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 leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Hear this, all ye nations; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world;
2 bato pamba mpe bato minene, bazwi mpe babola:
Both high and low, rich and poor alike!
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 mind shall be understanding.
4 Nayokaka masese, mpe nalimbolaka sambole na nzela ya lindanda.
I will incline mine ear to a poem; I will utter my song upon the harp.
5 Mpo na nini nabanga na tango ya pasi, tango mabe ya bakosi ezingeli ngai,
Why should I fear in the days of adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;
6 ba-oyo batielaka bomengo na bango motema mpe bamikumisaka mpo na bofuluki ya bozwi na bango?
They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?
7 Moko te akoki kosikola ndeko na ye, moko te akoki kofuta mbongo epai ya Nzambe mpo na lisiko na ye.
No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,
8 Talo ya bomoi na ye eleki motuya makasi, mpe ekotikala kofutama te.
That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.
9 Akokaki kozala na bomoi libela na libela, mpe akokaki kokufa te.
Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.
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 seeth that wise men die, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, 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.
They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.
12 Mozwi akowumelaka te na bomoi; ata aleki na lokumu, akokani na nyama oyo ezali kokufa.
Yet man, who is in honor, abideth 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.
Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. (Pause)
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 cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place. (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 the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. (Pause) (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 one 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 will carry 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—
Though in his life he thought himself happy, —Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity, —
19 okokende kaka kokutana na bakoko na yo oyo bakotikala komona lisusu pole te.
Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!
20 Moto oyo azali mozwi, kasi azangi bososoli, azali lokola nyama oyo ezali kokufa.
The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
