Nnwom 81

1 Wɔde ma dwomkyerɛfoɔ sɛ wɔnto sɛ “gittit” sankuo nne so. Asaf dwom. Monto ahurisie dwom mma Onyankopɔn yɛn ahoɔden; mommɔ ose mma Yakob Onyankopɔn no!

Sing [songs] to praise God, who enables us to be strong [when we fight our enemies]; shout joyfully to God, whom we (descendants of Jacob/Israeli people) [worship]!

2 Momma nnwom no so na monwoso akasaeɛ. Mommɔ sankuo ne bɛnta dɛɛdɛ no.

Start [playing] the music, and beat the tambourines, and play nice music on the harps and (lyres/other stringed instruments).

3 Monhyɛne mmɛntia ɔsrane foforɔ da no, ne ɔsrane korokumatwa mu, yɛn Apontoɔ da no;

Blow the trumpets [during the festival to celebrate] each new moon and each time the moon is full and during our [other] festivals.

4 Yei yɛ Israelfoɔ ahyɛdeɛ, Yakob Onyankopɔn mmara.

[Do that] because that is a law for [us] Israeli [people]; God commanded it for us descendants of Jacob.

5 Ɔtintimiiɛ sɛ nhyehyɛeɛ maa Yosef ɛberɛ a ɔsɔre tiaa Misraim no, faako a yɛtee kasa a yɛnte aseɛ no.

He commanded us Israeli [people to obey it] when he punished [the people of] Egypt. I heard someone [MTY] whose voice I did not recognize, saying,

6 Ɔka sɛ, “Meyii adesoa no firii mo mmatire so, ne mo nsa firii adwumaden ho.

“[After the rulers of Egypt forced you Israelis to work as slaves], I took those [heavy] burdens off your backs, and I enabled you to lay down those [heavy] baskets [of bricks that you were carrying].

7 Mo ahohiahia mu, mofrɛɛ me na megyee mo, megyee mo so wɔ aprannaa mu; me sɔɔ mo hwɛeɛ wɔ Meriba nsuo ho.

When you were [greatly] distressed, you called [out to me], and I rescued you; I answered you out of a thundercloud. [Later] I tested [whether you would trust me to give you] water [when you were in the desert] at Meribah.

8 “Ao me nkurɔfoɔ, montie me kɔkɔbɔ yi, Ao Israel, sɛ mobɛtie me a!

[You who are] my people, listen while I warn you! I wish that you Israeli [people] would pay attention to what I [say to you]!

9 Ɛnsɛ sɛ monya anyame foforɔ bi wɔ mo mu; ɛnsɛ sɛ mokoto ananafoɔ nyame.

You must not have any idols of other gods among you; you must never bow to worship any of them!

10 Mene Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn a meyii mo firii Misraim asase so no. Mommue mo anom tɛtrɛɛ na mɛhyɛ mu ma.

I am Yahweh, your God; It was [not any of those other gods] who brought you out of Egypt, I am the one who did it! [So] ask me what you want me to do for you [MTY], and I will do it.

11 “Nanso me nkurɔfoɔ rentie me; Israel remmrɛ ne ho ase mma me.

But my people would not listen to me [SYN]; they would not obey me.

12 Enti megyaa wɔn maa wɔn akomaden sɛ wɔnyɛ deɛ wɔpɛ biara.

So even though they were very stubborn, I allowed them to do whatever they wanted to do.

13 “Sɛ me nkurɔfoɔ tie me, na Israel nante mʼakwan so a,

I wish that my people would listen to me, that the Israeli [people] would behave as I want them to do.

14 anka mɛdi wɔn atamfoɔ so ama wɔn ntɛm na mama me basa so atia wɔn a wɔkyiri wɔn!

[If they did that], I would quickly defeat their enemies; I would strike/punish [all of] them [DOU].

15 Wɔn a wɔtane Awurade no de suro bɛkoto no, na wɔn asotwe to rentwa da.

[Then all] those who hate me would (cringe before/bow down to) me, and [then I] would punish them [MTY] forever.

16 Nanso, wɔde atokoɔ mu atokoɔ papa bɛma mo adi; mede ɔbotan mu woɔ bɛma mo amee.”

[But] I would give you [Israelis] very good wheat/grain, and I would fill your stomachs with wild honey.”