Banzembo 73
1 Nzembo ya Azafi. Solo, Nzambe azali malamu mpo na Isalaele, mpo na bato oyo bazali mitema peto.
A psalm of Asaph. Yes, God is good to the upright, the Lord to the pure in heart.
2 Nzokande mpo na ngai, etikalaki moke ete makolo na ngai eselumuka, etikalaki moke ete nakweya,
But my feet were almost gone, my steps had nearly slipped,
3 pamba te nazalaki kolula bato ya lofundu tango nazalaki komona kimia ya bato mabe.
through envy of godless braggarts, when I saw how well they fared.
4 Kino na kufa na bango, bazalaka na mitungisi te, nzoto na bango ezalaka sembesembe.
For never a pang have they, their body is sound and sleek.
5 Kati na bango, moko te amonaka pasi oyo bato nyonso bamonaka; babelaka te bokono oyo ezwaka bato.
They have no trouble like mortals, no share in human pain.
6 Yango wana, lolendo ekoma lokola mayaka na bakingo na bango, mpe makambo na kanza ekoma lokola elamba na bango.
So they wear their pride like a necklace, they put on the garment of wrong,
7 Miso na bango engengaka na bilongi etonda na mafuta; mitema na bango esalaka kaka mabongisi ya mabe;
their eyes stand out with fatness, their heart swells with riotous fancies.
8 batiolaka mpe balobaka mabe, bagangelaka minyoko.
Their speech is mocking and evil, condescending and crooked their speech.
9 Minoko na bango etombokelaka Likolo, mpe lolemo na bango esakanelaka mokili.
They have set their mouth in the heavens, while their tongue struts about on the earth.
10 Yango wana bato balandaka bango mpe bamelaka maloba na bango lokola mayi.
Small wonder that people resort to them, and drink deep draughts of their lore.
11 Balobaka: « Nzambe akoyeba ndenge nini? Ye-Oyo-Aleki-Likolo azali ata na boyebi? »
‘How does God know?’ they say, ‘And has the Most High any knowledge?’
12 Tala ndenge bato mabe bazalaka: tango nyonso, bazalaka na mitungisi te, mpe bomengo na bango emataka se komata.
See! These are the godless, with wealth and ease ever increasing.
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!
Yes, in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence;
14 Mikolo nyonso, nanyokwamaka; mpe tongo nyonso, nazwaka etumbu.
for all the day long was I plagued not a morning but I was chastised.
15 Soki nalobi: « Nakoloba lokola bango, » wana nateki penza lokumu ya libota na Yo.
But to resolve to speak like they do would be treachery to your children.
16 Tango nakanisaki mpo na koluka kososola, nayokaki pasi na motema
So I sought to understand it, but a wearisome task it seemed:
17 kino nakendeki na Esika ya bule ya Nzambe mpe nasosolaki ndenge nini bakosuka.
till I entered the holy world of God and saw clearly their destiny.
18 Solo, otielaka bango biloko ya moselu, okweyisaka bango kati na libebi.
Yes, you set them on slippery places; down to destruction you hurl them.
19 Ndenge nini babebisamaka mbala moko, bakomaka na suka, mpe somo elimwisaka bango!
One moment and then what a horror of ruin! They are finished and ended in terrors.
20 Ndenge ndoto elimwaka soki moto alamuki na pongi, Nkolo, olimwisaka lisolo ya bomoi na bango tango kaka otelemaka.
Like a dream, when one wakes, shall they be, whose phantoms the waker despises.
21 Tango motema na ngai ezalaki kotomboka mpe molimo na ngai emitungisaki,
So my bitterness of mind and the pain that stabbed my heart
22 nasilaki mayele, nakomaki lokola zoba, nakomaki lokola nyama liboso na Yo.
show how dull I was and stupid just like a beast before you.
23 Nzokande, nazalaka tango nyonso elongo na Yo; osimba ngai na loboko na ngai ya mobali.
But I am always with you, you have hold of my right hand.
24 Otambolisaka ngai na nzela ya toli na Yo, mpe, na sima, okoyamba ngai kati na nkembo.
By a plan of yours you guide me and will afterward take me to glory.
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 but you? And on earth there is none I desire beside you.
26 Nzoto na ngai ekoki kobeba, mpe motema na ngai ekoki kolemba; kasi Nzambe azali Libanga mpe libula na ngai mpo na tango nyonso.
Though flesh and heart waste away, yet God is the rock of my heart, yet God is my portion forever.
27 Bato nyonso oyo bazali mosika na Yo bakokufa; obebisaka bato nyonso oyo batosaka Yo te.
For see! Those who are far from you must perish, you destroy all who are false to you.
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 I am happy when close to God; the Lord my God I have made my refuge, that I may recount all the things you have done.
