Nnwom 73
1 Asaf dwom. Ampa ara Onyankopɔn yɛ ma Israel, ɔyɛ ma wɔn a wɔn akoma mu teɛ.
“BOOK III. A psalm of Asaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, —To those who are pure in heart.
2 Nanso me deɛ, anka me nan reyɛ awatiri; anka merehwere me nnyinasoɔ,
Yet my feet almost gave way; My steps had well nigh slipped:
3 ɛfiri sɛ, mʼani beree ahantanfoɔ ɛberɛ a mehunuu amumuyɛfoɔ yiedie no.
For I was envious of the proud, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Wɔnhunuu ahokyere da; na wɔwɔ ahoɔden ne apɔmuden.
For they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.
5 Dadwene a ɛtaa ba nnipa soɔ biara nna wɔn so; ɔdasani haw biara nna wɔn so.
They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
6 Enti, ahantan yɛ wɔn kɔnmuadeɛ, na wɔde akakabensɛm afira.
Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Wɔn akoma a apirim no mu na nnebɔne firie; na wɔn amumuyɛ adwene nni mma ɔka.
From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
8 Wɔsere afoforɔ na wɔka wɔn ho nsɛm a ɛnyɛ; wɔde nhyɛsoɔ hunahuna afoforɔ wɔ ahomasoɔ mu.
They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
9 Wɔn ano ka ɔsoro nsɛm, na wɔn tɛkrɛma agye asase afa.
They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;
10 Ɛno enti wɔn nkurɔfoɔ kɔ wɔn nkyɛn na wonya nsuo bebree nom.
Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
11 Wɔbisa sɛ, “Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na Onyankopɔn ahunu? Na Ɔsorosoroni no wɔ nhunumu anaa?”
And they say, “How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Sei na amumuyɛfoɔ no teɛ, hwee mfa wɔn ho, na wɔkɔ so pɛ ahonyadeɛ.
Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up riches.
13 Ampa ara, mʼakoma a ɛho teɛ no, mannya hwee amfiri mu; me nsa a ɛnni fɔ no ayɛ kwa.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 Ɛda mu nyinaa mehunu amane; anɔpa biara wɔtwe mʼaso.
For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
15 Sɛ mekaa sɛ, “Mɛkasa saa” a, anka medii wo mma no hwammɔ.
If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.
16 Mebɔɔ mmɔden sɛ mɛte yeinom nyinaa ase, nanso na ɛhyɛ me so
So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
17 kɔsii sɛ mekɔɔ Onyankopɔn kronkronbea hɔ; ɛhɔ na metee deɛ ɛbɛba wɔn so awieeɛ no ase.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
18 Ampa ara wode wɔn gu baabi a ɛhɔ yɛ toro. Wode wɔn hwe fam sɛe wɔn pasaa.
Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
19 Sɛdeɛ wɔsɛe prɛko pɛ, na ehu hwim wɔn kɔ no,
How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!
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 when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
21 Ɛberɛ a awerɛhoɔ hyɛɛ mʼakoma mu na me sunsum dii yea no,
When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
22 meyɛɛ sɛ obi a ɔnnim hwee na ɔnni adwene; meyɛɛ sɛ aboa gyimifoɔ wɔ wʼanim.
Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
23 Nanso, na mene wowɔ hɔ ɛberɛ biara; na wode wo nsa nifa asɔ me mu.
Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
24 Wode wʼafotuo kyerɛ me ɛkwan; na akyire no, wode me bɛkɔ animuonyam mu.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last receive me in 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 but thee, And whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?
26 Me honam, ne mʼakoma bɛdi me hwammɔ, nanso Onyankopɔn ne mʼakoma ahoɔden ne me kyɛfa daa nyinaa.
Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 Wɔn a wɔmmɛn wo no bɛyera. Wosɛe wɔn a wɔnni wo nokorɛ nyinaa.
For, lo! they who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves from thee.
28 Nanso, me deɛ, menim sɛ ɛyɛ sɛ wɔbɛbɛn Onyankopɔn. Mede Otumfoɔ Awurade ayɛ me hintabea; mɛka wo nneyɛɛ nyinaa akyerɛ.
But it is good for me to draw near to God; I put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare all thy works.
