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 chief musician. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, 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 wisdom and the meditation of my heart will be of understanding.
4 Mɛbrɛ mʼaso ase atie mmebusɛm; na sanku na mede bɛkyerɛ mʼabisae ase.
I will incline my ear to a parable; I will begin my parable with 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 the days of evil, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels?
6 wɔn a wɔde wɔn ho to wɔn ahonya so na wɔde wɔn ade dodow hoahoa wɔn ho?
Why should I fear those who trust in their wealth and boast about the amount of their riches?
7 Onipa biara rentumi nnye ne yɔnko nkwa na ɔrentumi mfa mpata biara mma Onyankopɔn,
It is certain that no one can redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him,
8 nkwa ho mpata bo yɛ den, akatua biara renso,
For the redemption of one's life is costly, and no one can pay what we owe.
9 sɛ ɛbɛma no atena ase afebɔɔ a ɔrenhu porɔwee.
No one can live forever so that his body should not decay.
10 Obiara nim pefee sɛ anyansafo wu; saa ara na nkwaseafo ne agyimifo nso wu, na wogyaw wɔn ahonya hɔ ma afoforo.
For he will see decay. Wise men die; the fool and the brute alike 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 inner thought is that their families will continue forever, and the places where they live, to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 Na onipa ahonya nyinaa akyi no, ɔrentena hɔ daa; ɔte sɛ mmoa a wowu no ara.
But man, having wealth, does not remain alive; 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.
This, their way, is their folly; yet after them, men approve of 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)
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol, and death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their bodies will be consumed in Sheol, with no place for them to live. (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol; 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 one becomes rich, and the glory of his house increases.
17 efisɛ, sɛ owu a ɔremmfa hwee nkɔ, nʼanuonyam ne no renkɔ amoa mu.
For when he dies 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,
He blessed his soul while he lived— and men praise you when you live 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 and they will never see the light again.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ ahonya na onni nhumu no te sɛ mmoa a wowu.
One who has wealth but no understanding is like the beasts, which perish.
