Banzembo 120

1 Nzembo ya mobembo tango bazalaki kokende na Tempelo ya Yawe. Kati na pasi na ngai, nabelelaki Yawe, mpe ayanolaki ngai.

“A song of the degrees.” Unto the Lord, when I was in distress, did I call, and he hath answered me.

2 Oh Yawe, kangola ngai wuta na maboko ya bakosi mpe wuta na lolemo ya lokuta!

O Lord, deliver my soul from lips of falsehood, and from a tongue of deceit.

3 Yo, lolemo ya lokuta, Yawe akopesa yo nini, akofuta yo nini?

What will [God] give unto thee? or what will he add unto thee, thou tongue of deceit?

4 Akobeta yo na makonga ya elombe ya bitumba, oyo ezali ya songe, elongo na makala ya moto ya nzete ya nzube.

Sharpened arrows of the mighty, with coals of the broom-bush.

5 Mawa na ngai, mpo ete navandi lokola mopaya kati na Mesheki, kati na bandako ya kapo ya Kedari.

Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!

6 Navandaki tango molayi kati na bato oyo balingaka kimia te.

Too long for herself hath my soul dwelt with him that hateth peace.

7 Ngai, nazali moto ya kimia; kasi soki kaka nameki koloba na tina na kimia, bango baponaka mbala moko bitumba.

I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.