Banzembo 49
1 Nzembo ya bana ya Kore. Wuta na buku ya mokambi ya bayembi. Bino bikolo nyonso, boyoka malamu makambo oyo; bino bavandi nyonso ya mokili, boyoka,
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
2 bato pamba mpe bato minene, bazwi mpe babola:
both low and high, rich and poor alike.
3 Monoko na ngai ekoloba maloba ya bwanya; motema na ngai ekanisi makambo oyo ekopesa bino bososoli.
My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
4 Nayokaka masese, mpe nalimbolaka sambole na nzela ya lindanda.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
5 Mpo na nini nabanga na tango ya pasi, tango mabe ya bakosi ezingeli ngai,
Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers surround me?
6 ba-oyo batielaka bomengo na bango motema mpe bamikumisaka mpo na bofuluki ya bozwi na bango?
They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
7 Moko te akoki kosikola ndeko na ye, moko te akoki kofuta mbongo epai ya Nzambe mpo na lisiko na ye.
No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.
8 Talo ya bomoi na ye eleki motuya makasi, mpe ekotikala kofutama te.
For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,
9 Akokaki kozala na bomoi libela na libela, mpe akokaki kokufa te.
that he should live on forever and not see decay.
10 Solo, tomonaka bato ya bwanya kokufa elongo na zoba mpe moto oyo azangi mayele, mpe batikaka bomengo na bango epai ya bato mosusu.
For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
11 Bakunda na bango nde ekomaka bandako na bango mpo na libela, mpe bisika na bango ya kovanda mpo na seko na seko, atako bapesaki na bitando na bango ya mabele bakombo na bango mpo ete ebengamaka na yango.
Their graves are their eternal homes— their dwellings for endless generations— even though their lands were their namesakes.
12 Mozwi akowumelaka te na bomoi; ata aleki na lokumu, akokani na nyama oyo ezali kokufa.
But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 Yango nde suka ya bato oyo batiaka elikya kati na bango moko, ya bato oyo balandaka bango mpe basepelaka na maloba na bango.
This is the fate of the self-confident and their followers who endorse their sayings.
14 Bazali lokola bameme mpe babongisami mpo na mboka ya bakufi; kufa ekokoma kobokola bango. Kala te, bato ya sembo bakonyata bango, kitoko na bango ekonzuluka, mpe mboka ya bakufi ekokoma ndako na bango. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode. (Sheol h7585)
15 Kasi Nzambe akokangola bomoi na ngai wuta na maboko ya mboka ya bakufi, pamba te akokamata ngai. (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. (Sheol h7585)
16 Komitungisaka te soki moto moko akomi kofuluka na bozwi, soki kongenga ya ndako na ye ekomi komata se komata.
Do not be amazed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
17 Pamba te akomema ata eloko moko te tango akokufa; bomengo na ye ekolanda ye te.
For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
18 Atako, wana azalaki na bomoi, azalaki komimona moto apambolama— atako bato bakokumisa yo, pamba te omisali bolamu—
Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul— and men praise you when you prosper—
19 okokende kaka kokutana na bakoko na yo oyo bakotikala komona lisusu pole te.
he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.
20 Moto oyo azali mozwi, kasi azangi bososoli, azali lokola nyama oyo ezali kokufa.
A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
