Nnwom 38

1 Dawid dwom. Adesrɛ. Ao Awurade, nka mʼanim wɔ wʼabofuo mu na ntwe mʼaso wɔ wʼabufuhyeɛ mu.

A psalm of David, for a memorial. Lord, please don't condemn me because you're angry with me; don't punish me because you're furious with me!

2 Wo bɛmma ahwire me mu, na wo nsa adwerɛ me.

Your arrows have pierced me deeply, your hand has come down hard on me.

3 Wʼabofuhyeɛ no enti, ahoɔden biara nni me mu; me bɔne enti, me nnompe ahodwo.

Because you're so upset with me, not a single part of my body is healthy; I am completely sick because of my sins.

4 Mʼafɔdie amene me te sɛ adesoa a emu yɛ duru dodo.

I'm drowning in guilt—the burden is too heavy to bear.

5 Mʼakuro bɔn na aporɔ ɛsiane me bɔne mu agyimisɛm enti.

My wounds are infected—they're smelling—all because of my stupidity.

6 Makoto na wɔabrɛ me ase; da mu nyinaa menantenante twa agyaadwoɔ.

I am bent over, doubled up in pain. The whole day I walk around crying my eyes out.

7 Mʼakyi dompe mu yea boro so: ahoɔden biara nni me onipadua mu.

Inside I'm burning up with fever; no part of my body is healthy.

8 Mabrɛ na mapɛkyɛ koraa. Mʼakoma mu yea ma me si apinie.

I'm worn out, totally down. I groan because of the anguish I feel in my heart.

9 Ao Awurade, deɛ merehwɛ anim nyinaa da wʼanim; mʼapinisie nhintaa wo.

Lord, you know what I desperately want, you hear every sigh I make.

10 Mʼakoma bɔ paripari, na mʼahoɔden asa mpo mʼaniwa aduru sum.

My heart is racing, leaving me with no strength; my eyesight is failing.

11 Mʼapirakuro enti me nnamfonom ne mʼayɔnkofoɔ mmɛn me; mʼafipamfoɔ twe wɔn ho firi me ho.

My loved ones and my friends don't come near me because they're afraid of what I've got. Even my family keeps me at a distance.

12 Wɔn a wɔpɛ sɛ wɔkum me no sum me mfidie, wɔn a wɔpɛ sɛ wɔha me no di me sɛeɛ ho nkɔmmɔ. Ɛda mu nyinaa wɔdwene nnaadaasɛm ho.

Those who are trying to kill me set traps for me; those who want to hurt me make threats against me, working on their deceitful schemes all day long.

13 Mete sɛ ɔsotifoɔ a ɔnte asɛm, mete sɛ mumu a ɔntumi nkasa.

I act as if I'm deaf to what they're saying, and pretend to be dumb so I don't have to speak.

14 Mayɛ sɛ obi a ɔnte asɛm, deɛ nʼano ntumi mma mmuaeɛ.

Like a man who can't hear, and who doesn't reply—that's me!

15 Ao Awurade, meretwɛn wo; Ao Awurade me Onyankopɔn, wobɛgye me so.

For I'm waiting on you, Lord! You will answer for me, my Lord and my God.

16 Mekaa sɛ, “Mma wɔn ani nnye; anaa mma wɔnhoahoa wɔn ho wɔ me nan a awatiri no enti.”

I'm asking you, Lord, please don't let my enemies gloat over me, don't let them be glad when I trip up.

17 Mereyɛ mahwe ase, na me yea da so wɔ me mu.

For I'm about ready to collapse—the pain never stops.

18 Meka me mfomsoɔ kyerɛ; me bɔne hyɛ me so.

I do confess my sins; I am terribly sorry for what I've done.

19 Bebree na wɔyɛ mʼatamfoɔ; wɔn a wɔtane me kwa no dɔɔso.

I have many powerful enemies—they are very active, hating me for no reason.

20 Wɔn a wɔde bɔne tua me papa so ka no bɔ me ahohora ɛberɛ a mereyɛ papa.

They pay me back evil for good; they accuse me for the good I try to do.

21 Ao, Awurade nnya me. Ao me Onyankopɔn, nkɔ akyiri!

Don't give up on me, my Lord and my God, don't stay away from me.

22 Bra ntɛm bɛboa me, Awurade, mʼAgyenkwa. Wɔde ma ɔdwomkyerɛfoɔ no. Yedutun.

Hurry, come and help me, Lord my salvation.