Yobo 7
1 Boni, bomoi ya moto awa na se ezali kaka bomoi ya pasi te? Mikolo ya bomoi na ye ezali penza mikolo ya mongamba te?
Is there not a limited time of service to a mortal upon the earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired laborer?
2 Ndenge mowumbu azelaka pio ya pokwa to ndenge mongamba azelaka makasi lifuti na ye,
As a servant eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hired laborer hopeth for his reward:
3 ngai nazwaki lokola libula, basanza ya pamba mpe babutu ya pasi na pasi.
So was I compelled to possess months of vanity, and nights of trouble were counted out unto me.
4 Soki kaka nalali, nakomi komituna: ‹ Tango nini nakolamuka? › Mpe soki kaka nalamuki: ‹ Tango nini butu ekoya? › Nalembi komitungisa tango nyonso.
When I He down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am wearied with tossings about till the dawn of day.
5 Nkusu mpe makwanza ezipi nzoto na ngai, poso ya nzoto na ngai ezoki-zoki bapota mpe ekomi kolumba solo.
My flesh is covered with worms and clods of dust: my skin is burst open, and become loathsome.
6 Mikolo ya bomoi na ngai ezali koleka mbangu penza koleka tonga oyo mosali bilamba asalelaka; nakomi na suka, mpe elikya na ngai nyonso esili.
My days hasten away more swiftly than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end in the absence of hope.
7 Oh Nkolo, kobosana te ete bomoi na ngai ezali kaka pema ya pamba! Miso na ngai ekomona lisusu bolamu te.
Oh remember that nothing but a breath is my life; that my eye will not again see happiness;
8 Liso oyo ezali komona ngai sik’oyo ekotikala komona ngai lisusu te; okoluka ngai, kasi nakozala lisusu te.
The eye of him that seeth me now will not behold me again: [thou fixest] thy eyes upon me, and I am no more.
9 Ndenge mapata ekendaka mpe elimwaka, ndenge wana mpe moto oyo akendaka na mboka ya bakufi azongaka lisusu te. (Sheol h7585)
As the cloud vanisheth and passeth away: so will he that goeth down to the nether world not come up again. (Sheol h7585)
10 Akozonga lisusu te na ndako na ye, mpe ndako na ye ekoyeba ye lisusu te.
He will return no more to his house, and his place will not recognize him any more.
11 Yango wana, nakokanga monoko na ngai te, molimo na ngai ekoloba kaka na mawa, mpe motema na ngai ekolela kaka pasi na ngai.
Therefore will I also not restrain my mouth: I will speak in the anguish of my spirit: I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Boni, nakomi ebale to elima ya mayi mpo ete batiela ngai bikangiseli?
Am I a sea, or a monster, that thou settest a watch over me?
13 Nakanisaka ete soki nalali, mbeto na ngai ekobondisa ngai mpe pongi ekokitisa pasi na ngai;
For should I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help me bear my complaint:
14 nzokande, ozali lisusu kotungisa ngai na bandoto ya mabe mpe kobangisa ngai na bimoniseli ya somo.
Then wouldst thou frighten me with dreams, and with visions wouldst thou terrify me;
15 Malamu bafina ngai kingo mpe nakufa, pamba te kufa ezali na litomba koleka bomoi oyo.
So that my soul would choose strangling, death rather than these limbs of mine.
16 Nayini bomoi na ngai; nawumela libela te na bomoi! Tika ngai kimia, pamba te mikolo na ngai ezanga na yango tina.
I loathe it; I cannot live for ever: let me alone; for my days are but nought.
17 Moto azali penza nani mpo ete okanisaka ye, mpo ete olandelaka ye na bokebi,
What is the mortal, that thou shouldst make him great? and that thou shouldst direct thy heart toward him?
18 mpo ete otalaka ye tango nyonso mpe omekaka ye tango nyonso?
And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, probe him every moment?
19 Mpo na nini okoki kolongola miso na Yo te likolo na ngai? Mpo na nini okoki kotika ngai kimia te ata mpo na ngonga moke?
How long wilt thou not turn thy regard from me, nor let; me loose till I swallow down my spittle?
20 Oh Mokeli na ngai, soki nasali lisumu, eloko nini ngai nasali Yo? Mpo na nini oponi kaka kobeta ngai? Boni, nakomi mokumba mpo na Yo?
If I have sinned, what [injury] can I cause unto thee, O thou Guardian of men? why hast thou set me as an object for thee to strike at, so that I am become a burden to myself?
21 Mpo na nini ozali kolimbisa mabunga na ngai te mpe ozali kobosana masumu na ngai te? Kala mingi te, nakokende kolala na putulu; okoluka ngai, kasi nakozala lisusu te. »
And why wilt thou not forgive my transgression, and let my iniquity pass away? for soon must I lie down in the dust; and thou wilt seek for me, but I shall be no more.
