Banzembo 12

1 Wuta na buku ya mokambi ya bayembi. Nzembo ya Davidi; ya koyemba na lindanda ya basinga mwambe. Yawe, sunga biso! Pamba te bayengebene bazali lisusu te; bato ya kotiela motema bazali lisusu te kati na bana na bato.

“To the chief musician upon Sheminith, a psalm of David.” Help, O Lord; for the pious have ceased to be; for the truthful have failed from among the children of men.

2 Bato nyonso bazali kokosana bango na bango, bazali kolobana maloba ya sukali, kasi mitema na bango ezali sembo te.

Deceptively do they speak every one with his neighbor, with flattering lips, with a double heart do they speak.

3 Tika ete Yawe aboma bato nyonso oyo balobaka maloba ya sukali mpe batondi na lolendo,

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh boastful things:

4 ba-oyo balobaka: « Tokolonga na nzela ya lolemo na biso, bibebu na biso ekolobela biso; nani akoluka kozala nkolo na biso? »

Who have said, With our tongue will we be mighty; our lips are with us; who is Lord over us!

5 Yawe alobi: « Mpo ete bazali konyokola babola mpe kolelisa bato oyo bakelela, natelemi sik’oyo mpo na kobikisa batiolami. »

Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord: I will grant safety to him for whom the other layeth a snare.

6 Maloba ya Yawe ezalaka peto lokola palata oyo balekisi na moto mpe bapetoli mbala sambo.

The words of the Lord are pure words, as silver refined in the crucible of earth, purified seven times.

7 Yo, Yawe, okobatela bato oyo bakelela, okobikisa biso mpo na libela liboso ya bato mabe.

Thou, O Lord, wilt preserve them; thou wilt guard them from this generation for ever.

8 Bato mabe batambolaka na bonsomi bipai na bipai soki bato bapesi bozoba lokumu.

On every side do the wicked walk about, when the vile are exalted over the sons of man.