Nnwom 49
1 Kora mma dwom. Nnipa nyinaa, montie; monyɛ aso, mo a mowɔ ewiase yi mu nyinaa,
For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world
2 deɛ ɔyɛ abomfiaa ne deɛ ɔdi mu, adefoɔ ne ahiafoɔ nyinaa.
people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.
3 Mʼano bɛka anyansasɛm; nsɛm a ɛfiri mʼakomam bɛma nhunumu.
My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.
4 Mɛbrɛ mʼaso ase atie abɛbusɛm; na menam sankubɔ so bɛte aseɛ ama makyerɛ abɛbusɛm no ase.
I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.
5 Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ mesuro nna bɔne, ɛberɛ a amumuyɛfoɔ adaadaafoɔ atwa me ho ahyia,
Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,
6 wɔn a wɔde wɔn ho to wɔn ahonya soɔ na wɔde wɔn adedodoɔ hoahoa wɔn ho?
who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?
7 Onipa biara rentumi nnye nʼankasa nkwa na ɔrentumi mfa mpata biara mma Onyankopɔn.
For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,
8 Nkwa ho mpata boɔ yɛ den, sika biara rentumi ntɔ,
for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 sɛ ɛbɛma no atena ase afebɔɔ a ɔrenhunu porɔeɛ.
to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.
10 Obiara nim pefee sɛ anyansafoɔ wu; saa ara na nkwaseafoɔ ne agyimifoɔ nso wuo na wɔgya wɔn ahonya hɔ ma afoforɔ.
But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon their wealth to others.
11 Wɔn adamena bɛyɛ wɔn afie afebɔɔ. Ɛhɔ na wɔbɛtena awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ kɔsi ɛberɛ a ɛnni awieeɛ mu, wɔn din a wɔde totoo nsase so nyinaa akyi.
The grave is their everlasting home, the place they shall live in for ever and ever, though after their own names they called whole lands.
12 Na onipa ahonya nyinaa akyi no, ɔrentena hɔ daa; ɔte sɛ mmoa a wɔwuo no ara.
Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.
13 Yei ne deɛ ɛda hɔ ma wɔn a wɔgye wɔn ho die, ne wɔn akyidifoɔ a wɔfoa wɔn nsɛm soɔ.
This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (Selah)
14 Wɔte sɛ nnwan na wɔbɛkɔ damena mu, na owuo de wɔn bɛyɛ nʼaduane. Teneneefoɔ bɛdi wɔn so anɔpa; wɔn onipadua bɛporɔ wɔ damena mu, na wɔne wɔn adan akɛseɛ no ntam kwan bɛware. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they descend to Sheol with Death for their shepherd; down they go straight to the grave, and their form wastes away in their home below. (Sheol h7585)
15 Nanso, Onyankopɔn de ne tumi bɛgye me afiri damena mu; ampa ara, ɔde me bɛkɔ ne nkyɛn. (Sheol h7585)
But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Sɛ onipa nya ne ho a, mma ɛnha wo; na sɛ ne fie anigyeɛ yɛ bebree a, mma no nha wo;
So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.
17 ɛfiri sɛ, sɛ ɔwu a, ɔremfa hwee nkɔ, nʼanimuonyam ne no renkɔ amena mu.
Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.
18 Mpo ɔte ase no, ɔfaa no sɛ wɔahyira no, ɛfiri sɛ wɔkamfo nnipa ɛberɛ a wɔdi yie,
Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,
19 nanso ɔbɛkɔ akɔka nʼagyanom ho, wɔn a wɔrenhunu nkwa hann ara da no.
they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ ahonya na ɔnni nhunumu no, ɔte sɛ aboa a ɔwuo.
The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.
