Banzembo 129

1 Nzembo ya mobembo mpo na kokende na Tempelo ya Yawe. Wuta bolenge na ngai, banyokoli ngai bambala ebele. Tika ete Isalaele ezongela koloba:

[I say that] my enemies have (afflicted/caused trouble for) me ever since I was young. [Now I ask you, my fellow] Israelis, to repeat those same words:

2 « Wuta bolenge na ngai, banyokoli ngai bambala ebele, kasi batikali kolonga ngai te! »

“Our enemies have afflicted us since our nation began, but they have not defeated us!

3 Bato mabe batimoli mokongo na ngai, bazokisi ngai bapota ya banzela milayi na mokongo.

[Our enemies struck us with whips] that cut into our backs [MET] like a [farmer uses a] plow to cut deep furrows into the ground.”

4 Kasi lokola Yawe azali sembo, akati basinga ya bato mabe.

[But] Yahweh is righteous, and he has freed [me] from being a slave [MTY] of wicked [people].

5 Tika ete bato nyonso oyo bayinaka Siona bakufa soni mpe bazonga sima!

I wish/hope that all those who hate Jerusalem/Israel will be ashamed because of being defeated.

6 Tika ete bakoma lokola matiti oyo ebotaka na likolo ya ndako mpe ekawukaka liboso ete balongola yango;

I hope/wish that they will be [of no value], like grass that grows on the roofs of houses that dries up and does not grow tall;

7 tika ete mobuki bambuma ya bilanga atondisa na yango te maboko na ye, tika ete mokangi maboke ya banzete atondisa na yango te saki na ye.

[as a result] no one [cuts it and] puts it in bundles and carries it away.

8 Tika ete baleki nzela baloba na bango te: « Tika ete Yawe apambola bino! » Topamboli bino na Kombo na Yawe!

People who pass by [and see men harvesting grain usually greet them by saying to them], “We wish/hope that Yahweh will bless you!” But this will not happen [to those who hate Israel]. We, acting as Yahweh’s representatives, bless you [Israelis.]