ɔremmfa hwee nkɔ, nʼanuonyam ne no renkɔ amoa mu.
For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Mpo ɔte ase no, ɔfaa no sɛ wɔahyira no, efisɛ wɔkamfo nnipa bere a wodi yiye,
Though while he lived he blessed his soul—and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 nanso ɔbɛkɔ akɔka nʼagyanom ho, wɔn a wɔrenhu nkwa hann ara da no.
he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ ahonya na onni nhumu no te sɛ mmoa a wowu.
A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.

< Nnwom 49 >