Nnwom 49
1 Koramma dwom. Muntie, mo saa nnipa yi nyinaa; monyɛ aso, mo a mowɔ wiase yi mu nyinaa,
For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world
2 nea ɔyɛ abomfiaa ne nea odi mu, adefo ne ahiafo nyinaa.
people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.
3 Mʼano bɛka anyansasɛm; nsɛm a efi me koma mu bɛma nhumu.
My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.
4 Mɛbrɛ mʼaso ase atie mmebusɛm; na sanku na mede bɛkyerɛ mʼabisae ase.
I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.
5 Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ misuro, bere a nna bɔne aba, bere a amumɔyɛfo nnaadaafo atwa me ho ahyia,
Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,
6 wɔn a wɔde wɔn ho to wɔn ahonya so na wɔde wɔn ade dodow hoahoa wɔn ho?
who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?
7 Onipa biara rentumi nnye ne yɔnko nkwa na ɔrentumi mfa mpata biara mma Onyankopɔn,
For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,
8 nkwa ho mpata bo yɛ den, akatua biara renso,
for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 sɛ ɛbɛma no atena ase afebɔɔ a ɔrenhu porɔwee.
to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.
10 Obiara nim pefee sɛ anyansafo wu; saa ara na nkwaseafo ne agyimifo nso wu, na wogyaw wɔn ahonya hɔ ma afoforo.
But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon 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.
The grave is their everlasting home, the place they shall live in for ever and ever, though after their own names they called whole lands.
12 Na onipa ahonya nyinaa akyi no, ɔrentena hɔ daa; ɔte sɛ mmoa a wowu no ara.
Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.
13 Eyi ne nea ɛda hɔ ma wɔn a wogye wɔn ho di, ne wɔn akyidifo a wɔfoa wɔn nsɛm so.
This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (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)
Like sheep they descend to Sheol with Death for their shepherd; down they go straight to the grave, and their form wastes away in their home below. (Sheol h7585)
But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand 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;
So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.
17 efisɛ, sɛ owu a ɔremmfa hwee nkɔ, nʼanuonyam ne no renkɔ amoa mu.
Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.
18 Mpo ɔte ase no, ɔfaa no sɛ wɔahyira no, efisɛ wɔkamfo nnipa bere a wodi yiye,
Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,
19 nanso ɔbɛkɔ akɔka nʼagyanom ho, wɔn a wɔrenhu nkwa hann ara da no.
they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ ahonya na onni nhumu no te sɛ mmoa a wowu.
The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.
