Banzembo 137

1 Ezalaki biso ya kovanda pembeni ya bibale ya Babiloni, tozalaki kolela na tozalaki kokanisa Siona.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

2 Todiembikaki mandanda na biso na banzete ya pepiliye ya etuka yango.

Upon the willows in the midst thereof we hanged up our harps.

3 Kuna, bato oyo bamemaki biso na bowumbu bazalaki kosenga biso banzembo; mpe banyokoli na biso bazalaki kosenga biso ete tozala na esengo. Bazalaki koloba: « Boyembela biso banzembo ya Siona! »

For there they that led us captive asked of us words of song, and our tormentors asked of us mirth: 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion.'

4 Tokoyemba banzembo ya Yawe ndenge nini na mabele ya bapaya?

How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a foreign land?

5 Oh Yelusalemi, soki nabosani yo, wana tika ete loboko na ngai ya mobali elemba!

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

6 Soki natiki penza kokanisa yo, Yelusalemi, soki natie yo te liboso ya esengo nyonso, wana tika ete lolemo na ngai ekangama kati na monoko na ngai!

Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I remember thee not; if I set not Jerusalem above my chiefest joy.

7 Yawe, kobosana te bato ya Edomi oyo basekaki Yelusalemi na mokolo na yango ya mawa; bazalaki koganga: « Bobuka yango, bobuka kino na miboko na yango! »

Remember, O LORD, against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; who said: 'Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.'

8 Babiloni, engumba kitoko, yo oyo okobebisama solo, esengo na moto oyo akozongisela yo mabe na mabe oyo osalaki biso!

O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that repayeth thee as thou hast served us.

9 Esengo na moto oyo akokanga bana na yo mpe akonika bango na libanga!

Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock.