Yobo 24
1 Mpo na nini Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akataka tango te mpo na esambiselo? Mpo na nini bato oyo bayebi Ye basengeli koluka na pamba mikolo ya boye?
Why are not times [of punishment] treasured up by the Almighty, and why do his adorers not see his days [of retribution]?
2 Bato bapusaka bandelo, bakendaka koleisa bibwele oyo bayibaki,
[The wicked] remove landmarks: they rob flocks, and feed them.
3 babotolaka ane ya mwana etike mpe bazwaka lokola ndanga ngombe ya mobali ya mwasi oyo akufisi mobali;
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take in pledge the widow's ox.
4 balongolaka babola na nzela, mpe batindaka na makasi babola nyonso ya mokili ete babombama.
They chase the needy out of the highway: altogether hide themselves the poor of the earth.
5 Lokola ba-ane ya zamba, babola bakendaka tongo-tongo na mosala mpo na koluka biloko ya kolia, kasi kaka esobe nde epesaka bana na bango bilei;
Behold, as wild asses in the wilderness go they forth to their work, rising betimes after [their] prey: the desert yieldeth food for them and for their young men.
6 bakataka matiti na bilanga mpo na bibwele mpe balokotaka bambuma oyo etikalaka na bilanga ya vino ya moto mabe.
In the field they reap their food; and in the vineyard of the wicked they gather the fruit.
7 Na butu, balalaka bolumbu mpo na kozanga bilamba, bazangi bulangeti mpo na komifinika na tango ya malili;
They cause [the poor] to spend the night naked, without clothing and without any covering in the cold.
8 bapoli na mvula ya ngomba, bakangami na mabanga mpo na kozanga esika ya kobombama.
Through the sweeping rain of the mountains are they made wet, and for want of a shelter do they embrace the rock.
9 Bazali kobotola mwana etike na mabele ya mama na ye, bazali kokanga mwana ya mobola mpo na niongo.
The others pluck from the breast the fatherless, and the garment of the poor they take in pledge.
10 Soki bazangi bilamba, batambolaka bolumbu; bamemaka maboke ya nzete ya ble, kasi bazongaka kaka na nzala.
They cause him to go naked without clothing, and from the hungry they take away the sheaf:
11 Bakamolaka bambuma ya olive kati na mapango ya bato mosusu, bakamolaka bambuma ya vino, kasi bazongaka kaka na posa ya komela.
Within their walls do they make oil, they tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst.
12 Bileli ya kufa ezali koyokana wuta na mboka, mpe milimo ya bato oyo bazoki ezali koganga mpo na koluka lisungi, kasi Nzambe azali kopesa etumbu ata na moto moko te.
Out of a populous city is groaning heard, and the soul of the deadly wounded crieth out: yet God regardeth it not as an offence.
13 Bato oyo bazali kosala bongo, bazali kotombokela pole, bayebi nzela na Ye te mpe batambolaka ata kati na yango te.
Yon men are of those that rebel against the light: they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths.
14 Mobomi azali kotelema na moyi mpe koboma mobola elongo na moto akelela; na butu, azali lokola moyibi.
With the earliest light riseth the murderer, he slayeth the poor and needy, and in the night he becometh like the thief.
15 Liso ya moto ya ekobo ezelaka ete molili ekota; amilobelaka: ‹ Moto moko te akomona ngai, › mpe abombaka elongi na ye.
And the eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me; and placeth a covering on his face.
16 Kati na molili, bato balukaka kobuka bandako ya bato; kasi na moyi, bamikangelaka na ndako, bazali koboya pole.
They break into houses in the dark, in the daytime they lock themselves in: they know not the light.
17 Mpo na bango, molili makasi ezali nde tongo, somo ya molili ekomaka moninga na bango.
For to all of these alike is the morning as the shadow of death; for they are familiar with the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 Nzokande bazali lokola fulufulu likolo ya etando ya mayi, eteni ya mabele na bango elakelami mabe epai ya bato ya mboka, yango wana moko te azali kokende na bilanga ya vino.
Swift are such men [to flee] on the face of the water; accursed is their field on the land; none of them turneth himself to the way, of the vineyards.
19 Ndenge kokawuka mpe moyi makasi emelaka mayi ya mvula pembe, ndenge wana mpe mboka ya bakufi emelaka bato oyo basalaka masumu. (Sheol h7585)
Drought and heat speedily consume the snow-waters: so doth the grave those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Libumu ya mama ebosanaka bango mpe bankusu esepelaka kolia bango. Bakanisaka bango lisusu te, pamba te mabe na bango esili kobukana lokola nzete.
The mother that bore such a one will forget him; the worm will feed sweetly on him; he will be no more remembered; and like a tree will wickedness be broken.
21 Bato mabe basepelisaka basi bazangi bana mpe bato oyo babotaka te, kasi basalaka bolamu te epai ya mwasi oyo akufisa mobali.
He ill-treateth the barren that heareth not; and to the widow he acteth not well.
22 Kasi Nzambe, na nguya na Ye, abakisaka mikolo ya banyokoli na bango; ata batombolami, bazalaka na elikya te mpo na bomoi na bango.
But he also draweth down the mighty with his power: he riseth up, no one is sure of life.
23 Nzambe apesaka bango kimia, kasi miso na Ye etalaka nzela na bango.
To such [God] granteth to be in safety, that he may find support; and His eyes are upon their ways.
24 Mpe atako sik’oyo bazali bato minene, na tango moke bakozala lisusu te, bakokweya mpe bakokufa lokola moto nyonso, bakokatama lokola mito ya ble.
They are exalted; in but a little while they are no more; and they are brought down low: like all others are they gathered in, and like the top of the ear of corn are they cut off.
25 Soki ezali bongo te, nani akoki kolakisa ngai ete nazali koloba lokuta? Nani akoloba ete maloba na ngai ezali ya pamba? »
But if it be not so, who will prove me a liar, and render nought my word?
