Yobo 31
1 « Nasalaki boyokani elongo na miso na ngai ete nalula elenge mwasi te.
I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.
2 Pamba te, libula nini Nzambe akoki kobongisela ngai wuta na likolo? Libonza nini Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akoki kotindela ngai wuta na likolo?
For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?
3 Boni, pasi ezali mpo na bato mabe te? Kobebisama ezali mpo na bato oyo basalaka masumu te?
Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?
4 Amoni banzela na ngai te? Atangi matambe na ngai nyonso te?
Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?
5 Soki natambolaki na lokuta to litambe na ngai elandaki nzela mabe,
If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:
6 tika ete Nzambe ameka ngai na emekelo ya sembo, mpe akomona ete ngai nasali mabe te.
Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
7 Soki matambe na ngai ebimaki na nzela na Ye, soki motema na ngai etambolisamaki kolanda miso na ngai, soki maboko na ngai ekomaki mbindo,
If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:
8 tika ete bato mosusu balia biloko oyo ngai naloni, mpe tika ete nkona na ngai epikolama!
Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.
9 Soki motema na ngai ekosamaki na mwasi to soki natalaki na makanisi mabe ekuke ya mozalani na ngai,
If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend’s door:
10 tika ete mwasi na ngai atutela moto mosusu ble mpe tika ete mibali mosusu basangisa na ye nzoto.
Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.
11 Pamba te elingaki kozala likambo ya soni, mpe lisumu ya boye ebongi na esambiselo ya basambisi.
For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.
12 Ezali moto oyo ezali kozikisa kino na kobebisama mpe ekoki kobebisa bomengo na ngai nyonso.
It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.
13 Soki nasalelaki na bosembo te bawumbu na ngai ya mibali mpe ya basi tango bazwaki ngai mabe,
If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:
14 nakosala nini soki Nzambe asambisi ngai? Nakopesa eyano nini tango akotuna ngai ndenge nini nabandaki kosala?
For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him?
15 Ezalaki Ye te oyo asalaki ngai kati na libumu ya mama na ngai nde asalaki bango? Ngai na bango, tozalaki lolenge moko te kati na mabumu ya bamama na biso?
Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb?
16 Soki nakokisaki te posa ya mobola to soki nalembisaki miso ya mwasi oyo akufisa mobali,
If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:
17 soki nabombaki lipa na ngai mpo na ngai moko to nakabolaki yango te na bana bitike,
If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:
18 —nzokande wuta bolenge na ngai, nazalaki kobokola bana bitike lokola tata na bango; mpe wuta mbotama na ngai, nazalaki kolakisa nzela na mwasi oyo akufisa mobali—
(For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother’s womb: )
19 soki namonaki mobola kokufa na kozanga bilamba to moto akelela kozanga bilamba,
If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:
20 bongo motema na ye epambolaki ngai te na ndenge nazipaki ye na bilamba oyo ewutaki na bibwele na ngai,
If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:
21 soki natombolaki loboko na ngai mpo na kosala mwana etike mabe, wana nayebaki ete nazali na nguya liboso ya basambisi,
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:
22 tika ete loboko na ngai elongwa na lipeka na ngai to ebukana!
Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.
23 Pamba te nazalaki kobanga etumbu ya Nzambe, mpe nakokaki te kosala eloko liboso ya lokumu na Ye.
For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was not able to bear.
24 Soki natiaki elikya na ngai na wolo to nalobaki na wolo ya kitoko: ‹ Ozali ekimelo na ngai, ›
If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:
25 soki nasepelaki na ebele ya bozwi na ngai, bomengo oyo maboko na ngai esalaki,
If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.
26 soki natalaki moyi na kongenga na yango to sanza kotambola na nkembo,
If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness:
27 soki motema na ngai ekosamaki na nkuku, mpe maboko na ngai epesaki yango beze ya lokumu,
And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth:
28 wana elingaki lisusu kozala mbeba oyo ebongi na esambiselo ya basambisi, pamba te nalingaki kowangana Nzambe oyo azali na Likolo.
Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
29 Soki nasepelaki na pasi ya monguna na ngai to nagangaki na esengo na likama oyo ekomelaki ye,
If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.
30 soki napesaki nzela na monoko na ngai ete esala lisumu na kosenga kufa ya monguna na ngai na nzela ya maloba ya kolakela mabe;
For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 soki bato ya libota na ngai balobaka te: ‹ Nani oyo atondaki te na misuni ya banyama ya Yobo? ›
If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?
32 Soki mopaya moko te alalaki libanda, pamba te ekuke na ngai ezalaki ya kofungwama tango nyonso mpo na moleki nzela,
The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.
33 soki nabombaki lisumu na ngai ndenge Adamu asalaki to nabombaki yango na motema na ngai,
If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.
34 pamba te nabangaki bato mpe nabangaki ete mabota etiola ngai, yango wana nakangaki monoko mpe nakokaki kobima libanda te!
If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door.
35 Ah, soki nazalaki ata na moto oyo akokaki koyoka ngai! Yango nde sik’oyo liloba na ngai ya suka. Tika ete Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso ayanola ngai! Tika ete moto oyo afundi ngai akoma na mokanda makambo oyo afundeli ngai!
Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,
36 Solo, nalingaki komema yango na lipeka na ngai, nalingaki kolata yango lokola motole,
That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
37 nalingaki kotalisa Ye makambo nyonso oyo nasalaki, nalingaki kopusana pene na Ye lokola mokambi.—
At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.
38 Soki mabele na ngai eboyi ngai, soki mikala na yango elelaki,
If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:
39 soki naliaki bambuma na yango na ofele to soki natungisaki bankolo na yango,
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:
40 tika ete banzube ebima na esika ya ble, mpe matiti mabe ebima na esika ya orje. » Oyo nde suka ya maloba ya Yobo.
Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.
