Nnwom 39
1 Dawid dwom. Mekaa sɛ, “Mɛhwɛ mʼakwan yie na mamfa me tɛkrɛma anyɛ bɔne; mɛto mʼano nnareka ɛberɛ a amumuyɛfoɔ bɛne me yi.
Unto the end. For Jeduthun himself. A Canticle of David. I said, “I will keep to my ways, so that I will not offend with my tongue.” I posted a guard at my mouth, when a sinner took up a position against me.
2 Nanso brɛ a meyɛɛ komm a manka asɛm papa biara mpo no mʼapinisie mu yɛɛ den.
I was silenced and humbled, and I was quiet before good things, and my sorrow was renewed.
3 Mʼakoma ho dwanee no wɔ me mu na metee nka sɛ ogya redɛre wɔ me mu na afei mede me tɛkrɛma kasaeɛ sɛ:
My heart grew hot within me, and, during my (meditation) a fire would flare up.
4 “Ao Awurade, ma menhunu me nkwa awieeɛ ne me nna dodoɔ; ma menhunu sɛdeɛ me nkwa twa mu ntɛm so.
I spoke with my tongue, “O Lord, make me know my end, and what the number of my days will be, so that I may know what is lacking to me.”
5 Woayɛ me nna sɛ nsateakwaa baako pɛ; na me mfeɛ dodoɔ nyɛ hwee wɔ wʼani so. Onipa nkwa yɛ ahomeɛ bi kɛkɛ.
Behold, you have made my days measurable, and, before you, my substance is as nothing. Yet truly, all things are vanity: every living man.
6 Onipa redi akɔneaba nyinaa no, ɔte sɛ sunsum bi kwa; ɔha ne ho, nanso ɔyɛ kwa; ɔboa ahonya ano, na ɔnnim deɛ ɛbɛyɛ ne dea.
So then, truly man passes by like an image; even so, he is disquieted in vain. He stores up, and he knows not for whom he will gather these things.
7 “Afei Awurade ɛdeɛn na merehwehwɛ? Mʼanidasoɔ wɔ wo mu.
And now, what is it that awaits me? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with you.
8 Gye me firi me bɔne nyinaa mu; mma mennyɛ nkwaseafoɔ aseredeɛ.
Rescue me from all my iniquities. You have handed me over as a reproach to the foolish.
9 Meyɛɛ komm, na mammue mʼano ɛfiri sɛ, wo na woayɛ yei.
I was silenced, and I did not open my mouth, because it was you who acted.
10 Yi wʼasotwe firi me so; wo nsa ano amanehunu amene me.
Remove your scourges from me.
11 Woka nnipa anim, na wotwe wɔn aso wɔ wɔn bɔne ho; wosɛe wɔn ahonya te sɛ nweweboa onipa biara yɛ ahomeɛ kɛkɛ.
I fall short at corrections from the strength of your hand. For you have chastised man for iniquity. And you have made his soul shrink away like a spider. Nevertheless, it is in vain that any man be disquieted.
12 “Ao Awurade, tie me mpaeɛbɔ, tie me sufrɛ; nsi wʼaso wɔ me su ho Me ne wo te hɔ sɛ ɔhɔhoɔ, sɛdeɛ na mʼagyanom nyinaa teɛ no.
O Lord, heed my prayer and my supplication. Pay attention to my tears. Do not be silent. For I am a newcomer with you, and a sojourner, just as all my fathers were.
13 Yi wʼani firi me so na manya anigyeɛ bio ansa na mafiri ha a mente ase bio.” Wɔde ma dwomkyerɛfoɔ.
Forgive me, so that I may be refreshed, before I will go forth and be no more.
