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 degrees for Solomon.” Unless the Lord do build the house, in vain labor they that build on it: unless the Lord guard the city, in vain is the watchman wakeful.

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 in vain for you to be early in rising, to be late in sitting up, eating the bread of painful toils; [for] so doth he give unto his beloved during sleep.

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

Lo, children are an inheritance from the Lord: a reward is the fruit of the body.

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 mighty man, so are the children of youth.

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 that hath his quiver filled with them: they shall not be put to shame, when they do speak with the enemies in the gate.