Nnwom 12

1 Wɔde ma dwomkyerɛfoɔ sɛ wɔnto no wɔ “Seminit” sankuo nne so. Dawid dwom. Boa yɛn, Awurade, na nyamesurofoɔ asa; nokwafoɔ ayera wɔ nnipa mu.

“To the chief musician upon Sheminith, a psalm of David.” Help, O Lord; for the pious have ceased to be; for the truthful have failed from among the children of men.

2 Obiara di atorɔ kyerɛ ne yɔnko; wɔn ano a ɛdɛfɛdɛfɛ no ka nnaadaasɛm.

Deceptively do they speak every one with his neighbor, with flattering lips, with a double heart do they speak.

3 Ma Awurade ntwa nnaadaa ano ne tɛkrɛma biara a ɛhoahoa ne ho ntwene;

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh boastful things:

4 wɔn a wɔse, “Yɛde yɛn tɛkrɛma bɛdi nkonim; yɛn ano yɛ yɛn dea, na hwan ne yɛn wura?”

Who have said, With our tongue will we be mighty; our lips are with us; who is Lord over us!

5 “Esiane nhyɛ a wɔde hyɛ mmɔborɔni no ne ohiani apenesie no enti, mɛsɔre afei,” Awurade na ɔseɛ. “Mɛbɔ wɔn ho ban afiri wɔn a wɔha wɔn ho.”

Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord: I will grant safety to him for whom the other layeth a snare.

6 Awurade asɛm yɛ nokorɛ te sɛ dwetɛ a wɔasɔne so wɔ fononoo mu, na wɔahoa ho mprɛnson.

The words of the Lord are pure words, as silver refined in the crucible of earth, purified seven times.

7 Ao Awurade, wobɛkora yɛn na woabɔ yɛn ho ban afebɔɔ afiri saa abɔnefoɔ yi ho,

Thou, O Lord, wilt preserve them; thou wilt guard them from this generation for ever.

8 abɔnefoɔ a wɔnenam sɛdeɛ wɔpɛ ɛberɛ a adasamma de anidie ma afideɛ.

On every side do the wicked walk about, when the vile are exalted over the sons of man.