Banzembo 73
1 Nzembo ya Azafi. Solo, Nzambe azali malamu mpo na Isalaele, mpo na bato oyo bazali mitema peto.
A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.
2 Nzokande mpo na ngai, etikalaki moke ete makolo na ngai eselumuka, etikalaki moke ete nakweya,
But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;
3 pamba te nazalaki kolula bato ya lofundu tango nazalaki komona kimia ya bato mabe.
For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Kino na kufa na bango, bazalaka na mitungisi te, nzoto na bango ezalaka sembesembe.
For they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;
5 Kati na bango, moko te amonaka pasi oyo bato nyonso bamonaka; babelaka te bokono oyo ezwaka bato.
They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:
6 Yango wana, lolendo ekoma lokola mayaka na bakingo na bango, mpe makambo na kanza ekoma lokola elamba na bango.
Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;
7 Miso na bango engengaka na bilongi etonda na mafuta; mitema na bango esalaka kaka mabongisi ya mabe;
Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:
8 batiolaka mpe balobaka mabe, bagangelaka minyoko.
They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:
9 Minoko na bango etombokelaka Likolo, mpe lolemo na bango esakanelaka mokili.
They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Yango wana bato balandaka bango mpe bamelaka maloba na bango lokola mayi.
Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.
11 Balobaka: « Nzambe akoyeba ndenge nini? Ye-Oyo-Aleki-Likolo azali ata na boyebi? »
And they say, How can God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Tala ndenge bato mabe bazalaka: tango nyonso, bazalaka na mitungisi te, mpe bomengo na bango emataka se komata.
Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.
13 Solo, ezali kaka na pamba nde nabatelaki motema na ngai peto; ezali kaka na pamba nde nasukolaki maboko na ngai mpo ete nasala mabe te!
Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
14 Mikolo nyonso, nanyokwamaka; mpe tongo nyonso, nazwaka etumbu.
For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 Soki nalobi: « Nakoloba lokola bango, » wana nateki penza lokumu ya libota na Yo.
If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.
16 Tango nakanisaki mpo na koluka kososola, nayokaki pasi na motema
When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;
17 kino nakendeki na Esika ya bule ya Nzambe mpe nasosolaki ndenge nini bakosuka.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.
18 Solo, otielaka bango biloko ya moselu, okweyisaka bango kati na libebi.
Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
19 Ndenge nini babebisamaka mbala moko, bakomaka na suka, mpe somo elimwisaka bango!
How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.
20 Ndenge ndoto elimwaka soki moto alamuki na pongi, Nkolo, olimwisaka lisolo ya bomoi na bango tango kaka otelemaka.
As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
21 Tango motema na ngai ezalaki kotomboka mpe molimo na ngai emitungisaki,
When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,
22 nasilaki mayele, nakomaki lokola zoba, nakomaki lokola nyama liboso na Yo.
Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.
23 Nzokande, nazalaka tango nyonso elongo na Yo; osimba ngai na loboko na ngai ya mobali.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;
24 Otambolisaka ngai na nzela ya toli na Yo, mpe, na sima, okoyamba ngai kati na nkembo.
Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.
25 Kuna na Likolo, nani azali mpo na ngai soki Yo te? Mpe awa na mokili, nasepela na nani soki na Yo te?
Whom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.
26 Nzoto na ngai ekoki kobeba, mpe motema na ngai ekoki kolemba; kasi Nzambe azali Libanga mpe libula na ngai mpo na tango nyonso.
My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 Bato nyonso oyo bazali mosika na Yo bakokufa; obebisaka bato nyonso oyo batosaka Yo te.
For behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.
28 Kasi mpo na ngai, ezali malamu kozala pene ya Nzambe. Nakomisi Nkolo Yawe ebombamelo na ngai, mpo na kopanza sango ya misala na Yo nyonso.
But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, that I may declare all thy works.
