Kwadwom 1
1 Ao, sɛdeɛ kuropɔn no adane amamfo nie, kuropɔn a anka nnipa ahyɛ no ma? Ɛdeɛn enti na wayɛ okunafoɔ baa a kane no na anka woyɛ kɛseɛ wɔ amanaman no mu? Deɛ na ɔyɛ ɔhemmaa wɔ amantam no mu no abɛyɛ afenaa ɛnnɛ.
And it came to pass, after Israel was taken captive, and Jerusalem made desolate, [that] Jeremias sat weeping, and lamented [with] this lamentation over Jerusalem, and said, ALEPH. How does the city that was filled with people sit solitary! she is become as a widow: she that was magnified amongst the nations, [and] princess amongst the provinces, has become tributary.
2 Ɔsu yaayaaya anadwo, nisuo sensane nʼafono so. Nʼadɔfoɔ nyinaa mu no, ɔbiara nni hɔ a ɔkyekyere ne werɛ. Nʼayɔnkofoɔ nyinaa adi no hwammɔ Wɔayɛ nʼatamfoɔ.
BETH. She weeps sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; and there is none of all her lovers to comfort her: all that were her friends have dealt deceitfully with her, they are become her enemies.
3 Amanehunu ne adwumaden akyi no, Yuda kɔ nnommumfa mu. Ɔte amanaman no mu na ɔnni ahomegyebea Wɔn a wɔtaa no nyinaa ati no wɔ nʼahokyere mu.
GIMEL. Judea is gone into captivity by reason of her affliction, and by reason of the abundance of her servitude: she dwells amongst the nations, she has not found rest: all her pursuers have overtaken her between her oppressors.
4 Akwan a ɛkɔ Sion no di awerɛhoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ obiara nkɔ nʼafahyɛ ase. Nʼapono nyinaa adeda mpan, na nʼasɔfoɔ si apinie, ne mmabaawa di yea, na ɔwɔ yeadie a emu yɛ den.
DALETH. The ways of Sion mourn, because there are none that come to the feast: all her gates are ruined: her priests groan, her virgins are led captive, and she is in bitterness in herself.
5 Nʼatamfoɔ abɛyɛ ne wuranom; wɔn a wɔ ne no ayɛ dom ho adwo wɔn. Awurade ama awerɛhoɔ aba ne so nʼamumuyɛ bebrebe enti. Ne mma kɔ nnommumfa mu. Wɔayɛ nneduafoɔ ama ɔtamfoɔ.
HE. Her oppressors are become the head, and her enemies have prospered; for the Lord has afflicted her because of the multitude of her sins: her young children are gone into captivity before the face of the oppressor.
6 Animuonyam nyinaa atu afiri Ɔbabaa Sion so kɔ. Ne mmapɔmma ayɛ sɛ aforoteɛ a wɔnnya adidibea; na wɔde mmerɛyɛ adwane wɔ wɔn ataafoɔ anim.
VAU. And all her beauty has been taken away from the daughter of Sion: her princes were as rams finding no pasture, and are gone [away] in weakness before the face of the pursuer.
7 Nʼamanehunu ne ananteananteɛ nna mu no, Yerusalem kae ademudeɛ nyinaa a na ɛwɔ no wɔ nna a atwam no mu. Ne nkurɔfoɔ kɔtɔɔ ɔtamfoɔ no nsa mu no, na obiara nni hɔ a ɔbɛboa no. Nʼatamfoɔ de wɔn ani hwɛɛ no na wɔseree ne sɛeɛ.
ZAIN. Jerusalem remembered the days of her affliction, and her rejection; [she thought on] all her desirable things which were from the days of old, when her people fell into the hands of the oppressor, and there was none to help her: when her enemies saw [it] they laughed at her habitation.
8 Yerusalem ayɛ bɔne kɛseɛ enti ne ho agu fi. Wɔn a wɔdi no ni no sopa no, ɛfiri sɛ wɔahunu nʼadagya; ɔno ankasa gu ahome na ɔdane nʼani.
HETH. Jerusalem has sinned a [great] sin; therefore has she come into tribulation, all that used to honour her have afflicted her, for they have seen her shame: yes, she herself groaned, and turned backward.
9 Nʼafideyɛ atu aka ne ntadeɛ mu; wannwene ne daakye ho. Nʼasehweɛ yɛ nwanwa; obiara ankyekyere ne werɛ. “Ao Awurade hwɛ mʼamanehunu, ɛfiri sɛ ɔtamfoɔ adi nkonim.”
TETH. Her uncleanness is before her feet; she remembered not her last end; she has lowered her boasting [tone], there is none to comfort her. Behold, O Lord, my affliction: for the enemy has magnified himself.
10 Ɔtamfoɔ no de ne nsa too nʼademudeɛ nyinaa so; ɔhunuu sɛ amanaman rehyɛne ne kronkronbea hɔ, nnipa a woabra sɛ wɔnnhyɛne wʼasafo mu no.
JOD. The oppressor has stretched out his hand on all her desirable things: for she has seen the Gentiles entering into her sanctuary, [concerning] whom you did command that they should not enter into your congregation.
11 Ne nkurɔfoɔ nyinaa si apinie ɛberɛ a wɔrepɛ aduane; wɔde wɔn ademudeɛ sesa aduane de nya ahoɔden. “Ao, Awurade, hwɛ na dwene me ho, ɛfiri sɛ wɔbu me animtia.”
CHAPH. All her people groan, seeking bread: they have given their desirable things for meat, to restore their soul: behold, Lord, and look; for she is become dishonoured.
12 “Ɛmfa mo ho anaa, mo a motwam hɔ nyinaa? Monhwɛ na monhunu. Ɛyea bi wɔ hɔ a ɛte sɛ me deɛ a wɔma ɛbaa me soɔ yi anaa? Deɛ Awurade de baa me so wɔ nʼabufuhyeɛ da no.
LAMED. All you that pass by the way, turn, and see if there is sorrow like to my sorrow, which has happened [to me]. The Lord who spoke by me has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
13 “Ɔsomaa ogya firi ɔsoro, ma ɛbaa me nnompe mu. Ɔsum afidie maa me nan na ɔsane me kɔɔ mʼakyi. Ɔyɛɛ me pasaa, metɔɔ bira da mu nyinaa.
MEM. He has sent fire from his lofty habitation, he has brought it into my bones: he has spread a net for my feet, he has turned me back: he has made me desolate [and] mourning all the day.
14 “Woakyekyere me bɔne sɛ adesoa; ɔde ne nsa nwene bɔɔ mu. Abɛda me kɔn mu na Awurade atwe mʼahoɔden. Ɔde me ahyɛ wɔn a merentumi nnyina wɔn anim no nsa.
NUN. He has watched over my sins, they are twined about my hands, they have come up on my neck: my strength has failed; for the Lord has laid pains on my hands, I shall not be able to stand.
15 “Awurade apo ahoɔdenfoɔ a wɔwɔ me ntam nyinaa; wafrɛ akodɔm atia me sɛ wɔmmɛdwɛre me mmeranteɛ. Awurade atiatia Ɔbabaa Yuda Bunu so wɔ ne nsakyiamena hɔ.
SAMECH. The Lord has cut off all my strong men from the midst of me: he has summoned against me a time for crushing my choice men: the Lord has trodden a wine-press for the virgin daughter of Juda: for these things I weep.
16 “Yeinom enti na mesu na nisuo adware me. Obiara mmɛn a ɔbɛkyekye me werɛ. Deɛ ɔbɛhyɛ me honhom den nni hɔ. Me mma agyigya ɛfiri sɛ ɔtamfoɔ no adi nkonim.”
AIN. Mine eye has poured out water, because he that should comfort me, that should restore my soul, has been removed far from me: my sons have been destroyed, because the enemy has prevailed.
17 Sion trɛ ne nsa mu nanso obiara nni hɔ a ɔbɛkyekye ne werɛ Awurade ahyɛ ama Yakob sɛ ne mfɛfoɔ bɛyɛ nʼatamfoɔ; Yerusalem abɛyɛ afideɛ wɔ wɔn mu.
PHE. Sion has spread out her hand, [and] there is none to comfort her: the Lord has commanded [concerning] Jacob, his oppressors are round about him: Jerusalem has become amongst them as a removed woman.
18 “Awurade yɛ ɔteneneeni, nanso manni nʼahyɛdeɛ so. Montie, mo amanaman nyinaa monhwɛ me yea. Me mmeranteɛ ne mmabaawa kɔ nnommumfa mu.
TSADE. The Lord is righteous; for I have provoked his mouth: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my grief: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
19 “Mefrɛɛ mʼapamfoɔ nanso wɔyii me maeɛ. Mʼasɔfoɔ ne me mpanimfoɔ ase tɔreɛ wɔ kuropɔn no mu, ɛberɛ a wɔrepɛ aduane adi na wɔanwuwu.
KOPH. I called my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and my elders failed in the city; for they sought meat that they might restore their souls, and found [it] not.
20 “Ao Awurade, hwɛ me mmɔborɔ! Meredi ɛyea wɔ me mu, na mʼakoma mu nso menni ahotɔ, ɛfiri sɛ mayɛ otuatefoɔ kɛseɛ. Akofena hyɛ me awerɛhoɔ wɔ abɔntene so; efie nso yɛ owuo nko ara.
RHECHS. Behold, O Lord; for I am afflicted: my belly is troubled, and my heart is turned within me; for I have been grievously rebellious: abroad the sword has bereaved me, even as death at home.
21 “Nnipa ate mʼapinisie, nanso obiara nni hɔ a ɔbɛkyekye me werɛ. Mʼatamfoɔ nyinaa ate mʼamanehunu wɔn ani gye deɛ woayɛ no ho. Ma nna a woahyɛ no mmra sɛdeɛ wɔbɛyɛ sɛ me.
CHSEN. Hear, I pray you, for I groan: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard [of] mine afflictions, and rejoice because you have done [it]: you have brought on the day, you have called the time: they are become like to me.
22 “Fa wɔn atirimuɔdensɛm nyinaa si wʼanim; na wo ne wɔn nni sɛdeɛ wo ne me adie ɛsiane mʼamumuyɛ no enti. Mʼapinisie dɔɔso na mʼakoma aboto.”
THAU. Let all their wickedness come before your face; and strip them, as they have made a gleaning for all my sins: for my groans are many, and my heart is grieved.
