Nnwom 51
1 Wɔde ma dwomkyerɛfoɔ. Dawid dwom a ɔtoo no ɛberɛ a ɔde ne ho kaa Batseba na odiyifoɔ Natan kɔɔ ne nkyɛn no. Ao Onyankopɔn hunu me mmɔbɔ, sɛdeɛ wʼadɔeɛ a ɛnsa da no teɛ; wʼahummɔborɔ kɛseɛ no enti, pepa me mmarato.
For the music director. A psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. God, please be gracious to me, because of your trustworthy love, because of your infinite kindness please wipe away my sins.
2 Hohoro mʼamumuyɛ nyinaa na te me ho firi me bɔne mu!
Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.
3 Na mahunu me mmarato, na mekae me bɔne daa.
I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.
4 Mayɛ mfomsoɔ atia wo; atia wo nko ara na mayɛ deɛ ɛyɛ bɔne wɔ wʼani so, enti, wodi bem wɔ wo kasa mu na wotene wɔ wʼatemmuo mu.
I have sinned against you, you alone. I have done evil in your sight. So you are right in what you say, and fair when you judge.
5 Ampa ara wɔwoo me wɔ bɔne mu, na bɔne mu na me maame nyinsɛnee me.
It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Ampa ara nokorɛ na wohwehwɛ wɔ me mu. Wokyerɛ me nyansa a emu dɔ.
But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.
7 Fa hisope hohoro me ho, na me ho bɛte; dware me, na mɛhoa asene sukyerɛmma.
Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.
8 Ma mente ahosɛpɛ ne anigyeɛ nka; na ma nnompe a woabubuo no nni ahurisie.
Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.
9 Kata wʼani wɔ me bɔne ho na pepa mʼamumuyɛ nyinaa.
Turn your face away from looking at my sins; please wipe away my guilt.
10 Ao Onyankopɔn, bɔ akoma a emu teɛ wɔ me mu, na ma me honhom foforɔ a ɛdi wo nokorɛ.
Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.
11 Mpamo me mfiri wʼanim na ɛnyi wo Honhom Kronkron mfiri me mu.
Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Fa wo nkwagyeɛ mu anigyeɛ no ma me bio na ma me ɔsetie honhom a ɛbɛkura me.
Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.
13 Afei mɛkyerɛ nnebɔneyɛfoɔ wʼakwan, na amumuyɛfoɔ bɛsane aba wo nkyɛn.
Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.
14 Ao Onyankopɔn, gye me firi mogya ho afɔdie mu. Onyame a wogye me nkwa, na me tɛkrɛma bɛto wo tenenee ho dwom.
God, please forgive me for the blood I have shed, God of my salvation, and I will sing for joy of your goodness.
15 Ao Awurade, bue mʼano fafa, na mede mʼano bɛpae mu aka wʼayɛyie.
Open my lips so I can speak your praise!
16 Wompɛ afɔrebɔ, anka mɛbɔ; wʼani nnye ɔhyeɛ afɔdeɛ ho.
For sacrifices don't make you happy, or I would bring one; burnt offerings aren't what pleases you.
17 Onyankopɔn afɔdeɛ a ɔpɛ yɛ honhom a abotoɔ. Ao Onyankopɔn, worempo ahonu ne ahobrɛaseɛ akoma.
The “sacrifices” that God wants are on the inside—the brokenness of repentance. God won't reject a broken and sorrowful heart.
18 Ao Onyankopɔn, ma Sion nya nkɔsoɔ wɔ wʼanigyeɛ mu; na to Yerusalem afasuo.
Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Afei afɔrebɔ a ɛho teɛ bɛba, ɔhyeɛ afɔdeɛ a ɛdi mu a ɛbɛsɔ wʼani; na wɔde anantwinini bɛbɔ afɔdeɛ wʼafɔrebukyia so.
Then you will be pleased with sacrifices given in the right spirit, for all kinds of burnt offerings, and bulls sacrificed on your altar once more.
