Nnwom 49
1 Kora mma dwom. Nnipa nyinaa, montie; monyɛ aso, mo a mowɔ ewiase yi mu nyinaa,
For the chief musician. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 deɛ ɔyɛ abomfiaa ne deɛ ɔdi mu, adefoɔ ne ahiafoɔ nyinaa.
both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 Mʼano bɛka anyansasɛm; nsɛm a ɛfiri mʼakomam bɛma nhunumu.
My mouth will speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart will be of understanding.
4 Mɛbrɛ mʼaso ase atie abɛbusɛm; na menam sankubɔ so bɛte aseɛ ama makyerɛ abɛbusɛm no ase.
I will incline my ear to a parable; I will begin my parable with the harp.
5 Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ mesuro nna bɔne, ɛberɛ a amumuyɛfoɔ adaadaafoɔ atwa me ho ahyia,
Why should I fear the days of evil, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels?
6 wɔn a wɔde wɔn ho to wɔn ahonya soɔ na wɔde wɔn adedodoɔ hoahoa wɔn ho?
Why should I fear those who trust in their wealth and boast about the amount of their riches?
7 Onipa biara rentumi nnye nʼankasa nkwa na ɔrentumi mfa mpata biara mma Onyankopɔn.
It is certain that no one can redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him,
8 Nkwa ho mpata boɔ yɛ den, sika biara rentumi ntɔ,
For the redemption of one's life is costly, and no one can pay what we owe.
9 sɛ ɛbɛma no atena ase afebɔɔ a ɔrenhunu porɔeɛ.
No one can live forever so that his body should not decay.
10 Obiara nim pefee sɛ anyansafoɔ wu; saa ara na nkwaseafoɔ ne agyimifoɔ nso wuo na wɔgya wɔn ahonya hɔ ma afoforɔ.
For he will see decay. Wise men die; the fool and the brute alike perish and leave 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.
Their inner thought is that their families will continue forever, and the places where they live, to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 Na onipa ahonya nyinaa akyi no, ɔrentena hɔ daa; ɔte sɛ mmoa a wɔwuo no ara.
But man, having wealth, does not remain alive; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 Yei ne deɛ ɛda hɔ ma wɔn a wɔgye wɔn ho die, ne wɔn akyidifoɔ a wɔfoa wɔn nsɛm soɔ.
This, their way, is their folly; yet after them, men approve of their sayings. (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 are appointed for Sheol, and death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their bodies will be consumed in Sheol, with no place for them to live. (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 redeem my life from the power of Sheol; 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;
Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, and the glory of his house increases.
17 ɛfiri sɛ, sɛ ɔwu a, ɔremfa hwee nkɔ, nʼanimuonyam ne no renkɔ amena mu.
For when he dies he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 Mpo ɔte ase no, ɔfaa no sɛ wɔahyira no, ɛfiri sɛ wɔkamfo nnipa ɛberɛ a wɔdi yie,
He blessed his soul while he lived— and men praise you when you live for yourself—
19 nanso ɔbɛkɔ akɔka nʼagyanom ho, wɔn a wɔrenhunu nkwa hann ara da no.
he will go to the generation of his fathers and they will never see the light again.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ ahonya na ɔnni nhunumu no, ɔte sɛ aboa a ɔwuo.
One who has wealth but no understanding is like the beasts, which perish.
