Nnwom 90
1 Onyankopɔn onipa Mose mpaeɛbɔ. Awurade, wo na woayɛ yɛn tenabea awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ nyinaa mu.
BOOK FOURTH: “A prayer of Moses the man of God.” Lord, a place of refuge hast thou been unto us in all generations.
2 Ansa na wɔrebɛbɔ mmepɔ anaasɛ worebɛda asase ne ewiase adi no, na woyɛ Onyankopɔn firi mmerɛsanten kɔsi mmerɛsanten.
Before yet the mountains were brought forth, or thou hadst ever produced the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
3 Woma adasamma sane dane mfuturo, ka sɛ, “Ao adasamma, monsane nkɔ mfuturo mu.”
Thou turnest man to contrition, and sayest, Return ye children of men.
4 Mfirinhyia apem yɛ wʼani so sɛ da koro a abɛsene seesei, anaasɛ anadwo mu dɔnhwereɛ kakraa bi.
For a thousand years are in thy eyes but as the yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
5 Wopra nnipa kɔ, wɔ owuo nna mu; wɔte sɛ ɛserɛ a afefɛ anɔpa,
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning [they grow] like the grass which changeth.
6 ɛfefɛ yɛ frɔmfrɔm anɔpa deɛ, nanso anwummerɛ ɛwo na ɛtwintwam.
In the morning it blossometh, and is changed: in the evening it is mowed off, and withereth.
7 Yɛresa wɔ wʼabofuo ano na wʼanibereɛ abɔ yɛn hu.
For [thus] are we consumed by thy anger, and by thy fury are we terrified.
8 Wode yɛn amumuyɛ asi wʼanim, na yɛn kɔkoam bɔne da wʼanim hann no mu.
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our concealed sins before the light of thy countenance.
9 Yɛn nna nyinaa twam wɔ wʼabufuhyeɛ mu; na yɛde awerɛhoɔdie na ɛwie yɛn mfeɛ.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we consume our years like a word that is spoken.
10 Yɛn nkwa nna si mfeɛ aduɔson, anaasɛ aduɔwɔtwe, sɛ yɛwɔ ahoɔden a; na emu ahohoahoadeɛ yɛ ɔhaw ne awerɛhoɔ, na ɛtwam ntɛm ntɛm, na yɛtu kɔ.
The days of our years in this life are seventy years; and if by uncommon vigor they be eighty, yet is their greatness trouble and mishap; for it soon hasteneth off, and we fly away.
11 Hwan na ɔnim wʼabofuo mu tumi? Wʼabofuhyeɛ yɛ kɛseɛ sɛdeɛ wo ho suro teɛ.
Who knoweth the strength of thy anger, and thy wrath which is like the fear of thee?
12 Ma yɛnhunu yɛn nna kan sɛdeɛ ɛteɛ, na yɛanya nyansa akoma.
Let us then know how to number our days, that we may obtain a heart endowed with wisdom.
13 Sane bra, Ao Awurade, ɛbɛkɔ so akɔsi da bɛn? Hunu wʼasomfoɔ mmɔbɔ.
Return, O Lord, how long yet? and bethink thee concerning thy servants.
14 Ma wʼadɔeɛ a ɛnsa da no mmee yɛn adekyeɛ mu, na yɛde anigyeɛ ato dwom adi ahurisie yɛn nna nyinaa mu.
O satisfy us in the morning with thy kindness, that we may be glad and rejoice throughout all our days.
15 Ma yɛn ani nnye nna bebree sɛ nna dodoɔ a wode yɛn kɔɔ amanehunu mu no, sɛ mfirinhyia dodoɔ a yɛhunuu ateeteeɛ no.
Cause us to rejoice as many days as those wherein thou hast afflicted us, the years wherein we have seen unhappiness.
16 Ma wʼasomfoɔ nhunu wo nneyɛɛ na wɔn mma nhunu wʼanimuonyam.
Let thy act be visible on thy servants, and thy majesty over their children.
17 Ma Awurade yɛn Onyankopɔn adom no ntena yɛn so; na yɛn nsa ano adwuma nyɛ yie mma yɛn aane, yɛn nsa ano adwuma nyɛ yie.
And may the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and the work of our hands do thou firmly establish upon us: yea, the work of our hands—firmly establish thou it.
