Nnwom 73
1 Asaf dwom. Ampa ara Onyankopɔn yɛ ma Israel, ɔyɛ ma wɔn a wɔn akoma mu teɛ.
BOOK THIRD: “A Psalm of Assaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure of heart.
2 Nanso me deɛ, anka me nan reyɛ awatiri; anka merehwere me nnyinasoɔ,
But as for me, it lacked but little that my feet had been moved: almost nothing was needed that my steps had slipped.
3 ɛfiri sɛ, mʼani beree ahantanfoɔ ɛberɛ a mehunuu amumuyɛfoɔ yiedie no.
For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Wɔnhunuu ahokyere da; na wɔwɔ ahoɔden ne apɔmuden.
For there are no deadly fetters for them, but their strength is firm.
5 Dadwene a ɛtaa ba nnipa soɔ biara nna wɔn so; ɔdasani haw biara nna wɔn so.
They share not in the trouble of mortals, and with men are they not afflicted.
6 Enti, ahantan yɛ wɔn kɔnmuadeɛ, na wɔde akakabensɛm afira.
Therefore is pride their neck-chain: violence envelopeth them as a garment.
7 Wɔn akoma a apirim no mu na nnebɔne firie; na wɔn amumuyɛ adwene nni mma ɔka.
Their eyes start out from fatness: they have exceeded their heart's imaginings.
8 Wɔsere afoforɔ na wɔka wɔn ho nsɛm a ɛnyɛ; wɔde nhyɛsoɔ hunahuna afoforɔ wɔ ahomasoɔ mu.
They scorn, and speak wickedly of oppression: loftily do they speak.
9 Wɔn ano ka ɔsoro nsɛm, na wɔn tɛkrɛma agye asase afa.
They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh busily on the earth.
10 Ɛno enti wɔn nkurɔfoɔ kɔ wɔn nkyɛn na wonya nsuo bebree nom.
Therefore do his people turn away hither: and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 Wɔbisa sɛ, “Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na Onyankopɔn ahunu? Na Ɔsorosoroni no wɔ nhunumu anaa?”
And they say, How should God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Sei na amumuyɛfoɔ no teɛ, hwee mfa wɔn ho, na wɔkɔ so pɛ ahonyadeɛ.
Behold, these are the wicked; and yet prospering continually they increase in wealth.
13 Ampa ara, mʼakoma a ɛho teɛ no, mannya hwee amfiri mu; me nsa a ɛnni fɔ no ayɛ kwa.
Verily in vain have I thus cleansed my heart, and have washed in innocency my hands:
14 Ɛda mu nyinaa mehunu amane; anɔpa biara wɔtwe mʼaso.
While I was afflicted all the day, and my chastisement [came] every morning.
15 Sɛ mekaa sɛ, “Mɛkasa saa” a, anka medii wo mma no hwammɔ.
But if I were to say, I will speak thus: behold, I would be treacherous against the generation of thy children.
16 Mebɔɔ mmɔden sɛ mɛte yeinom nyinaa ase, nanso na ɛhyɛ me so
And when I should think to know this, it would be trouble in my eyes;
17 kɔsii sɛ mekɔɔ Onyankopɔn kronkronbea hɔ; ɛhɔ na metee deɛ ɛbɛba wɔn so awieeɛ no ase.
Until I enter into the sanctuary of God; and understand what their future will be.
18 Ampa ara wode wɔn gu baabi a ɛhɔ yɛ toro. Wode wɔn hwe fam sɛe wɔn pasaa.
Surely thou placest them on slippery spots: thou lettest them fall down into destruction.
19 Sɛdeɛ wɔsɛe prɛko pɛ, na ehu hwim wɔn kɔ no,
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they perish, they come to their end with terrific events.
20 ɛte sɛ daeɛso, ɛberɛ a onipa anyaneɛ, Ao Awurade, sɛ wokanyane wo ho a, wobɛbu wʼani agu wɔn so sɛ biribi a ɛnni hɔ.
As a dream after awaking, O Lord, reject thou in wrath their image.
21 Ɛberɛ a awerɛhoɔ hyɛɛ mʼakoma mu na me sunsum dii yea no,
For it fermented in my heart, and in my reins I felt sharp thrusts;
22 meyɛɛ sɛ obi a ɔnnim hwee na ɔnni adwene; meyɛɛ sɛ aboa gyimifoɔ wɔ wʼanim.
But I was indeed foolish, and I knew it not: I was as a [thoughtless] beast with thee.
23 Nanso, na mene wowɔ hɔ ɛberɛ biara; na wode wo nsa nifa asɔ me mu.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast seized hold of me by my right hand.
24 Wode wʼafotuo kyerɛ me ɛkwan; na akyire no, wode me bɛkɔ animuonyam mu.
With thy counsel wilt thou guide me, and afterward take me on to glory.
25 Hwan na mewɔ wɔ soro ka wo ho? Na biribiara nni asase so a mepɛ ka wo ho.
Whom have I in heaven? and beside thee I desire nothing upon earth.
26 Me honam, ne mʼakoma bɛdi me hwammɔ, nanso Onyankopɔn ne mʼakoma ahoɔden ne me kyɛfa daa nyinaa.
Though my flesh and my heart should fall; yet the rock of my heart, and my portion will be God for ever.
27 Wɔn a wɔmmɛn wo no bɛyera. Wosɛe wɔn a wɔnni wo nokorɛ nyinaa.
For, lo, those that are far from thee shall perish: thou destroyest every one that strayeth away from thee.
28 Nanso, me deɛ, menim sɛ ɛyɛ sɛ wɔbɛbɛn Onyankopɔn. Mede Otumfoɔ Awurade ayɛ me hintabea; mɛka wo nneyɛɛ nyinaa akyerɛ.
But as regardeth me, to draw near to God is good for me: I have put in the Lord Eternal my trust, that I may relate all thy works.
