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 Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world
2 bato pamba mpe bato minene, bazwi mpe babola:
people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.
3 Monoko na ngai ekoloba maloba ya bwanya; motema na ngai ekanisi makambo oyo ekopesa bino bososoli.
My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.
4 Nayokaka masese, mpe nalimbolaka sambole na nzela ya lindanda.
I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.
5 Mpo na nini nabanga na tango ya pasi, tango mabe ya bakosi ezingeli ngai,
Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,
6 ba-oyo batielaka bomengo na bango motema mpe bamikumisaka mpo na bofuluki ya bozwi na bango?
who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?
7 Moko te akoki kosikola ndeko na ye, moko te akoki kofuta mbongo epai ya Nzambe mpo na lisiko na ye.
For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,
8 Talo ya bomoi na ye eleki motuya makasi, mpe ekotikala kofutama te.
for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 Akokaki kozala na bomoi libela na libela, mpe akokaki kokufa te.
to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.
10 Solo, tomonaka bato ya bwanya kokufa elongo na zoba mpe moto oyo azangi mayele, mpe batikaka bomengo na bango epai ya bato mosusu.
But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon 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.
The grave is their everlasting home, the place they shall live in for ever and ever, though after their own names they called whole lands.
12 Mozwi akowumelaka te na bomoi; ata aleki na lokumu, akokani na nyama oyo ezali kokufa.
Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.
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 confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (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 sheep they descend to Sheol with Death for their shepherd; down they go straight to the grave, and their form wastes away in their home below. (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 assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Komitungisaka te soki moto moko akomi kofuluka na bozwi, soki kongenga ya ndako na ye ekomi komata se komata.
So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.
17 Pamba te akomema ata eloko moko te tango akokufa; bomengo na ye ekolanda ye te.
Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.
18 Atako, wana azalaki na bomoi, azalaki komimona moto apambolama— atako bato bakokumisa yo, pamba te omisali bolamu—
Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,
19 okokende kaka kokutana na bakoko na yo oyo bakotikala komona lisusu pole te.
they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.
20 Moto oyo azali mozwi, kasi azangi bososoli, azali lokola nyama oyo ezali kokufa.
The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.
