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.
For the leader; for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence.
2 Nanso brɛ a meyɛɛ komm a manka asɛm papa biara mpo no mʼapinisie mu yɛɛ den.
I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up.
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; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to my tongue.
4 “Ao Awurade, ma menhunu me nkwa awieeɛ ne me nna dodoɔ; ma menhunu sɛdeɛ me nkwa twa mu ntɛm so.
“Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient 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.
See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: (Selah)
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.
it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.”
7 “Afei Awurade ɛdeɛn na merehwehwɛ? Mʼanidasoɔ wɔ wo mu.
And now, what wait I for, Lord? My hope is in you.
8 Gye me firi me bɔne nyinaa mu; mma mennyɛ nkwaseafoɔ aseredeɛ.
From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool.
9 Meyɛɛ komm, na mammue mʼano ɛfiri sɛ, wo na woayɛ yei.
I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing.
10 Yi wʼasotwe firi me so; wo nsa ano amanehunu amene me.
Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent.
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 someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (Selah)
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.
Hear my prayer, O Lord; attend to my cry for help. Hold not your peace at my tears. For I am but a guest of yours, a stranger visiting, like all my ancestors.
13 Yi wʼani firi me so na manya anigyeɛ bio ansa na mafiri ha a mente ase bio.” Wɔde ma dwomkyerɛfoɔ.
Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone.
