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