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 OVERSEER. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. Hear this, all you peoples, Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world.
2 bato pamba mpe bato minene, bazwi mpe babola:
Both low and high, together rich and needy.
3 Monoko na ngai ekoloba maloba ya bwanya; motema na ngai ekanisi makambo oyo ekopesa bino bososoli.
My mouth speaks wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.
4 Nayokaka masese, mpe nalimbolaka sambole na nzela ya lindanda.
I incline my ear to an allegory, I open my riddle with a harp:
5 Mpo na nini nabanga na tango ya pasi, tango mabe ya bakosi ezingeli ngai,
Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters surrounds me.
6 ba-oyo batielaka bomengo na bango motema mpe bamikumisaka mpo na bofuluki ya bozwi na bango?
Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Show themselves foolish.
7 Moko te akoki kosikola ndeko na ye, moko te akoki kofuta mbongo epai ya Nzambe mpo na lisiko na ye.
A brother ransoms no one at all, He does not give to God his atonement.
8 Talo ya bomoi na ye eleki motuya makasi, mpe ekotikala kofutama te.
And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it has ceased for all time.
9 Akokaki kozala na bomoi libela na libela, mpe akokaki kokufa te.
And still he lives forever, He does 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 sees wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left 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 heart [is that] their houses [are] for all time, Their dwelling places from generation to generation. They proclaimed their names over the lands.
12 Mozwi akowumelaka te na bomoi; ata aleki na lokumu, akokani na nyama oyo ezali kokufa.
And man does not remain in honor, He has been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
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 their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity are pleased with 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)
They have set themselves as sheep for Sheol, Death afflicts them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him. (Sheol h7585)
15 Kasi Nzambe akokangola bomoi na ngai wuta na maboko ya mboka ya bakufi, pamba te akokamata ngai. (Sheol h7585)
Only, God ransoms my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He receives me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Komitungisaka te soki moto moko akomi kofuluka na bozwi, soki kongenga ya ndako na ye ekomi komata se komata.
Do not fear when one makes wealth, When the glory of his house is abundant,
17 Pamba te akomema ata eloko moko te tango akokufa; bomengo na ye ekolanda ye te.
For at his death he receives nothing, His glory does not go down after him.
18 Atako, wana azalaki na bomoi, azalaki komimona moto apambolama— atako bato bakokumisa yo, pamba te omisali bolamu—
For he blesses his soul in his life (And they praise you when you do well for yourself).
19 okokende kaka kokutana na bakoko na yo oyo bakotikala komona lisusu pole te.
It comes to the generation of his fathers, They do not see the light forever.
20 Moto oyo azali mozwi, kasi azangi bososoli, azali lokola nyama oyo ezali kokufa.
Man in honor, who does not understand, Has been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
