Banzembo 124

1 Nzembo ya Davidi. Nzembo ya mobembo mpo na kokende na Tempelo ya Yawe. Soki Yawe abatelaki biso te; tika ete Isalaele aloba bongo!

A Song of Degrees. If it had not been that the Lord was among us, let Israel now say;

2 Soki Yawe abatelaki biso te tango bato babundisaki biso,

if it had not been that the Lord was among us, when men rose up against us;

3 mbele bamelaki biso ya bomoi tango basilikelaki biso makasi.

verily they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us:

4 Boye mayi elingaki kozindisa biso, mbonge makasi elingaki komema biso.

verily the water would have drowned us, our soul would have gone under the torrent.

5 Mayi makasi elingaki kozindisa biso.

Yes, our soul would have gone under the overwhelming water.

6 Tika ete Yawe apambolama, Ye oyo andimaki te ete minu na bango epasola biso!

Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us for a prey to their teeth.

7 Tobikaki lokola ndeke liboso ya motambo ya mokangi bandeke; motambo ekatanaki, mpe tokimaki.

Our soul has been delivered as a sparrow from the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are delivered.

8 Lisungi na biso ezali kati na Kombo na Yawe oyo akela likolo mpe mabele.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.