Banzembo 137
1 Ezalaki biso ya kovanda pembeni ya bibale ya Babiloni, tozalaki kolela na tozalaki kokanisa Siona.
When we [had been taken to] Babylonia, [far from Jerusalem], we sat down by the rivers there, and we cried when we thought about [the temple on] Zion [Hill in Jerusalem].
2 Todiembikaki mandanda na biso na banzete ya pepiliye ya etuka yango.
On the willow trees [alongside the rivers] we hung our harps [because we did not want to play them any more because we were very sad].
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! »
The [soldiers] who had captured us [and taken us to Babylonia] told us to sing [for them]; they told us to (entertain them/make them happy), saying, “Sing for us one of the songs [that you previously sang in] Jerusalem!”
4 Tokoyemba banzembo ya Yawe ndenge nini na mabele ya bapaya?
But [we thought], “We [are sad because we have been punished by Yahweh and brought to this] foreign land, so we cannot [RHQ] sing songs about Yahweh while we are here!”
5 Oh Yelusalemi, soki nabosani yo, wana tika ete loboko na ngai ya mobali elemba!
If I forget about Jerusalem [APO], Iet my right hand wither [with the result that I will be unable to play my harp]
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!
Do not allow me to sing again [MTY], if I forget about Jerusalem, if I do not consider that Jerusalem causes me to be more joyful than anything else does.
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! »
Yahweh, [punish] the people of the Edom people-group for what they did on the day that the army of Babylon captured Jerusalem. Do not forget that they said, “Tear down all the buildings! Destroy them completely! Leave only the foundations!”
8 Babiloni, engumba kitoko, yo oyo okobebisama solo, esengo na moto oyo akozongisela yo mabe na mabe oyo osalaki biso!
And you people of Babylon, you will certainly be destroyed! Those who punish you in return for what you did to us will be happy;
9 Esengo na moto oyo akokanga bana na yo mpe akonika bango na libanga!
they will take your babies and completely smash them on the rocks.
