Nnwom 51
1 Dawid dwom a ɔtoo no bere a ɔde ne ho kaa Batseba na odiyifo Natan kɔɔ ne nkyɛn no. Ao, Onyankopɔn hu me mmɔbɔ, sɛnea wʼadɔe a ɛnsa da no te; wʼahummɔbɔ kɛse no nti, pepa me mmarato.
For the music director. A psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. God, please be gracious to me, because of your trustworthy love, because of your infinite kindness please wipe away my sins.
2 Hohoro mʼamumɔyɛ nyinaa na tew me ho fi me bɔne mu!
Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.
3 Na mahu me mmarato, na mekae me bɔne daa.
I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.
4 Mayɛ mfomso atia wo; atia wo nko ara na mayɛ nea ɛyɛ bɔne wɔ wʼani so, enti wudi bem wɔ wʼatemmu mu na woteɛ wɔ wʼatemmu mu.
I have sinned against you, you alone. I have done evil in your sight. So you are right in what you say, and fair when you judge.
5 Ampa ara wɔwoo me wɔ bɔne mu, na bɔne mu na me na nyinsɛn me.
It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Ampa ara nokware na wohwehwɛ wɔ me mu. Wokyerɛ me nyansa a mu dɔ.
But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.
7 Fa adwerɛ hohoro me ho, na me ho afi; guare me, na mɛhoa asen sukyerɛmma.
Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.
8 Ma mente ahosɛpɛw ne anigye nka; na ma nnompe a woabubu no nni ahurusi.
Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.
9 Kata wʼani wɔ me bɔne ho na pepa mʼamumɔyɛ nyinaa.
Turn your face away from looking at my sins; please wipe away my guilt.
10 Ao, Onyankopɔn, bɔ koma a mu tew wɔ me mu, na yɛ honhom a atim no foforo wɔ me mu.
Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.
11 Mpam me mfi wʼanim, na nyi wo Honhom Kronkron mfi me mu.
Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Fa wo nkwagye mu anigye no ma me bio, na ma me ɔpɛ honhom a ɛbɛma magyina.
Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.
13 Afei mɛkyerɛ nnebɔneyɛfo wʼakwan, na amumɔyɛfo bɛsan aba wo nkyɛn.
Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.
14 Ao, Onyankopɔn, gye me fi mogya ho afɔdi mu. Onyame a wugye me nkwa, na me tɛkrɛma bɛto wo trenee ho dwom.
God, please forgive me for the blood I have shed, God of my salvation, and I will sing for joy of your goodness.
15 Awurade, bue mʼano fafa, na mede mʼano bɛpae mu aka wʼayeyi.
Open my lips so I can speak your praise!
16 Wompɛ afɔrebɔ, anka mɛbɔ; wʼani nnye ɔhyew afɔre ho.
For sacrifices don't make you happy, or I would bring one; burnt offerings aren't what pleases you.
17 Onyankopɔn afɔre yɛ honhom a abotow, Onyankopɔn, worempo ahonu ne ahobrɛase koma.
The “sacrifices” that God wants are on the inside—the brokenness of repentance. God won't reject a broken and sorrowful heart.
18 Ma ɛnyɛ wo fɛ sɛ wobɛma Sion anya nkɔso wɔ wʼanigye mu; na woasi Yerusalem afasu.
Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Afei wʼani begye ɔtreneeni afɔrebɔ ho, ɔhyew afɔre a edi mu; na wɔde anantwinini bɛbɔ afɔre wʼafɔremuka so. Wɔde ma dwonkyerɛfo.
Then you will be pleased with sacrifices given in the right spirit, for all kinds of burnt offerings, and bulls sacrificed on your altar once more.
