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,
“To the chief musician, by the sons of Korach, a psalm.” Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the perishable world:
2 bato pamba mpe bato minene, bazwi mpe babola:
Both the sons of the low and the sons of the high, rich and needy, altogether.
3 Monoko na ngai ekoloba maloba ya bwanya; motema na ngai ekanisi makambo oyo ekopesa bino bososoli.
My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4 Nayokaka masese, mpe nalimbolaka sambole na nzela ya lindanda.
I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open with the harp my riddle.
5 Mpo na nini nabanga na tango ya pasi, tango mabe ya bakosi ezingeli ngai,
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my oppressors encompasseth me?—
6 ba-oyo batielaka bomengo na bango motema mpe bamikumisaka mpo na bofuluki ya bozwi na bango?
Of those that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves of the multitude of their riches?
7 Moko te akoki kosikola ndeko na ye, moko te akoki kofuta mbongo epai ya Nzambe mpo na lisiko na ye.
No one can in any wise redeem his brother, nor can he give to God redemption money for himself;
8 Talo ya bomoi na ye eleki motuya makasi, mpe ekotikala kofutama te.
For the ransom of their soul is too costly, and it is omitted for ever.
9 Akokaki kozala na bomoi libela na libela, mpe akokaki kokufa te.
And should he still live for ever? not see the pit?
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 he must see that wise men die, that together the fool and the brutish person perish and leave to others their wealth.
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 inward thought is, that their houses are to be for ever, their dwelling-places, from generation to generation; they call them by their own names in [various] countries.
12 Mozwi akowumelaka te na bomoi; ata aleki na lokumu, akokani na nyama oyo ezali kokufa.
Nevertheless man in [his] splendor endureth not: 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 their way, their folly: yet their posterity will take pleasure in their sayings. (Selah)
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 flocks are they thrust into the nether world; death will feed them; but the upright shall have dominion over them in that morning, and their form wasteth away in the nether world, [taken away] from their own dwelling. (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 soul from the power of the nether world; for he will take me away. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Komitungisaka te soki moto moko akomi kofuluka na bozwi, soki kongenga ya ndako na ye ekomi komata se komata.
Be not thou afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17 Pamba te akomema ata eloko moko te tango akokufa; bomengo na ye ekolanda ye te.
For when he dieth he can take nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.
18 Atako, wana azalaki na bomoi, azalaki komimona moto apambolama— atako bato bakokumisa yo, pamba te omisali bolamu—
For though he bless his soul during his life, and men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself:
19 okokende kaka kokutana na bakoko na yo oyo bakotikala komona lisusu pole te.
She shall go to the generation of his fathers, unto eternity will these never see light.
20 Moto oyo azali mozwi, kasi azangi bososoli, azali lokola nyama oyo ezali kokufa.
Man, though in splendor, who understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. °
