Nnwom 49
1 Wɔde ma dwomkyerɛfoɔ. Kora mma dwom. Nnipa nyinaa, montie; monyɛ aso, mo a mowɔ ewiase yi mu nyinaa,
[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.] Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 deɛ ɔyɛ abomfiaa ne deɛ ɔdi mu, adefoɔ ne ahiafoɔ nyinaa.
both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 Mʼano bɛka anyansasɛm; nsɛm a ɛfiri mʼakomam bɛma nhunumu.
My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
4 Mɛbrɛ mʼaso ase atie abɛbusɛm; na menam sankubɔ so bɛte aseɛ ama makyerɛ abɛbusɛm no ase.
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
5 Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ mesuro nna bɔne, ɛberɛ a amumuyɛfoɔ adaadaafoɔ atwa me ho ahyia,
Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who deceive me surrounds me?
6 wɔn a wɔde wɔn ho to wɔn ahonya soɔ na wɔde wɔn adedodoɔ hoahoa wɔn ho?
They trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches.
7 Onipa biara rentumi nnye nʼankasa nkwa na ɔrentumi mfa mpata biara mma Onyankopɔn.
Truly these cannot redeem a person, nor give to God a ransom for him.
8 Nkwa ho mpata boɔ yɛ den, sika biara rentumi ntɔ,
For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 sɛ ɛbɛma no atena ase afebɔɔ a ɔrenhunu porɔeɛ.
that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.
10 Obiara nim pefee sɛ anyansafoɔ wu; saa ara na nkwaseafoɔ ne agyimifoɔ nso wuo na wɔgya wɔn ahonya hɔ ma afoforɔ.
For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Wɔn adamena bɛyɛ wɔn afie afebɔɔ. Ɛhɔ na wɔbɛtena awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ kɔsi ɛberɛ a ɛnni awieeɛ mu, wɔn din a wɔde totoo nsase so nyinaa akyi.
Their tombs are their homes forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
12 Na onipa ahonya nyinaa akyi no, ɔrentena hɔ daa; ɔte sɛ mmoa a wɔwuo no ara.
But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish.
13 Yei ne deɛ ɛda hɔ ma wɔn a wɔgye wɔn ho die, ne wɔn akyidifoɔ a wɔfoa wɔn nsɛm soɔ.
This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. (Selah)
14 Wɔte sɛ nnwan na wɔbɛkɔ damena mu, na owuo de wɔn bɛyɛ nʼaduane. Teneneefoɔ bɛdi wɔn so anɔpa; wɔn onipadua bɛporɔ wɔ damena mu, na wɔne wɔn adan akɛseɛ no ntam kwan bɛware. (Sheol h7585)
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. (Sheol h7585)
15 Nanso, Onyankopɔn de ne tumi bɛgye me afiri damena mu; ampa ara, ɔde me bɛkɔ ne nkyɛn. (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Sɛ onipa nya ne ho a, mma ɛnha wo; na sɛ ne fie anigyeɛ yɛ bebree a, mma no nha wo;
Do not be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.
17 ɛfiri sɛ, sɛ ɔwu a, ɔremfa hwee nkɔ, nʼanimuonyam ne no renkɔ amena mu.
For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Mpo ɔte ase no, ɔfaa no sɛ wɔahyira no, ɛfiri sɛ wɔkamfo nnipa ɛberɛ a wɔdi yie,
Though while he lived he blessed his soul—and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 nanso ɔbɛkɔ akɔka nʼagyanom ho, wɔn a wɔrenhunu nkwa hann ara da no.
he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
20 Onipa a ɔwɔ ahonya na ɔnni nhunumu no, ɔte sɛ aboa a ɔwuo.
A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.
