Nnwom 35
1 Dawid dwom. Ao Awurade wo ne wɔn a wɔne me di asie no nni asie; ko tia wɔn a wɔko tia me.
Of David. Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me, do battle with those who do battle with me.
2 Fa wʼakokyɛm ne wo nkatanimu; na sɔre bra bɛboa me.
Grasp shield and buckler, and rise up as my help.
3 Twe pea ne abonnua wɔ wɔn a wɔtaa me so ka kyerɛ me kra sɛ, “Mene wʼagyenkwa.”
Draw spear and battle-axe, confront those who pursue me. Assure me that you will help me.
4 Wɔn a wɔpɛ sɛ wɔkum me no ma wɔn anim ngu ase; wɔn a wɔbɔ me sɛeɛ ho pɔ no ma wɔmfa aniwuo nsane wɔn akyi.
Dishonour and shame be on those who are seeking my life! Defeat and confusion on those who are planning my hurt!
5 Ma wɔnyɛ sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframa bɔ guo wɔn a Awurade ɔbɔfoɔ repam wɔn.
As chaff before wind may they be, with the Lord’s angel pursuing them.
6 Ma wɔn akwan so nnuru sum na ɛso nyɛ toro, na Awurade ɔbɔfoɔ ntaa wɔn so.
Slippery and dark be their way, with his angel thrusting them on.
7 Esiane sɛ wɔde atena sum me afidie kwa na wɔtuu amena maa me a menyɛɛ wɔn hwee no enti
For they wantonly hid their net for me, and dug a pit to destroy me.
8 ma ɔsɛeɛ mmɛfu wɔn mu na atena no a wɔde hintaaeɛ nyi wɔn, na ma wɔnhwe amena no mu nsɛe.
Upon them may ruin come unawares; may the net which they hid catch themselves, and into the pit may they fall.
9 Afei me kra ani bɛgye wɔ Awurade mu na wasɛpɛ ne ho wɔ ne nkwagyeɛ mu.
Then I will exult in the Lord, and be joyful because of his help;
10 Me onipadua nyinaa bɛteam aka sɛ, “Hwan na ɔte sɛ wo, Ao Awurade? Wogye ohiani firi ahoɔdenfoɔ nsam ne deɛ ɔnnibie firi apoobɔfoɔ nsam.”
and all my being will say, ‘Who, O Lord, is like you, who save the helpless from those too strong for them, the poor and the helpless from those who despoil them?’
11 Adansekurumfoɔ sɔre; wɔbisa me nneɛma a mennim ho hwee ho asɛm.
Violent witnesses rise, and ask of me things that I know not.
12 Wɔde bɔne tua papa a meyɛ so ka na wɔma me kra yɛ basaa.
Evil for good they requite me, leaving me inwardly comfortless.
13 Nanso, ɛberɛ a wɔyareeɛ no, mefiraa ayitoma na mede akɔnkyene brɛɛ me ho ase. Ɛberɛ a me mpaeɛbɔ ho mmuaeɛ nnya mmaeɛ no,
But when they were sick, I put on sackcloth, and chastened myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed low,
14 mekɔɔ so twaa adwo sɛdeɛ meyɛ ma mʼadamfo anaa onuabarima. Mede awerɛhoɔ sii me ti ase te sɛ deɛ meregyam me maame.
as if for my friend or my brother. I went about bowed and in mourning, as one who laments his mother.
15 Nanso, ɛberɛ a mesuntiiɛ no, wɔde anigyeɛ boaa wɔn ho ano; ntohyɛsofoɔ twaa me ho hyiaaɛ a mennim na wɔdii me ho nsekuro a wɔantwa so da.
When I stumbled, they gleefully gathered, strangers gathered around me, and tore at me without ceasing,
16 Wɔde adwemmɔne dii me ho fɛ te sɛ nnipa a wɔnni nyamesu; wɔtwɛree wɔn se guu me so.
impiously mocking and mocking, bearing their teeth at me.
17 Ao Awurade, wobɛhwɛ wɔn akɔsi da bɛn? Gye me nkwa firi wɔn sɛeɛ mu, gye me nkwa a ɛsom bo no firi saa agyata yi nsam.
How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their roaring, my precious life from the lions.
18 Na mɛda wo ase wɔ dwabɔ kɛseɛ ase; wɔ nnipa dodoɔ mu na mɛkamfo woɔ.
I will then give you thanks in the great congregation, and praise you before many people.
19 Mma mʼatamfoɔ a wɔtane me kwa no nhwɛ me haa nsere. Mma wɔn a menyɛɛ wɔn hwee nso wɔtane me no mmfa adwene bɔne mmu me anikyeɛ.
Suffer not those to rejoice over me who are falsely my foes, suffer not those who without cause abhor me to wink with the eye.
20 Wɔnnkasa asomdwoeɛ so, na mmom, wɔde ntwatosoɔ tia nnipa a wɔmpɛ wɔn ho asɛm wɔ asase yi so.
For it is not peace that they speak of those who are quiet in the land; but treacherous charges they plot.
21 Wɔhwɛ me haa ka sɛ, “Aane! Aane, yɛde yɛn ankasa ani ahunu.”
With wide open mouths they shout, ‘Hurrah! Hurrah! With our own eyes we saw it.’
22 Ao Awurade, wahunu na mmua wʼano. Nte wo ho nkɔ akyiri, Ao Awurade.
But you have seen, too, O Lord, keep not silence, O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Nyane, sɔre na bɛbɔ me ho ban! Ka bi ma me, me Onyankopɔn ne mʼAwurade.
Bestir you, awake, for my right my God, my Lord, for my cause.
24 Di mʼasɛm ma me wɔ wo tenenee no mu, Ao Awurade me Onyankopɔn; mma wɔn nhwɛ me haa nsere.
You are just, Lord: win for me justice, let them not rejoice over me,
25 Mma wɔnnwene nka sɛ, “Aane, deɛ yɛpɛ ni!” anaa wɔnnka sɛ, “Yɛanya no.”
inwardly saying, ‘Hurrah! The desire of our hearts at last! Now we have swallowed him up.’
26 Ma wɔn a wɔhwɛ me haa sere me wɔ mʼahohiahia mu no nyinaa anim ngu ase na wɔnyɛ basaa; ma wɔn a wɔdi me so akokurokosɛm no nhyɛ aniwuo ne animguaseɛ atadeɛ.
Shame and confusion together on those who rejoice at my hurt! Clothed with shame and dishonour be those who are haughty to me!
27 Ma wɔn a wɔdi ahurisie wɔ me bembuo ho no mfa anigyeɛ ne ahosɛpɛ nteam ɛberɛ nyinaa mu ma wɔnka sɛ, “Momma Awurade so, ɔno na nʼani gye ne ɔsomfoɔ yiedie ho.”
Let such as delight in my cause ring out their gladness, and say evermore, ‘Great is the Lord whose delight is the well-being of his servant.’
28 Me tɛkrɛma bɛka wo tenenee ne wʼayɛyie da mu nyinaa. Wɔde ma dwomkyerɛfoɔ.
Then my tongue will tell of your justice, and all the day long of your praise.
