Nnwom 17
1 Dawid Mpaeɛbɔ. Ao, Awurade tie me tenenee abisadeɛ; tie me sufrɛ. Yɛ aso ma me mpaeɛbɔ deɛ ɛmfiri nnaadaa anofafa mu.
“A prayer of David.” Hear, O Lord, [the cause of] righteousness, attend unto my entreaty, give ear unto my prayer, coming from lips without deceit.
2 Ma me bembuo a ɛfiri wo hɔ. Ma wʼani nhunu deɛ ɛyɛ pɛ.
Let from thy presence my sentence come forth; let thy eyes behold what is right.
3 Wopɛɛpɛɛ mʼakoma mu, wohwehwɛ me mu anadwo, na wosɔ me hwɛ deɛ, nanso worenhunu hwee; masi madwene pi sɛ mʼano renka bɔne.
Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast thought of me in the night; thou hast refined me—thou couldst find nothing: my purpose doth not pass beyond [the words of] my mouth.
4 Nnipa nneyɛɛ fam no, wʼanomu asɛm enti matwe me ho afiri basabasayɛfoɔ akwan ho.
Among the deeds of men did I observe, by the word of thy lips, the paths of the dissolute.
5 Menam wʼakwan so daa; me nan nnwatiriiɛ.
My steps held firmly to thy tracks, [and] my footsteps did not slip.
6 Mesu mefrɛ wo, Ao Onyankopɔn na wobɛgye me so; yɛ aso ma me na tie me mpaeɛbɔ.
I call on thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: incline thy ear unto me, hear my speech.
7 Da wo dɔ nwanwasoɔ no adi wo a wode wo nsa nifa gye wɔn a wɔde wɔn ho to wo so no nkwa firi wɔn atamfoɔ nsam.
Show marvelously thy loving-kindnesses, O thou that savest those who put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them] by thy right hand.
8 Hwɛ me so sɛ obi a wodɔ no; fa me sie wo ntaban nwunu no ase
Keep me as the apple of the eye; conceal me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 firi amumuyɛfoɔ a wɔretaataa me nsam, mʼatamfoɔ a wɔatwa me ho ahyia no.
From the wicked that despoil me, my enemies, who, to take my life, compass me about.
10 Wɔpirim wɔn akoma, na wɔkasa ahantan so.
They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11 Wɔadi me ntɛtɛ, afei wɔatwa me ho ahyia; wɔn ani abere sɛ wɔbɛbɔ me ahwe fam.
On our steps they now encompass us: they direct their eyes to turn aside in the land.
12 Wɔte sɛ gyata a ahaboa ho kɔm de no, te sɛ gyata kɛseɛ bi a wabutu wɔ atɛeɛ.
Every man is just like a lion that is greedy to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in a covert.
13 Sɔre, Ao Awurade! Wone wɔn mfa mmɔ ani na ka wɔn hyɛ; fa wʼakofena no gye me firi amumuyɛfoɔ no nsam.
Arise, O Lord, prevent him, cast him down; deliver my soul from the wicked, who is thy sword, —
14 Ao Awurade fa wo nsa gye me firi nnipa a wɔte sei nsam asase so nnipa a wɔn akatua wɔ nkwa yi mu. Womma ɛkɔm nne wɔn a wʼani ku wɔn ho; wɔn mmammarima wɔ bebree, na wɔkora agyapadeɛ ma wɔn mma.
From these men—thy hand—O Lord, from the men of this world, whose portion is in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hidden treasure: they have children in plenty, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15 Na me deɛ, me tenenee mu, mɛhunu wʼanim; sɛ menyane na mehunu wo a, mʼakoma bɛtɔ ne yam. Wɔde ma dwomkyerɛfoɔ.
As for me, in righteousness shall I behold thy face: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with contemplating thy likeness.
