Banzembo 127

1 Nzembo ya Salomo. Nzembo ya mobembo mpo na kokende na Tempelo ya Yawe. Soki Yawe atongi ndako te, batongi ndako bazali kosala mosala ya pamba; soki Yawe akengeli engumba te, bakengeli bazali kosala na pamba.

A Song of the going up. Of Solomon. If the Lord is not helping the builders, then the building of a house is to no purpose: if the Lord does not keep the town, the watchman keeps his watch for nothing.

2 Ezali na pamba nde, bino mpe, bolamukaka na tongo makasi, bolalaka noki te mpe bosalaka makasi mpo na kozwa bilei; pamba te Nzambe apesaka bilei yango kaka na balingami na Ye, wana bazali nanu kolala pongi.

It is of no use for you to get up early, and to go late to your rest, with the bread of sorrow for your food; for the Lord gives to his loved ones in sleep.

3 Bana bazali libula kowuta na Yawe, mpe kobota bana ezali lifuti.

See, sons are a heritage from the Lord; the fruit of the body is his reward.

4 Ndenge makonga ezali kati na maboko ya mobundi bitumba, ndenge wana mpe bana oyo moto aboti na bolenge na ye bazali.

Like arrows in the hand of a man of war, are the children of the young.

5 Esengo na moto oyo atondisi makonga kati na ebombelo na ye ya makonga! Akokufa soni ata moke te tango akosamba elongo na banguna na ye na ekuke ya engumba.

Happy is the man who has a good store of them; he will not be put to shame, but his cause will be supported by them against his haters.