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 chief musician. 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, rich and poor together.
3 Monoko na ngai ekoloba maloba ya bwanya; motema na ngai ekanisi makambo oyo ekopesa bino bososoli.
My mouth will speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart will be of understanding.
4 Nayokaka masese, mpe nalimbolaka sambole na nzela ya lindanda.
I will incline my ear to a parable; I will begin my parable with the harp.
5 Mpo na nini nabanga na tango ya pasi, tango mabe ya bakosi ezingeli ngai,
Why should I fear the days of evil, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels?
6 ba-oyo batielaka bomengo na bango motema mpe bamikumisaka mpo na bofuluki ya bozwi na bango?
Why should I fear those who trust in their wealth and boast about the amount of their riches?
7 Moko te akoki kosikola ndeko na ye, moko te akoki kofuta mbongo epai ya Nzambe mpo na lisiko na ye.
It is certain that no one can redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him,
8 Talo ya bomoi na ye eleki motuya makasi, mpe ekotikala kofutama te.
For the redemption of one's life is costly, and no one can pay what we owe.
9 Akokaki kozala na bomoi libela na libela, mpe akokaki kokufa te.
No one can live forever so that his body should not 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 he will see decay. Wise men die; the fool and the brute alike 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 inner thought is that their families will continue forever, and the places where they live, to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 Mozwi akowumelaka te na bomoi; ata aleki na lokumu, akokani na nyama oyo ezali kokufa.
But man, having wealth, does not remain alive; 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, their way, is their folly; yet after them, men approve of 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 sheep they are appointed for Sheol, and death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their bodies will be consumed in Sheol, with no place for them to live. (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 power of Sheol; 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.
Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, and the glory 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 take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 Atako, wana azalaki na bomoi, azalaki komimona moto apambolama— atako bato bakokumisa yo, pamba te omisali bolamu—
He blessed his soul while he lived— and men praise you when you live for yourself—
19 okokende kaka kokutana na bakoko na yo oyo bakotikala komona lisusu pole te.
he will go to the generation of his fathers and they will never see the light again.
20 Moto oyo azali mozwi, kasi azangi bososoli, azali lokola nyama oyo ezali kokufa.
One who has wealth but no understanding is like the beasts, which perish.
