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, hanged we our lyres:

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, our captors asked of us words of song, and our plunderers—gladness, —Sing us of the songs of Zion!

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

How shall we sing the song of Yahweh, on a foreign soil?

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:

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 do not remember thee! if I do not lift up Jerusalem above the head of mine own gladness.

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 Yahweh, against the sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem, —how they continued to say—Overthrow! Overthrow! unto the foundation within it.

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

O ruined daughter of Babylon, —how happy the man who shall repay thee thy dealing, wherewith thou didst deal with us!

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

How happy the man who shall snatch away and dash thy children against the crag.