Kwadwom 3
1 Mene ɔbarima a mahu amane wɔ nʼabufuw abaa ano.
I [am] the man [who] hath seen affliction By the rod of His wrath.
2 Wapam me afi ne ho ama manantew sum mu na ɛnyɛ hann mu;
Me He hath led, and causeth to go [in] darkness, and without light.
3 Ampa ara wama nsa so atia me mpɛn bebree, da mu nyinaa.
Surely against me He turneth back, He turneth His hand all the day.
4 Wama me were ne me nam anyin Na wabubu me nnompe.
He hath worn out my flesh and my skin. He hath broken my bones.
5 Waka me ahyɛ mu, na watua me ano ɔde nweenwen ne ahokyere atwa me ho ahyia.
He hath built up against me, And setteth round poverty and weariness.
6 Wama matena sum mu sɛ wɔn a wɔawuwu dedaw no.
In dark places He hath caused me to dwell, As the dead of old.
7 Wato ɔfasu atwa me ho ahyia enti mintumi nguan; wagu me nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn ama matɔ beraw.
He hath hedged me about, and I go not out, He hath made heavy my fetter.
8 Mpo sɛ mefrɛ anaasɛ mebɔ mpae srɛ mmoa a osiw me mpaebɔ ano.
Also when I call and cry out, He hath shut out my prayer.
9 Ɔde abotan asiw me kwan; wama mʼakwan ayɛ kɔntɔnkye.
He hath hedged my ways with hewn work, My paths He hath made crooked.
10 Te sɛ sisi a ɔda hɔ retwɛn, te sɛ gyata a watɛw,
A bear lying in wait He [is] to me, A lion in secret hiding-places.
11 ɔtwee me fii ɔkwan no mu bebaree me na ogyaw me a minni mmoa biara.
My ways He is turning aside, and He pulleth me in pieces, He hath made me a desolation.
12 Okuntun ne ta mu na ɔde ne bɛmma kyerɛɛ me so.
He hath trodden His bow, And setteth me up as a mark for an arrow.
13 Ɔde bɛmma a efi ne kotoku mu hwirew me koma mu.
He hath caused to enter into my reins The sons of His quiver.
14 Meyɛɛ akyiwade maa me nkurɔfo nyinaa; wɔto akutia nnwom de di me ho fɛw da mu nyinaa.
I have been a derision to all my people, Their song all the day.
15 Ɔde nhaban nweenwen ahyɛ me ma. Wama me bɔnwoma anom.
He hath filled me with bitter things, He hath filled me [with] wormwood.
16 Ɔde mmosea abubu me se; na watiatia me so wɔ mfutuma mu.
And He breaketh with gravel my teeth, He hath covered me with ashes.
17 Wɔama asomdwoe abɔ me; na me werɛ afi yiyedi.
And Thou castest off from peace my soul, I have forgotten prosperity.
18 Enti mise, “Mʼanuonyam asa, nea mede mʼani too so Awurade mu no nyinaa.”
And I say, Perished hath my strength and my hope from Jehovah.
19 Mekae mʼamanehunu wɔ mʼakyinkyinakyinkyin mu, nweenwen ne bɔnwoma mu.
Remember my affliction and my mourning, Wormwood and gall!
20 Mekae yiye, na me kra abotow wɔ me mu.
Remember well, and bow down doth my soul in me.
21 Nanso midwen eyi ho; saa nti mewɔ anidaso.
This I turn to my heart — therefore I hope.
22 Awurade dɔ kɛse nti yɛnsɛee ɛ. Nʼayamhyehye nni huammɔ.
The kindnesses of Jehovah! For we have not been consumed, For not ended have His mercies.
23 Ɛyɛ foforo anɔpa biara; wo nokwaredi yɛ kɛse.
New every morning, abundant [is] thy faithfulness.
24 Meka kyerɛ me ho se, “Awurade yɛ me kyɛfa, enti mɛtwɛn no.”
My portion [is] Jehovah, hath my soul said, Therefore I hope for Him.
25 Awurade ye ma wɔn a wɔn anidaso wɔ ne mu, onipa a ɔhwehwɛ no no;
Good [is] Jehovah to those waiting for Him, To the soul [that] seeketh Him.
26 Eye sɛ wɔyɛ komm de twɛn Awurade nkwagye.
Good! when one doth stay and stand still For the salvation of Jehovah.
27 Eye ma ɔbarima sɛ ɔsoa konnua no wɔ ne mmerantebere mu.
Good for a man that he beareth a yoke in his youth.
28 Ma ɔntena ase komm, efisɛ Awurade de ato ne so.
He sitteth alone, and is silent, For He hath laid [it] upon him.
29 Ma ɔmfa nʼanim nsie wɔ mfutuma mu, ebia anidaso wɔ hɔ.
He putteth in the dust his mouth, if so be there is hope.
30 Ma ɔmfa nʼafono mma nea ɔpɛɛ sɛ ɔbɔ no no na ɔnhyɛ no aniwu.
He giveth to his smiter the cheek, He is filled with reproach.
31 Na Awurade ntow onipa biara nkyene koraa.
For the Lord doth not cast off to the age.
32 Ɛwɔ mu, ɔde awerɛhow ba de, nanso obenya ayamhyehye. Ne dɔ kɛse no to rentwa da.
For though He afflicted, yet He hath pitied, According to the abundance of His kindness.
33 Ofi amemenemfe mu de amanehunu anaa awerɛhow brɛ nnipa mma.
For He hath not afflicted with His heart, Nor doth He grieve the sons of men.
34 Sɛ wɔde wɔn nan dwerɛw nneduafo a wɔwɔ asase no so a,
To bruise under one's feet any bound ones of earth,
35 sɛ wotiatia obi ahofadi so wɔ Ɔsorosoroni no anim a,
To turn aside the judgment of a man, Over-against the face of the Most High,
36 anaa sɛ wobu obi ntɛnkyew a, Awurade renhu saa nneɛma yi ana?
To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord hath not approved.
37 Hena na obetumi aka na wama aba mu wɔ bere a ɛnyɛ Awurade na ɔhyɛe?
Who [is] this — he hath said, and it is, [And] the Lord hath not commanded [it]?
38 Ɛnyɛ Ɔsorosoroni no anom na mmusu ne nnepa fi ana?
From the mouth of the Most High Go not forth the evils and the good.
39 Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ ɔteasefo nwiinwii bere a wɔatwe nʼaso wɔ ne bɔne ho?
What — sigh habitually doth a living man, A man for his sin?
40 Momma yɛnhwehwɛ yɛn akwan mu na yɛnsɔ nhwɛ, na yɛnsan nkɔ Awurade nkyɛn.
We search our ways, and investigate, And turn back unto Jehovah.
41 Momma yɛmma yɛn koma ne yɛn nsa so, nkyerɛ Onyankopɔn wɔ ɔsoro, na yɛnka se:
We lift up our heart on the hands unto God in the heavens.
42 “Yɛayɛ bɔne, na yɛatew atua na wamfa ankyɛ.
We — we have transgressed and rebelled, Thou — Thou hast not forgiven.
43 “Wode abufuw akata wo ho ataa yɛn; na woakunkum a woannya ahummɔbɔ.
Thou hast covered Thyself with anger, And dost pursue us; Thou hast slain — Thou hast not pitied.
44 Wode wo ho asie omununkum mu nti mpaebɔ biara nnu wo nkyɛn.
Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, So that prayer doth not pass through.
45 Woayɛ yɛn atantanne ne nwura wɔ amanaman no mu.
Offscouring and refuse Thou dost make us In the midst of the peoples.
46 “Yɛn atamfo nyinaa abaa wɔn anom tɛtrɛɛ de tia yɛn.
Opened against us their mouth have all our enemies.
47 Yɛabrɛ ne ahunahuna ne akukuruhwease, mmubui ne ɔsɛe.”
Fear and a snare hath been for us, Desolation and destruction.
48 Me nusu sen sɛ asuten efisɛ wɔasɛe me nkurɔfo.
Rivulets of water go down my eye, For the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49 Me nusu bɛsen ara, na ɛrennyae,
Mine eye is poured out, And doth not cease without intermission,
50 kosi sɛ Awurade bɛhwɛ afi ɔsoro, na wahu.
Till Jehovah looketh and seeth from the heavens,
51 Nea mihu no ma me kra werɛ how, me kuropɔn no mu mmea nyinaa nti.
My eye affecteth my soul, Because of all the daughters of my city.
52 Mʼatamfo a menyɛɛ wɔn hwee pampam me sɛ anomaa.
Hunted me sore as a bird have my enemies without cause.
53 Wɔpɛɛ sɛ wotwa me nkwa so na wosiw me abo wɔ amoa mu;
They have cut off in a pit my life, And they cast a stone against me.
54 nsu bu faa me ti so, na ɛyɛɛ me sɛnea wɔrewie me.
Flowed have waters over my head, I have said, I have been cut off.
55 Mebɔɔ wo din, Awurade fii amoa no ase tɔnn.
I called Thy name, O Jehovah, from the lower pit.
56 Wotee me sufrɛ: “Nsiw wʼaso wɔ me gye sufrɛ ho.”
My voice Thou hast heard, Hide not Thine ear at my breathing — at my cry.
57 Wutwiw bɛn me bere a mefrɛɛ wo no, na wokae se, “Nsuro.”
Thou hast drawn near in the day I call Thee, Thou hast said, Fear not.
58 Wo Awurade, wudii mʼasɛm maa me; na wugyee me nkwa.
Thou hast pleaded, O Lord, the pleadings of my soul, Thou hast redeemed my life.
59 Woahu bɔne a wɔayɛ me, Awurade. Di mʼasɛm ma me!
Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, my overthrow, Judge Thou my cause.
60 Woahu wɔn aweretɔ no mu den, wɔn pɔw a wɔbɔ tia me no nyinaa.
Thou hast seen all their vengeance, All their thoughts of me.
61 Awurade, woate wɔn ntwirii, wɔn pɔw a wɔbɔ tia me no nyinaa,
Thou hast heard their reproach, O Jehovah, All their thoughts against me,
62 nea mʼatamfo ka no asomsɛm na wɔka no brɛoo de tia me da mu nyinaa.
The lips of my withstanders, Even their meditation against me all the day.
63 Hwɛ wɔn! Sɛ wogyinagyina hɔ anaasɛ wɔtete hɔ, wɔto akutia nnwom de di me ho fɛw.
Their sitting down, and their rising up, Behold attentively, I [am] their song.
64 Fa nea ɛfata tua wɔn so ka, Awurade, nea wɔn nsa ayɛ nti.
Thou returnest to them the deed, O Jehovah, According to the work of their hands.
65 Pirim wɔn koma, na ma wo nnome mmra wɔn so.
Thou givest to them a covered heart, Thy curse to them.
66 Fa abufuw taa wɔn, na sɛe wɔn fi Awurade ɔsorosoro ase.
Thou pursuest in anger, and destroyest them, From under the heavens of Jehovah!
