The Prayer of an Innocent Person
1 Listen, O Lord, to my plea for justice;
pay attention to my cry for help!
Listen to my honest prayer.
2 You will judge in my favor,
because you know what is right.
3 You know my heart.
You have come to me at night;
you have examined me completely
and found no evil desire in me.
I speak no evil, 4 as others do;
I have obeyed your command
and have not followed paths of violence.
5 I have always walked in your way
and have never strayed from it.
6 I pray to you, O God, because you answer me;
so turn to me and listen to my words.
7 Reveal your wonderful love and save me;
at your side I am safe from my enemies.
8 Protect me as you would your very eyes;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
9 from the attacks of the wicked.
Deadly enemies surround me;
10 they have no pity and speak proudly.
11 They are around me now, wherever I turn,
watching for a chance to pull me down.
12 They are like lions, waiting for me,
wanting to tear me to pieces.
13 Come, Lord! Oppose my enemies and defeat them!
Save me from the wicked by your sword;
14 save me from those who in this life have all they want.
Punish them with the sufferings you have stored up for them;
may there be enough for their children
and some left over for their children's children!
15 But I will see you, because I have done no wrong;
and when I awake, your presence will fill me with joy.
Mätu Mano Taenjiako'ba ro
1 Nyeri, Äye OPI, rulo'ba maro ta taŋgye rota;
miga bi driayo maro erine!
Nyeri mätu maro tana ma taŋgye ata.
2 Mipena vure maro 'da taŋgye si,
ago mini tase orivoya ŋgye 'do.
3 Ondro ka'do mini ya maro ca,
nyätäkyi ma ca ŋgäkyi si;
ago nyena ya maro ca,
nyusuna ta undi aza ko ma ya.
4 Oso azii ka atana be ronye; mata ta undiro ko,
maro ota miro te
ago maso kote liti siomba si vo.
5 Masote ondoalo liti miro voro
ago mäku kote ni kigyesi.
6 Ma driayo miri, Äye Lu, tana mizatadri maro te;
ka'do inye nyeza mi mare ago nyeri mätu maro.
7 Nyaka'da ŋgalu para miro;
mi se nyani ànya se kabe ruopavo uṛi miya ni kyilaazii ànyaro risi opana ono.
8 Nyagaga ma oso abe mikeci gaga ronye;
nyada'do ma lindri kufui miro ro zele
9 ni ŋgagota lidri koziro ro risi.
Kyila'baazii 'diufu ro se kumudri maro be ono;
10 ànya teinye yauni ako ago kayi ta ata driuŋgyi si.
11 Ànya kayi ma lanja ago yauono ànya orivoya gbikyi ma lomvosi,
ago ànya kayi kandrakado kote ma ovoza vuru.
12 Ànya orivoya oso ibii ronye, nja 'di towane,
oso ibi ŋgwai ronye kayi ruda'do 'di osine.
13 Nyikyi, OPI! Nyedre ŋbi kyila'baazii maro mile ago mipe ànya!
Mipa ma ni 'di kozi ri bando miro si;
14 mipa ma ni ànya se päläti ànyaro ni 'bädri ro ono rigyesi Äye OPI.
Nyeza ànya taezaro se miṛikalana be ànya ezaza si,
ka'do robe amba ŋgwai ànyaro ri
ago e'be rukäna robe kwozoi ànyaro ro ri!
15 Oko ka'dobe ma, a'do taŋgye maro rosi mandrena mi 'da;
ago ondro mäpi mi te oko, ondre miro o'bana ya maro 'da twi riyä ro.