Nnwom 39
1 Wɔde ma ɔdwomkyerɛfoɔ no. Yedutun. Dawid dwom. Mekaa sɛ, “Mɛhwɛ mʼakwan yie na mamfa me tɛkrɛma anyɛ bɔne; mɛto mʼano nnareka ɛberɛ a amumuyɛfoɔ bɛne me yi.
I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin ·err (the standard goal)· with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”
2 Nanso brɛ a meyɛɛ komm a manka asɛm papa biara mpo no mʼapinisie mu yɛɛ den.
I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.
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 was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Ao Awurade, ma menhunu me nkwa awieeɛ ne me nna dodoɔ; ma menhunu sɛdeɛ me nkwa twa mu ntɛm so.
“Adonai, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.
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 hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
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.
“Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and does not know who shall gather.
7 “Afei Awurade ɛdeɛn na merehwehwɛ? Mʼanidasoɔ wɔ wo mu.
Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
8 Gye me firi me bɔne nyinaa mu; mma mennyɛ nkwaseafoɔ aseredeɛ.
Deliver me from all my rebellious breaches of relationships. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.
9 Meyɛɛ komm, na mammue mʼano ɛfiri sɛ, wo na woayɛ yei.
I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.
10 Yi wʼasotwe firi me so; wo nsa ano amanehunu amene me.
Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
11 Woka nnipa anim, na wotwe wɔn aso wɔ wɔn bɔne ho; wosɛe wɔn ahonya te sɛ nweweboa onipa biara yɛ ahomeɛ kɛkɛ.
When you rebuke and correct man for depravity (moral evil), You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
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.
“Sh'ma ·Hear obey· my prayer, Adonai, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.
13 Yi wʼani firi me so na manya anigyeɛ bio ansa na mafiri ha a mente ase bio.”
Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more.”
