Nnwom 49
1 Wɔde ma dwonkyerɛfo. Koramma dwom. Muntie, mo saa nnipa yi nyinaa; monyɛ aso, mo a mowɔ wiase yi mu nyinaa,
“For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Hear this, all ye nations; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world;
2 nea ɔyɛ abomfiaa ne nea odi mu, adefo ne ahiafo nyinaa.
Both high and low, rich and poor alike!
3 Mʼano bɛka anyansasɛm; nsɛm a efi me koma mu bɛma nhumu.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my mind shall be understanding.
4 Mɛbrɛ mʼaso ase atie mmebusɛm; na sanku na mede bɛkyerɛ mʼabisae ase.
I will incline mine ear to a poem; I will utter my song upon 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 adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;
6 wɔn a wɔde wɔn ho to wɔn ahonya so na wɔde wɔn ade dodow hoahoa wɔn ho?
They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?
7 Onipa biara rentumi nnye ne yɔnko nkwa na ɔrentumi mfa mpata biara mma Onyankopɔn,
No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,
8 nkwa ho mpata bo yɛ den, akatua biara renso,
That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.
9 sɛ ɛbɛma no atena ase afebɔɔ a ɔrenhu porɔwee.
Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.
10 Obiara nim pefee sɛ anyansafo wu; saa ara na nkwaseafo ne agyimifo nso wu, na wogyaw wɔn ahonya hɔ ma afoforo.
For he seeth that wise men die, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, 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.
They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.
12 Na onipa ahonya nyinaa akyi no, ɔrentena hɔ daa; ɔte sɛ mmoa a wowu no ara.
Yet man, who is in honor, abideth not; He is like the beasts that perish.
13 Eyi ne nea ɛda hɔ ma wɔn a wogye wɔn ho di, ne wɔn akyidifo a wɔfoa wɔn nsɛm so.
Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. (Pause)
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)
Like sheep they are cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place. (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my life from the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)
16 Sɛ onipa nya ne ho a, mma ɛnnhaw wo; na sɛ ne fi anigye yɛ bebree a, mma ɛnnhaw wo;
Be not thou afraid, when one becometh 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 dieth, he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
18 Mpo ɔte ase no, ɔfaa no sɛ wɔahyira no, efisɛ wɔkamfo nnipa bere a wodi yiye,
Though in his life he thought himself happy, —Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity, —
19 nanso ɔbɛkɔ akɔka nʼagyanom ho, wɔn a wɔrenhu nkwa hann ara da no.
Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ ahonya na onni nhumu no te sɛ mmoa a wowu.
The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
