Nnwom 18
1 Awurade akoa Dawid dwom. Ɔtoo saa dwom yi maa Awurade, ɛberɛ a ɔgyee no firii nʼatamfoɔ nyinaa ne Saulo nsam no. Medɔ wo, Ao Awurade, mʼahoɔden.
Yahweh, I love you, the one who enables me to be strong.
2 Awurade ne me botantim; mʼaban ne me gyefoɔ; me Onyankopɔn ne me botan Ne mu na menya me hintabea. Ɔyɛ mʼakokyɛm, me nkwagyeɛ abɛn ne mʼabandenden.
Yahweh is like an [overhanging] rock [DOU, MET] [under which I can hide from my enemies]; he is like a strong fortress, the one who protects me; he protects me like a shield [MET] [protects a soldier]; he is the one to whom I go (for refuge/to be protected/safe), and he defends me by his great power [IDM].
3 Mesu frɛ Awurade; ɔno na ayɛyie sɛ no, ɛfiri sɛ ɔgye me firi mʼatamfoɔ nsam.
I called out to Yahweh, who deserves to be praised, and he rescued me from my enemies.
4 Owuo nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn kyekyeree me; na ɔsɛeɛ asorɔkye bu faa me so.
All around me were dangerous situations in which I might be killed [PRS]; it was as though there were huge waves [MET] that almost crashed on me and killed me.
[It was as though] the place where dead people are had ropes that were wrapped around me, or [it was as though] there was a trap [MET] that would [seize and] kill me. (Sheol h7585)
6 Mʼahohia mu, mesu mefrɛɛ Awurade. Mesu mefrɛɛ me Onyankopɔn pɛɛ mmoa. Ɔfiri nʼasɔrefie hɔ tee me nne; me sufrɛ baa nʼanim, na ɛkɔɔ nʼasom.
But when I was very distressed, I called out to Yahweh, and from his temple he heard me. He listened to me when I cried out [for help].
7 Asase wosoeɛ na ɛhinhimeɛ, na mmepɔ fapem wosoeɛ wɔsuroeɛ ɛfiri sɛ na ne bo afu.
Then the earth quaked/shook strongly [DOU]; the mountains shook very strongly from their centers [DOU] because Yahweh was angry.
8 Wisie firii ne hwene mu; ogyaframa firii nʼanom, na egyasramma dɛre firii mu.
[It was as though] smoke poured out from his nostrils, and [as though] burning coals came out of his mouth.
9 Ɔfirii ɔsoro baa fam; na omununkum kabii duruu ne nan ase.
He opened the sky and came down with a black cloud under his feet.
10 Ɔte Kerubim so tu kɔɔ soro; gyaagyaa ne ho wɔ mframa ntaban so.
He flew, riding on the back of a creature that had wings, traveling [fast], blown along by the wind.
11 Ɔde sum kataa ne ho, osu a amuna tumm atwa ne ho ahyia.
Darkness was all around him [like a blanket] [MET]; dark clouds, full of moisture, covered him [MET].
12 Hann kɛseɛ hyerɛn wɔ nʼanim, na omununkum a asukɔtweaa ne anyinam wɔ mu firii ne ho hyerɛn mu baeɛ.
Hailstones and flashes of lightning were around him; hail and burning coals fell from the sky.
13 Awurade bobɔɔ mu firii soro; Ɔsorosoroni no nne gyegyeeɛ bio.
Then Yahweh [spoke in a loud voice] from the sky, and [his enemies] heard his voice that sounded like thunder.
14 Ɔtoo ne bɛmma no de bɔɔ atamfoɔ no hweteeɛ, ɔde anyinam a ano yɛn den pamoo wɔn.
He shot his arrows at them and caused them to scatter; His flashes of lightning caused them to become very confused (OR, to run away).
15 Ɛpo mu mmɔnka ho yiyiiɛ na asase nnyinasoɔ ho daa hɔ, ɛsiane wʼanimka ne ahomeguo a ɛfiri wo hwene mu no enti, Ao Awurade.
The bottom of the ocean became visible, and the foundations of the earth were uncovered, when Yahweh rebuked his enemies when he snorted.
16 Ɔfiri ɔsoro baa ɛfam bɛsɔɔ me mu; ɔtwee me firii nsuo a emu dɔ mu.
[It was as though] he reached down from heaven and grabbed me and pulled me up out of the deep ocean.
17 Ɔgyee me firii me ɔtamfoɔ hoɔdenfoɔ nsam, wɔn a wɔn ani sa me, na wɔn ho yɛ den dodo ma me no.
He rescued me from my strong enemies who hated me; they were very strong, with the result that I [could not defeat them].
18 Wɔbaa me so wɔ mʼamanehunu da mu, nanso Awurade pagyaa me.
When I (was distressed/had troubles), they attacked me, but Yahweh defended/protected me.
19 Ɔde me baa baabi a ɛhɔ trɛ; ɔgyee me, ɛfiri sɛ nʼani sɔɔ me.
He led me to a place where I was safe; he rescued me because he was pleased with me.
20 Awurade ne me adi no sɛdeɛ me tenenee teɛ; wahwɛ me nsa a ɛho teɛ so atua me ka.
Yahweh has rewarded me because I do what is right; he has blessed me because I (am innocent/have not done things that are wrong).
21 Manante Awurade akwan so. Mentwee me ho mfirii me Onyankopɔn ho nkɔyɛɛ bɔne.
I have obeyed Yahweh’s laws; I have not abandoned him.
22 Madi ne mmara nyinaa so: memmuu nʼahyɛdeɛ so.
My behavior was directed by his rules; I have not stopped obeying them.
23 Me ho nni asɛm wɔ Onyankopɔn anim, na matwe me ho afiri bɔne ho.
He knows that I have not done what is wrong; I have kept myself from sinning.
24 Awurade agyina me teneneeyɛ ne me nsa a ɛho teɛ wɔ nʼanim so atua me ka.
So he rewards me because I do what is right; he knows that I [SYN] have not committed sins.
25 Woda wo ho adi sɛ ɔnokwafoɔ kyerɛ wɔn a wɔdi nokorɛ, wɔn a wɔdi mu nso wo kyerɛ wɔn sɛ wodi mu.
Yahweh, you are faithful to those who faithfully [do what you tell them to do]; you always do what is good/right to those who do what you want them to do.
26 Woyɛ kronn ma wɔn a wɔyɛ kronn, na amumuyɛfoɔ deɛ, wokyiri wɔn.
You are kind to those who are kind to others, but you act wisely toward those who (act perversely/do bad things).
27 Wogye ahobrɛasefoɔ nkwa, na wobrɛ ahantanfoɔ ase.
You save those who are humble, but you cause those who are proud to be humiliated/ashamed.
28 Ao Awurade, woyɛ me kanea. Aane, woma me sum dane hann.
You give light to my [soul/spirit]; you take away the darkness of my soul.
29 Wʼahoɔden a wode ma me enti, metumi ka akodɔm gu; me Onyankopɔn enti, metumi foro ɔfasuo.
You enable me to be strong, with the result that I can run and attack a line of enemy soldiers; with your help I can (scale/climb up) the walls [that surround my enemies’ cities].
30 Onyankopɔn deɛ, nʼakwan yɛ pɛ; Awurade bɔhyɛ nyinaa ba mu. Ɔyɛ akokyɛm ma wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ banbɔ wɔ ne mu.
Everything that Yahweh my God does is perfect. We can depend on him to do what he promises. He is like a shield [MET] to protect all those who go to him for refuge.
31 Na hwan na ɔyɛ Onyankopɔn ka Awurade ho? Na hwan na ɔyɛ Ɔbotan no, gye sɛ yɛn Onyankopɔn no.
Yahweh is [RHQ] the only one who is God; only he is like an [overhanging] rock [under which we can be safe].
32 Ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn na ɔma me ahoɔden, na ɔma me kwan yɛ pɛ.
God is the one who enables me to be strong and who keeps me safe on the roads that I walk on.
33 Ɔma mʼanammɔn ho yɛ hare sɛ ɔforoteɛ deɛ. Ɔma me gyina sorɔnsorɔmmea.
He enables me to [walk swiftly without stumbling], like a deer walks/runs in the mountains.
34 Ɔsiesie me ma ɔko, na mʼabasa tumi kuntunu kɔbere mfrafraeɛ tadua.
He teaches me how to use a strong/metal bow in order that I can use it to fight in battles.
35 Wode wo nkonimdie akokyɛm ma me, na wo nsa nifa kura me. Wobrɛ wo ho ase ma meyɛ kɛseɛ.
Yahweh, you protect and save me with your shield; you have made me safe by your power [MTY]. I have become (strong/a great [king]) because you have helped me.
36 Woabɔ ɛkwan tɛtrɛɛ ama me nan sɛdeɛ ɛrenwatiri.
You have cleared the road for me, with the result that now I do not slip/stumble.
37 Metaa mʼatamfoɔ kɔtoo wɔn; mansane mʼakyi kɔsii sɛ mesɛee wɔn.
I have pursued my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until I had defeated/killed them all.
38 Mɛdwerɛ wɔn, na wɔantumi ansɔre, wɔhwehwee ase wɔ me nan ase.
When I strike them, they are not able to get up again; they lie on the ground, defeated.
39 Wode akodie ahoɔden maa me; womaa mʼatamfoɔ bɔɔ wɔn mu ase wɔ me nan ase.
You have enabled me to be strong in order that I can fight battles and defeat my enemies.
40 Womaa mʼatamfoɔ danee wɔn ho dwaneeɛ, na mesɛe wɔn a wɔtan me.
You caused my enemies to run away (OR, you enabled me to put my foot on my enemies’ necks [after I captured them and forced them to lie on the ground]); I have gotten rid of all those who hated me.
41 Wɔsu pɛɛ mmoa, nanso obiara ammɛgye wɔn, wɔfrɛɛ Awurade, nanso wammua.
They called out for someone to help them, but no one saved them.
42 Meyamoo wɔn sɛ mfuturo a mframa bɔ guo; me hwiee wɔn guiɛ sɛ mmɔntene so atɛkyɛ.
I pulverize them, with the result that they become like [MET] the dust that the wind [blows away]; I throw them out like [SIM] [people throw] dirt out into the streets.
43 Woagye me afiri nnipa no ntohyɛsoɔ mu, woayɛ me amanaman no ti; nnipa a mennim wɔn abɛyɛ mʼasomfoɔ.
You enabled me to defeat those who fought against me, and appointed me to be the ruler of [many]; people whom I did not know about previously are now slaves [in my kingdom].
44 Wɔte me nka pɛ a, wɔyɛ ɔsetie ma me; ananafoɔ koto mʼanim.
When foreigners hear about me, they (cringe/bow low before me) and they obey me.
45 Wɔn nyinaa botoboto; wɔfiri wɔn abandenden mu ba ahopopoɔ so.
They are no longer courageous, and from their forts [where they were hiding] they come [to me] trembling.
46 Awurade te ase! Ayɛyi nka me Botan! Wɔmma Onyankopɔn me Gyefoɔ no din so!
Yahweh is alive! Praise the one who is like an [overhanging] rock [MET] [under which I am safe] Exalt the God who saves me!
47 Ɔno ne Onyankopɔn a ɔtɔ awere ma me, ɔno na ɔka amanaman hyɛ mʼase,
He enables me to get revenge on my enemies; he causes me to defeat nations and to rule over them,
48 ɔno na ɔgye me firi mʼatamfoɔ nsam. Wopagyaa me sii mʼatamfoɔ so, wogyee me firii basabasayɛfoɔ nsam.
and he rescues me from my enemies. He has lifted me up high so that violent men could not reach me [and harm me].
49 Ɛno enti, mɛkamfo wo wɔ amanaman mu, Ao Awurade. Mɛto ayɛyie dwom ama wo din.
So I praise him [and I tell] the nations [the great things that he has done].
50 Wode nkonimdie akɛseɛ ama wo ɔhene; woda ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da adi kyerɛ deɛ woasra no ngo, wode kyerɛ Dawid, ne nʼasefoɔ afebɔɔ. Wɔde ma dwomkyerɛfoɔ.
He has enabled me, his king, to powerfully defeat my enemies; he faithfully loves me, David, the one he has chosen [to be king], and he will faithfully love my descendants forever.
